Spain midfielder Alexia Putellas has been awarded the Ballon d’Or Feminin for a third time, matching the record held by her international team-mate Aitana Bonmati and extending Spain’s hold on the prize to six consecutive years.
Putellas, 32, captained Barcelona to Champions League success as part of a quadruple in 2025-26 before joining Women’s Super League side London City Lionesses in July.
Her latest honour places her alongside Bonmati, her former Barcelona colleague, who won the award in 2023, 2024 and 2025 after Putellas took it in 2021 and 2022.
The last six editions have gone to the Spanish pair, with Norway’s Ada Hegerberg in 2018 and the United States’ Megan Rapinoe in 2019 the only non-Spaniards to claim the prize in that period.
In her acceptance remarks, she offered a message to young players around the world, saying that anyone who loves football and wants to play should do so regardless of gender or background, and urging them not to listen to those who say they cannot succeed.
Putellas collected the most votes from an international panel of journalists representing Fifa’s top-50 ranked countries. Barcelona striker Ewa Pajor finished second, with Manchester City forward Khadija Shaw third.
