Putellas Claims Record-Equalling Third Ballon d’Or as Spanish Dominance Continues

Spanish midfielder Alexia Putellas was crowned the world’s best women’s footballer on Monday night, winning the 2026 Ballon d’Or Féminin for a record-equalling third time and extending Spain’s unbroken grip on the award to six consecutive years.

The 32-year-old collected the prestigious golden ball at the London Palladium ceremony, finishing ahead of Barcelona striker Ewa Pajor in second and Manchester City forward Khadija Shaw in third. Putellas now stands level with her Spain teammate and former Barcelona colleague Aitana Bonmatí, who had won the award in 2023, 2024 and 2025.

The honour recognises Putellas’s decisive role in Barcelona’s historic 2025-26 campaign, in which she captained the side to a clean sweep of trophies: the Liga F title, Copa de la Reina, Spanish Supercopa and UEFA Women’s Champions League. She contributed significantly in Europe, scoring seven goals and providing seven assists as Barcelona secured their latest continental crown. Across all competitions she recorded 21 goals and 13 assists for the Catalan club.

Just weeks after lifting that European trophy, Putellas made a high-profile move to Women’s Super League side London City Lionesses, becoming the first active WSL player to win the Ballon d’Or. Her transfer marked the end of a 14-year association with Barcelona.

The victory completes a remarkable personal recovery. Putellas first won the award in consecutive years in 2021 and 2022 before a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury in 2022 interrupted her career and opened the door for Bonmatí’s three-year reign. Bonmatí herself was absent from this year’s shortlist after suffering a broken leg last December.

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“I don’t know what to say, too many things,” Putellas said on stage. She dedicated the award to her family and those who supported her through injury and recovery, while also praising her former Barcelona teammates for overcoming setbacks during their quadruple-winning season.

Spain’s continued supremacy was underscored by a strong showing across the women’s awards, with Barcelona named Women’s Club of the Year and several other Spanish players and staff recognised. The men’s Ballon d’Or went to England and Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane, the first English winner since Michael Owen in 2001.

Putellas’s third triumph cements her status among the all-time greats of the women’s game and signals that, even after leaving the dominant Barcelona side, the Spanish midfielder remains at the peak of her powers.