Alexia Putellas Wins 2026 Women's Ballon d'Or as Barcelona Sweeps Awards

Spanish midfielder Alexia Putellas was awarded the Women's Ballon d'Or for 2026 during a ceremony held on Monday, October 26, 2026, at the London Palladium. This marks the third time Putellas has captured the prestigious individual honor, having previously won the award in 2021 and 2022.

The recognition caps off an impressive period for Putellas, who battled back to top form following a severe knee ligament injury in 2022. During the previous campaign, she recorded 24 goals and 13 assists across all competitions for Barcelona, including seven goals and seven assists in the UEFA Women's Champions League. She was also named the UEFA Women's Champions League Player of the Season before transitioning to London City Lionesses after 14 seasons with the Catalan club.

In her acceptance speech, Putellas expressed gratitude toward her supporters and teammates. "Thank you to everyone who thought I deserved this award. First, congratulations to all the nominees, to all the winners of the night. I would like to thank my teammates. All Barça players could have deserved their place here, could have given this speech in my place," Putellas said. She also reflected on her recovery: "After having knee surgery, it was very complicated. You were there, you helped me recover physically and mentally. Never mind if you are a boy or a girl, don't listen to people who tell you that you can't do it. If you have a dream, go for it."

Putellas finished ahead of Ewa Pajor of Poland and Barcelona in second place, while Jamaica and Manchester City forward Khadija Shaw rounded out the podium in third. Melchie Dumornay of Haiti and OL Lyonnes placed fourth, and Patri Guijarro of Spain and Barcelona rounded out the top five.

The gala served as a showcase for FC Barcelona, which dominated the evening's categories. Beyond Putellas's victory, the Catalan club was named the Women's Team of the Year following an emphatic European championship run earlier in May. Additional individual accolades for Barcelona included Cata Coll winning the women's Yachine Trophy for goalkeeper of the year, Vicky Lopez claiming the Kopa Trophy as the top young talent, and Pere Romeu receiving the Johan Cruyff award for coach of the year.

Several other international stars featured prominently in the final rankings. Wendie Renard was the top-ranked French player, finishing in 14th place, while her compatriot Selma Bacha landed in 20th. The international voting panel, composed of journalists from around the globe, evaluated players based on individual and collective performances as well as their overall impact on the sport.

During the ceremony, a tribute was also paid to journalist Christophe Gleizes, who is currently being detained in Algeria.