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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Tom Garry

Alexia Putellas a worthy Ballon d’Or winner but the limited shortlist illustrates flaws

Alexia Putellas holds up her third Ballon d’Or Féminin at the London Palladium
Alexia Putellas won a record-equalling third Ballon d’Or Féminin after 14 goal contributions in 11 Women’s Champions League appearances last season. Photograph: Matthew Childs/Action Images/Reuters

After a four-year wait, Alexia Putellas is the queen of women’s football once again. Receiving the Ballon d’Or for a record-equalling third time to continue Spain’s domination of this award, the 32-year-old reinforces her status as one of the greatest players of all time.

It was the sixth consecutive year in which the honour went to either Putellas or her international teammate, Aitana Bonmatí, and it was symbolic of Putellas’ resurgence after her comeback from the anterior cruciate ligament injury she suffered in her left knee in 2022, her refusal to surrender her career to that setback, and her majestic rise back to the top.

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