Alexia Putellas Wins a Third Women’s Ballon d’Or in a Landmark Night

Alexia Putellas has added another remarkable chapter to her career by winning the 2026 Women’s Ballon d’Or. The Spanish star collected the award in London after a season that reinforced her influence at the highest level of the women’s game. The honour is her third Women’s Ballon d’Or, placing her in an elite group of players whose excellence has endured across multiple seasons.

Putellas’ award followed a hugely successful 2025–26 campaign with Barcelona. Reuters reported that Barcelona won a treble and the Spanish Super Cup during the season, giving the midfielder a strong team-achievement platform alongside her individual performances. The combination of collective success and technical quality helped define her candidacy.

Her game has long been built around intelligence, control and timing. Putellas can dictate the rhythm of a match, find space between the lines and turn possession into attacking momentum. Those qualities make her valuable even when she is not the player finishing the move, and they help explain why her influence reaches beyond goals and assists. The timing of the award makes the story even more compelling. After 14 years at Barcelona, Putellas moved to Women’s Super League side London City Lionesses in July. Receiving the honour in London gives the ceremony an added personal dimension, as she arrives at a new stage of her career carrying the recognition of her achievements in Spain.

Putellas’ third win is also a statement about longevity in women’s football. Winning once requires a standout season; returning to the top repeatedly demands sustained performance, resilience and the ability to remain decisive as the game evolves. Her latest Ballon d’Or celebrates both a successful season and a legacy still being written.