Alexia Putellas won the 2026 Women’s Ballon d’Or in London on Monday, October 26, claiming the award for the third time in her career after previous victories in 2021 and 2022.
The Spanish star, formerly a standout at FC Barcelona and now playing for London City Lionesses, succeeds compatriot Aitana Bonmatí, who won the award three times between 2023 and 2025 but saw her season disrupted by injuries.
The 32-year-old, regarded as “the Queen” of Spanish soccer, won her fourth Champions League title last season before joining the London club, which is owned by American businesswoman Michele Kang, who also owns Olympique Lyonnais.
This third Ballon d’Or, four years after her second, reflects Putellas’ remarkable resilience. She returned from a serious knee injury suffered in July 2022 that kept her out of the European Championship with Spain.
In early October, the iconic No. 11 made further history by becoming the first Spanish player to reach 150 international appearances. She had spent many months out of the national team setup following her injury.
Putellas has also played a leading role off the field. Following Spain’s 2023 World Cup triumph, she helped lead the “Se acabó” (“Enough is enough”) protest movement against gender-based abuse in sports, after former Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales forcibly kissed her teammate Jenni Hermoso.
