From injury back to the throne: Putellas makes history by winning her third Ballon d’Or

Mollet del Vallès is a small town north of Barcelona. It was on its streets that a young girl grew up playing football. At home, football was almost always on the television; she was mesmerized by the magic of Andrés Iniesta’s feet, while the play of Rivaldo and Ronaldinho drew her in like a magnet. Whenever she had the chance, she would rush to Camp Nou to watch her beloved Barcelona in action.

That little girl would one day become the queen of Barcelona—Alexia Putellas.

The football world knows her as ‘La Reina’—which means ‘The Queen.’ Yet, even a queen’s life has its dark times—moments when the crown feels at risk or the throne begins to wobble. Putellas faced such a chapter in her own life; in 2022, a devastating knee injury cast a shadow of uncertainty over her career. Now, four years later, she has returned to the pinnacle, winning the Women’s Ballon d’Or for the third time.

With this, the 32-year-old Spanish midfielder has equaled the record held by her compatriot, Aitana Bonmatí. Putellas previously won the award twice, in 2021 and 2022, followed by a three-year streak for Bonmatí in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Now, the trophy is back in the hands of Putellas.

Spain seems to hold an absolute monopoly over the Women’s Ballon d’Or, with Spanish players claiming the prize for six consecutive years. Since 2018—when Norway’s Ada Hegerberg won—and 2019—when the United States’ Megan Rapinoe took the honor—no player from any other nation has won the award.

However, this latest victory for Putellas is more than just another trophy; it is the story of an artist who had lost her way, finally rediscovering her brushes and paints. A Devastating Injury, Then a Resilient Comeback

Just before the 2022 European Championship, Putellas suffered an injury to her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), which ruled her out of the tournament. Although she won her second Ballon d’Or that year, the Putellas of old was nowhere to be seen on the pitch.

In 2023, Spain won the Women’s World Cup, but Putellas’s role in that historic triumph was limited. Once the heartbeat of the team, she found herself relegated to a peripheral figure during the celebrations of their global victory.

How did she feel? Perhaps she suffered internally, questioning herself—would she ever be able to play at her former level again?

She provided the answer gradually, out on the pitch. She scored in the 2024 Champions League final and performed even better the following season. By the 2025–26 season, the football world saw the return of the "old" Putellas in full form.

She secured four trophies with Barcelona, ​​leading the team to the Champions League title as captain. With Aitana Bonmatí sidelined for five months due to injury, the heavy responsibility of orchestrating the team’s attack fell upon her shoulders—a role she fulfilled with the grace and authority of a queen.

Goals, Assists, and Midfield Magic

It would be a mistake to judge Putellas’s game solely by her goals. She scores, sets up her teammates, and delivers passes from midfield that dismantle opposing defenses.

Last season, she recorded 21 goals across all competitions and provided 13 assists. Among players in Europe’s top five leagues, she ranked third in goals and second in assists. She netted seven goals in the Champions League, helping Barcelona claim their fourth European title in six seasons.

In the Champions League, only Ewa Pajor, Alessia Russo, and Pernille Harder scored more goals than her. Each of them is primarily a striker, yet Putellas plays in the midfield.

Playing for Barcelona—who secured the Spanish league title for the seventh consecutive time—she provided seven assists in the league, placing her in a tie for sixth. She created 40 goal-scoring opportunities from open play, the fourth-highest tally in the league.

Another statistic further underscores her impact: across Europe’s top five leagues, Putellas was involved in 151 attacking sequences that culminated in a shot from open play. Only Claudia Pina (199), Vicky López (183), and Georgia Stanway (168) ranked ahead of her.

Across all competitions, she created 89 goal-scoring opportunities, 19 of which were classified as "big chances." She also completed 965 successful passes in the final third. When combining the Spanish league, the Champions League, the Copa de la Reina, and the Spanish Super Cup, no other player surpassed her in these metrics.

In the Champions League alone, Putellas created 36 goal-scoring opportunities—a feat matched only by Bayern Munich’s Klara Bühl. This marks the highest number of chances created in a single campaign since Caroline Graham Hansen’s 38 in the 2021–22 season.

These figures make it clear: Putellas has not merely returned to the pitch; she has rediscovered her former greatness. Consequently, she was voted the best by journalists from the top 50 nations in the FIFA rankings. Barcelona striker Ewa Pajor finished second, while Manchester City forward Khadija Shaw took third place.

A 14-Year Reign: Returning to Her Childhood Club

Putellas was born in Mollet del Vallès, located about 12 miles northeast of Barcelona. She grew up playing football on the streets and eventually participated in a summer football camp run by Xavi. She also played for the local club, CE Sabadell. After that, she spent a year at La Masia, Barcelona’s renowned football academy.

However, she had to leave Barcelona when the women’s team was disbanded. She subsequently played for Espanyol and Levante, before finally returning to the club she had loved since childhood in 2012.

Fourteen years have passed since then. During this long period, she has won 38 trophies with Barcelona, ​​including 10 league titles and four European Cups. Once a spectator in the stands watching the likes of Iniesta play, she has herself become one of the greatest footballers in the history of Barcelona.

Yet, not all love stories have the same ending.

Putellas’s contract with Barcelona is set to expire at the end of the 2025–26 season. She might have been able to stay, but she chose not to ignore the call of a new challenge.

She.

In June, Putellas scored twice in a 4-0 victory over England, helping Spain secure their spot in the 2027 World Cup. Just a month after dashing the World Cup dreams of England’s ‘Lionesses,’ she herself moved to England!

She received offers from several clubs across England, Mexico, and the United States. Ultimately, she chose ‘London City Lionesses’—an ambitious project backed by American tycoon Michele Kang. In July, she left Barcelona to join the English Women’s Super League side.

She shed tears upon her departure, as did her fans. After all, a 14-year bond isn’t easily broken! Yet, life must go on.

A New Chapter at a New Club

In August, speaking on the BBC’s ‘Women’s Football Weekly’ podcast, Putellas remarked, “I am always looking toward something better. That is why I am here. As both a person and a player, I must always keep moving forward.”

In her first seven league matches for her new club, she has recorded three goals and an assist. These statistics alone prove that, at 32, the magic in her feet has not faded.

However, what Putellas said after winning this year’s Ballon d’Or carries even more weight than her goals or trophies:

“To all the boys and girls around the world—if you love football and want to play, then play. It doesn’t matter if you are a boy or a girl, nor does it matter where you come from. If someone tells you that you can’t, don’t listen to them. Believe in yourself.”

The Story of a Queen—An Enduring Inspiration

These words bring to mind that little girl from Mollet del Vallès—the one who played football on the streets and dreamed while sitting in the stands of Camp Nou. Eventually, she became the very inspiration that fueled the dreams of others.

Along the way, she faced a devastating injury, the fear of fading into obscurity, and the pain of leaving her beloved club. But Putellas has returned. She has returned—on her own terms, playing her own game.

This third Ballon d’Or is a new feather in the cap of her personal achievements. At the same time, it serves as a reminder that while obstacles may arise on the path toward grand dreams, faith and hard work can always pave a way for a comeback.

After all, a queen doesn’t just fade away so easily!