Alexia Putellas emerges as top contender for 2026 Women's Ballon d'Or
The 2026 Ballon d’Or Feminin ceremony is set for late October, and Alexia Putellas is the leading candidate. In her final season at Barcelona, she made 43 appearances and recorded 20 goals and 13 assists while helping the club win four trophies. She also produced standout performances in El Clásico and the Champions League semifinal before moving to London City Lionesses.
Putellas’s final Barcelona campaign came while Aitana Bonmatí, the reigning three-time Ballon d’Or winner, was sidelined for nearly the whole season. Putellas appeared 43 times, scoring 20 goals and adding 13 assists, and helped Barcelona claim the Champions League, Liga F, Copa de la Reina and Spanish Super Cup.
She also starred in high-profile matches, including El Clásico and a Champions League semifinal second leg against Bayern Munich at Camp Nou, where she scored twice. With Spain, she was MVP as La Roja won the 2025 Nations League against Germany and reached the 2025 Euros final.
If Putellas wins a third Ballon d’Or, the result could amplify attention around women’s football, particularly in Spain and England. Young players and fans may see her late-career resurgence as evidence that setbacks need not define an athlete’s trajectory. Her move to London City Lionesses might also draw more eyes to the WSL, while the award debate could spark wider discussion about how major tournaments, club trophies and individual form are weighed.