CORNERFLICK
Alexia Putellas won the 2026 Women’s Ballon d’Or in London, taking the prize for a third time in her career.
Putellas returns to the top
The former Barcelona midfielder was named the winner at the 70th Ballon d’Or ceremony at the Palladium on Monday night, after previous victories in 2021 and 2022. The award puts her back at the top of the women’s game after four years without the trophy.
At 32, Putellas matched Aitana Bonmatí’s record of three wins. Bonmatí had taken the award in 2023, 2024 and 2025, giving Spain back-to-back dominance of the women’s prize.
A season built on trophies
Putellas was a major figure in Barcelona’s 2025-26 campaign, which ended with a historic quadruple. She won the Champions League, La Liga, the Copa de la Reina and the Spanish Super Cup with the club, and also took the Champions League player of the season award.
She left Barcelona in the summer of 2026 after 14 years and joined London City Lionesses. A few months later, she collected the Ballon d’Or in London and ended Bonmatí’s three-year hold on the award.