Alexia Putellas

Lore & Background

Putellas joined FC Barcelona's youth academy at age 12, rising through the ranks to become the club's most decorated player. Her leadership and technical brilliance were pivotal in Barcelona's first UEFA Women's Champions League title in 2021, where she was named Player of the Tournament. She won back-to-back Ballon d'Or Féminin awards in 2021 and 2022, becoming the second player to achieve consecutive wins after Ada Hegerberg.

Reader's Guide

Alexia Putellas is a defining figure in women's football, whose career at Barcelona and with Spain set new standards for excellence. Her unprecedented sweep of the Ballon d'Or Féminin, UEFA Women's Player of the Year, and The Best FIFA Women's Player in both 2021 and 2022—despite missing Euro 2022 due to an ACL injury—underscores her dominance. At Barcelona, she was central to the club's first Champions League title and continental treble in 2020–21, and later captained the team to further quadruples. Her longevity and consistency are reflected in her 508 appearances for Barcelona (second-most all-time) and her status as the club's all-time top scorer with 232 goals. Internationally, she helped Spain win the 2023 World Cup and the 2023–24 UEFA Women's Nations League, and holds the record for most Spain appearances. Putellas' ability to win individual and team honors simultaneously, her technical intelligence, and her leadership have cemented her legacy as one of the greatest female footballers ever.

Did You Know?

• Putellas made her senior Spain debut on 29 June 2012, in a friendly against Kazakhstan, before the 2013 UEFA Women's Euro.
• She is one of two players to have won the Ballon d'Or Féminin twice consecutively, alongside Ada Hegerberg.
• In 2022, she suffered a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury but returned to help Spain win the 2023 World Cup.
• She holds the record for most appearances for FC Barcelona Femení, with over 400 matches.