Alexia Putellas has won the 2026 Women’s Ballon d’Or, claiming the prestigious individual award for the third time in her career after an outstanding season with Barcelona.
The Spanish midfielder received the honour at Monday’s ceremony in London on October 26, adding another remarkable achievement to a career that has established her among the most influential players in women’s football.
Putellas previously won the Women’s Ballon d’Or in 2021 and 2022, becoming one of the first players to establish sustained dominance over the award following its introduction in 2018. Her latest triumph marks a return to the top after three years without winning the prize.
The 32-year-old’s recognition comes after a successful 2025/26 campaign in which she played a significant role in Barcelona’s trophy-winning season. The Catalan club enjoyed another memorable year, collecting major domestic honours and the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
Putellas combined her technical quality, creativity and leadership in midfield to help Barcelona maintain their position among Europe’s leading women’s teams. Her performances across domestic and European competitions strengthened her case for individual recognition.
Her third Ballon d’Or also brings her level with Aitana Bonmatí in the number of Women’s Ballon d’Or awards won, further highlighting Barcelona’s remarkable influence on the individual honours in women’s football.
Bonmatí had dominated the award in the preceding three editions, winning in 2023, 2024 and 2025. However, an injury-disrupted campaign prevented her from extending that run in 2026, opening the door for a different winner.
Putellas seized the opportunity with a season that underlined her importance to Barcelona before she began a new chapter in her career.
In July 2026, the midfielder left Barcelona after 14 years at the club to join English side London City Lionesses. Her departure brought an end to a significant chapter in which she became one of the defining figures of Barcelona’s rise in women’s football.
The move to England represents a new challenge for the two-time UEFA Women’s Champions League winner, who will now seek to bring her experience and quality to a different football environment.
Despite changing clubs, Putellas’s latest individual honour reflects the impact of her performances during the assessment period, rather than simply her current team affiliation.
Her achievement also continues Spain’s remarkable run at the Women’s Ballon d’Or. Spanish players have now won the award six times across its eight editions, demonstrating the country’s growing influence on the global women’s game.
For Putellas, the third award represents more than another individual trophy. It reinforces her standing among the elite players of her generation and adds another milestone to a career defined by technical excellence, consistency and success at the highest level.
With Barcelona recognised for its achievements during the same ceremony, the evening provided further evidence of the club’s continuing impact on women’s football.
Putellas will now turn her attention to life with London City Lionesses, where expectations will be high following her latest individual success. Her challenge will be to carry that influence into English football and help establish her new club among the competitive forces in the women’s game.
For now, however, the spotlight belongs to the Spanish midfielder, whose third Women’s Ballon d’Or places her among the most decorated winners in the history of the award.
