Alexia Putellas wins third Ballon d'Or, level with Aitana Bonmatí at three

A third award in London

Alexia Putellas won the women's Ballon d'Or on Monday, 26 October, at a gala held in London for the first time. El Mundo notes that it is the first time in 70 years that the event has been held outside France. The 32-year-old midfielder collected the award for the third time, after winning it in 2021 and 2022. El Confidencial reports that she was the clear favourite and that the result matched expectations after a campaign it describes as extraordinary. Her victory extends a run for Spanish players that has lasted since 2021.

Barcelona's final season

Putellas won every title with Barcelona in the 2025-26 season, according to Europa Press, including a fourth Champions League, where she was also named the competition's best player. El Confidencial lists the Liga F, the Champions League, the Copa de la Reina and the Supercopa de España among those trophies. Across 53 matches that season she scored 26 goals and provided 15 assists, El Confidencial reports. Aitana Bonmatí, who is absent this season because of a serious injury, won the award in 2023, 2024 and 2025. That leaves Putellas and Bonmatí level on three awards each.

Alexia Putellas3

Aitana Bonmatí3

Alexia Putellas

3

Aitana Bonmatí

3

Data from the article text

Leaving the club of her life

Putellas spent 14 years at Barcelona, where La Vanguardia counts more than 500 matches, ten league titles and four Champions League titles. She renewed in May 2024 until June 2026, with an optional year, after a serious knee injury that affected her for almost two seasons. According to La Vanguardia, Paris Saint-Germain made an offer and was willing to pay her release clause, but she stayed after talks with the club. She had agreed that she could leave at the end of the season if she considered her cycle closed. Her farewell included a tribute at the Spotify Camp Nou for her 500 matches, and her mother Eli and sister Alba travelled to London for the gala. When she was substituted by Patri Guijarro in the European semi-final against Bayern, she broke down in tears.

Her words in London

Putellas explained her decision to El Confidencial, speaking between tears.

“It has been the most difficult decision of my life, but it was the right moment. It has been a perfect story.”

In her acceptance speech she thanked France Football and her teammates for the award.

“This recognition would not be possible without my teammates.”

Other Spanish winners

Several other Spanish players and coaches also took prizes that night. Lamine Yamal won the young men's talent award, the Kopa, for the third time, and dedicated it to his teammate Pau Cubarsí. Vicky López won the young women's player award, while Pere Romeu was named the best women's team coach. Luis de la Fuente won the men's team coach award, with four Spanish nominees among five. Cata Coll and Unai Simón won the goalkeeper awards, which El Mundo describes as completing a night in which every award a Spanish player was up for went to Spain. Yamal said of Cubarsí:

“This award was meant for him. I wish he had won it.”