BarcelonaAt 27, Alexia Putellas reigns in Europe. It all started on the bus of the Mollet Barça Supporters Club, on those trips to see Barça with a scarf tied around her neck when she was a child. 20 years later, the vallesana is a benchmark. The first woman to score in an official match at the Camp Nou, the author of goals in Champions or Cup finals. The captain of the treble and the first Catalan to be chosen the best player of the year by UEFA. If in January 2011 three Barça men’s players – Messi, Xavi and Iniesta – were the three finalists in the Ballon d’Or, this year the three finalists in the UEFA gala have been three Barça players, as, in addition to ‘Alexia, Jenni Hermoso and Lieke Martens were vying for the award. A gala at the feet of the women’s Barça.
The jury considered his work on the field of play, football and as a team leader. A player who also represents some of Barça’s values, especially in the style of play. “The word is happiness,” Alexia said. “Everything is the result of the work done by the club and the team. As in the past, it happened with the podium of male players, in which there were Leo Messi, Andrés Iniesta and Xavi Hernández ”, added the best player in Europe. “This award is like lifting a title as Barça captain, because it is a collective success. From the inside, what is experienced is that this has just begun. It is the first Champions and we have a lot to do. Many more historical photos will come, ”he told Barça TV. No Catalan, man or woman, has ever won this award.
If Alexia Putellas was named the best footballer of the 2020/2021 season, other Barça players could also receive awards. Thus, goalkeeper Sandra Paños, striker Jenni Hermoso and coach Lluís Cortés, who is no longer at the club after winning the treble, also received the award as the best in their region, in addition to defender Irene Paredes , who last year played at Paris Saint-Germain but who came to Barcelona this summer.
Jorginho, best player of the year
In the men’s category, things were more distributed, although Chelsea – champions of the Champions League – won the most awards. Starting with the goalkeeper, Édouard Mendy, followed by the best midfielder, N’Golo Kanté, and the best coach, Thomas Tuchel. And, of course, the Italian midfielder Jorginho, who won the award for best player in the overall standings because, in the Champions League, he added the European Championship won at Wembley with the Italian team. On the other hand, the Champions League finalist Manchester City was represented by Rubén Dias, chosen best defender, while the award for best striker went to Norwegian international Erling Haaland, of Borussia Dortmund.
.
:quality(70):focal(1560x1012:1570x1022)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/liberation/67V234SOKRF7DI2I3ADRXPUMCI.jpg?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1)
