Alexia Putellas
Midfielder · FC Barcelona · Spain
About Alexia Putellas
The first player to retain the Ballon d'Or Féminin, Alexia Putellas is the defining player of Spain's golden era — a left-footed creative midfielder of breathtaking quality who overcame a serious ACL injury to win the 2023 Women's World Cup.
Alexia Putellas's story
Catalan Roots
Alexia Putellas Segura was born on 4 February 1994 in Mollet del Vallès, near Barcelona. She came through the Barcelona youth academy and has remained at the club throughout her senior career — a rare loyalty in the modern game. Her father died in a road accident when she was a teenager; she has spoken about how that loss deepened her drive and determination.
Barcelona's Queen
At FC Barcelona, Putellas has been the creative heartbeat of the most dominant club side in women's football history. She has won Liga F titles, Copa de la Reina titles, and led Barcelona to European glory — their 2021 Champions League final win over Chelsea (4-0) was one of the most emphatic performances in the history of the competition. Putellas was outstanding.
Back-to-Back Ballon d'Or
Putellas won the Ballon d'Or Féminin in both 2021 and 2022 — the first player ever to retain the award. Her 2022 win was made all the more remarkable because it came after she suffered a serious ACL injury in July 2022, months before the award ceremony. She dedicated both awards to the development of women's football in Spain.
ACL & World Cup Comeback
The ACL injury in July 2022 threatened to derail her career. Instead, Putellas used the rehabilitation period to return stronger, winning Spain's first Women's World Cup in August 2023 as one of the tournament's most important players. The comeback was lauded as one of sport's great stories. However, her tournament was also overshadowed by the RFEF (Spanish federation) president kissing her teammate without consent — an incident that led to a global controversy.
Did you know?
- Putellas won back-to-back Ballon d'Or Féminin awards in 2021 and 2022 — the first player in history, male or female, to retain the award in consecutive years.
- She suffered a serious ACL rupture in July 2022 and returned to win the 2023 Women's World Cup with Spain — one of the most celebrated comebacks in modern sport.
- Putellas grew up near Barcelona; her father died in a road accident when she was young, an event she has described as the defining moment of her life and the source of her relentless motivation to succeed.
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