BarcelonaThe whole world surrenders to Alexia Putellas. The footballer from Mollet del Vallès is already part of the Olympus of football and has been crowned with the Golden Ball as the best player in the world. The award does justice to reality. The azulgrana, emblem of women’s football and leader in the locker room, has collected in Paris the award that recognizes her as the star she is. His love for football, his sacrifices and his tenacity to reach the highest possible, have been recognized in front of everyone at a gala where there was no room for doubt. Alexia Putellas is the queen of football and has raised an award that represents a whole generation of footballers who are tearing down walls and breaking glass ceilings to vindicate themselves.
The love story that culminated this Monday in Paris began when Alexia barely raised half a handful of earth. With the bus of the Penya azulgrana de Mollet, little Alexia was going to see her idols in the azulgrana temple. In those trips, always with a scarf tied around his neck, he discovered his love for football and the colors that now have it as an emblem. She went down the stairs of the Camp Nou to sit in her seat, with her father, to enjoy and be fascinated by her references. They did not even know and even less were aware that each of their actions were forming the great footballer who today is Alexia Putellas.
She was growing up and always did it by sticking to a ball. She was the only girl who signed up for the matches in the Town Hall Square and the one who carried the singing voice in the school yard. The ball was his, like now. She dared against everything and everyone, and little by little she was modeling herself on slow fire. His father’s support and help were essential to moving forward. She learned many things from him, it was her guide on this journey that had no clear end and she took advantage and enjoyed every car trip while taking her to train. He left too soon, when she was still a little girl, but her lessons took root in that little football player she didn’t know would be the biggest in the world.
A reference inside and outside the green
Although she feels fully Barça, Mollet’s team went through a few clubs. The Sabadell Sports Center was the first place where an elastic band was put on before, when he was twelve, the Barça club went to look for him in Vallès. Sant Joan Despí was where he began to immerse himself in Barça’s DNA. His time as a coach, however, was cut short by the restructuring of the training teams that forced the young footballer to leave. She did not go very far, as she took the opportunity to go to RCD Espanyol, where she made her debut as a professional player. From the Catalan club he made the leap to the East, where for two seasons he was incorporating new facets into his style of play. Always, however, with an eye on the Barça club.
July 2012 is the turning point in Alexia’s career. He returned home, wearing the colors of Barça, and became a very important piece of gear to professionalize the team. Inside the locker room she is a leader from the first moments. Her game, which follows the maximum guidelines of the DNA she learned during her time in the lower categories, becomes fundamental and she gradually becomes a footballer in whom her teammates begin to mirror themselves.
Everything, however, has not been flowers and violets for the Barça footballer and the hardest blow came to Budapest. After seasons of promotion and football improvement, Barça planted themselves in the Champions League final against Olympique de Lyon. It looked like the icing on the cake, the reward for the work done. The feat was going to be consummated by overcoming the almighty French team, but those ninety minutes were a bucket of cold water for the Catalan team. The defeat affected Barça and, with Alexia as the undisputed captain, the whole dressing room conspired to resurrect learning a very valuable lesson: to be the best you had to make many sacrifices. And so they did.
The result has been apotheosis. Last season the Catalans lifted the treble. They dominated and deployed a majestic football for all the fields of Spain and Europe. The position game, defended by the Barça style manual, found its maximum expression in the team led by Putellas. Her European dominance became apparent a few weeks ago when she was awarded The Best. Now, the Golden Ball also bears his name. Alexia, that girl who went to the field with her scarf around her neck and who was stunned by her idols, is now the visible face and the undisputed leader of a European champion team. In Paris she has received her award, her golden ball, which raises Olimp to football and gives wings to the dreams of many girls who want to be like her.
Putellas is grateful for the award in Catalan
Alexia Putellas could not hold back her tears. After Killian Mbappé announced her name as the best player in the world, Mollet del Vallès has taken to the stage with her eyes fixed on her Golden Ball. In the emotional speech, she has kept in mind her father, who died when she was little. “It is a very special moment and it is also for my colleagues with whom we have lived so many things. I want to start by thanking all my colleagues, those who have accompanied me in my career and especially my colleagues from the Barça. Thank you to the club too, that fate has just wanted today to be its 122nd birthday. Congratulations! It’s a privilege to be here celebrating this award. Wherever this is, it’s for you, Dad. “
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