Alexia Putellas has won the 2026 women’s Ballon d’Or, adding a third award to her victories in 2021 and 2022. The Spanish midfielder finished ahead of Ewa Pajor and Khadija Shaw at the 26 October ceremony. Her success connects two chapters: a trophy-winning European season with Barcelona and a new club setting with London City Lionesses. Keeping that timeline clear matters when reading the headline.
- Putellas wins the women’s award for the third time.
- Her winning European campaign was played with Barcelona.
- UEFA records seven goals and seven assists in that campaign.
- London City announced her signing on 8 July 2026.
The result and the timeline
UEFA’s award report confirms Putellas as the winner, with Pajor second and Shaw third. It identifies her as a London City player after her move ahead of the 2026/27 season. London City’s own congratulatory announcement celebrates the same third award. A current club listing and a season’s achievements can refer to different stages of the same player’s year.
That timeline gives the award an unusual perspective. Barcelona’s supporters can recognise a season they shared with her, while London City’s supporters can celebrate a player now wearing their shirt. For readers discovering her through the ceremony, both parts belong in the story. A transfer changes the weekly setting without removing the work that came before it.
Seven goals, seven assists and a European title
UEFA’s Player of the Season assessment records seven goals and seven assists in 11 Champions League appearances for Putellas in 2025/26. Barcelona finished that campaign with a 4–0 final victory over OL Lyonnes in Oslo. UEFA’s Technical Observer Group selected her as Player of the Season, giving the award discussion a clear football reference beyond the gala itself.
| Measure | Total |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 11 |
| Goals | 7 |
| Assists | 7 |
Those are competition-specific figures. They should not be presented as her full season for club and country. They do, however, show a productive balance between finishing moves and helping someone else finish them. For a midfielder, that combination is a useful starting point for asking how influence becomes visible on a score sheet.
The part of midfield play that a tally misses
Our viewing suggestion is to follow Putellas for several seconds before she receives. Where does she look? Does she move towards the ball or make room for a teammate to collect it? A player can improve an attack by creating an easier decision for someone else, even when the eventual assist belongs to another name.
This is an editorial way to watch, rather than a claim that we have quantified every off-ball action in her season. Separate what the published statistics establish from what a replay can help you explore. That approach respects both the value of a measurable contribution and the broader craft of midfield play.
London City is the next test
London City’s player profile dates the signing announcement to 8 July 2026 and lists Putellas as a Spanish midfielder wearing number 11. She arrived with two Ballon d’Or wins already behind her and now adds another while beginning this new stage. It is a compelling story for anyone following a player across leagues: the award looks back at an exceptional campaign while the weekly football asks her to build new connections.
The football question now is how an established player’s strengths connect with a different set of teammates. Passing options, shared movements and the pace of an attack depend on relationships as well as individual skill. We would look for those connections over several matches before turning one performance into a verdict on an entire new chapter.
Let the award lead back to the game
An award night can introduce a player to a reader who has not followed the competition closely. The best next step is simple: choose a match, learn the starting midfield and watch how the players share space. You do not need to memorise a career’s honours before noticing a good turn, a well-timed run or a pass that changes the direction of an attack.
For the upcoming European club programme, our Women’s Champions League November guide covers the published fixtures. Our Harry Kane award report explains the men’s result from the same ceremony. Putellas’s third trophy is a significant moment; the interesting follow-up is the football she and her teammates produce next.
Questions about Putellas’s third award
When were her earlier Ballon d’Or wins?
UEFA lists her earlier victories in 2021 and 2022.
Which club does Putellas play for now?
The official club profile and UEFA’s October report identify London City Lionesses.
Are seven goals and seven assists her full-season totals?
No. Those figures describe her 2025/26 Women’s Champions League campaign.
Photo credit and official sources
Photo: MichaelEmilio / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped, resized and converted to WebP. The prepared image versions retain the linked source license. Source exposure correction by Kingsif.