Alexia Putellas claimed her third Ballon d’Or on Monday, October 26, 2026, at a ceremony held at the London Palladium Theatre, according to the Royal Spanish Football Federation (rfef.es). The midfielder added this new accolade to previous victories in 2021 and 2022, extending a six-year Spanish hegemony in the women’s award following Aitana Bonmatí’s consecutive wins from 2023 through 2025. Alexia was the first Spanish female footballer to win the Ballon d’Or and The Best award, both in 2021 and 2022, and the Catalan player also figures among the major references of national sport, with recognitions such as the National Sports Award and the Gold Medal for Sporting Merit.
London Palladium Ceremony Crowns Midfielder Once More
The ceremony in London cemented Putellas alongside Luis Suárez in 1960 and Rodrigo Hernández in 2024 as Spanish players to claim the prestigious individual trophy. Alongside Putellas, Cata Coll and Vicky López collected the Best Goalkeeper and Young Talent awards. El Correo reported that Putellas entered the 2026 gala following a prolific campaign that culminated after she previously joined the London City Lionesses.
During the 2025-26 club season with FC Barcelona, Putellas featured in 43 matches, scoring 21 goals and delivering 13 assists. Across the entirety of the season, she played 53 matches, scored 26 goals, and provided 15 assists. Her output drove the Catalan club to a quadruple sweep of trophies: Liga F, the UEFA Women’s Champions League, the Copa de la Reina, and the Spanish Super Cup. She was also chosen as the best player of the 2025-26 UEFA Women's Champions League season, netting seven goals and seven assists in the European competition.
International Dominance and the Road to Brazil 2027
On the international stage, Putellas started all 12 matches for Spain under coach Sonia Bermúdez since October 2025, netting six goals and three assists. Her performances helped secure the 2025 UEFA Women’s Nations League title, where she earned player of the tournament honors for the final phase.
Spanish nominees dominated the 2026 gala proceedings with 26 individual nominations and one club nomination. The sustained success of Putellas and Bonmatí highlights an era for Spanish women’s football on the global stage.
Overcoming Injury to Reclaim the Summit
This latest honor follows a challenging recovery period after a severe knee injury ruled her out of the European Championship in the summer of 2022. That setback interrupted a career trajectory that had just yielded her first two Ballon d’Or trophies.
Reflecting on her journey from the stage in London, Putellas acknowledged the collective effort behind her success. That so many Barça players were nominated says a lot about the season we had. I think that any of you who are nominated being here would be just as fair. We lived incredible moments as a team, we overcame certain complicated moments in the form of injuries and for me it was a pride to be captain of all of you,
she said, according to El Correo, paying tribute to her former teammates and former coach Pere Romeu, who was also recognized as best coach.
Unresolved Questions Surrounding the London City Lionesses Transition
While her individual honors and club triumphs with Barcelona are fully documented, exact details regarding her integration into the London City Lionesses squad remain to be observed as the domestic English season progresses. Observers continue to monitor how her partnership with the English club will unfold following her summer move, and whether Spain can maintain its international stranglehold through the upcoming qualifiers for the 2027 World Cup.
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