Alexia Putellas: Becoming The Best Player In The World

Alexia Putellas is one of the names that resonates loudly In the pantheon of women’s soccer. Her meteoric rise to prominence has not only captivated fans but also redefined what it means to be a footballer in the modern era.

Putellas’ journey from a small town in Spain to the global stage epitomizes dedication, skill, and an unwavering passion for the game.

She is seen as one of the best players in the world alongside Sam Kerr, Aitana Bonmati, Ella Toone and Asisat Oshoala. Her achievements serve as a testament to her talent and a beacon of inspiration for future generations.

Player Profile – Alexia Putellas

Alexia Putellas is a 2-time Ballon d’Or Femini winner and captain of the Spanish women’s national and Barcelona Femini teams. Putellas has also represented Catalonia at senior and youth teams before switching to represent Spain.

She has won numerous individual and team honours. Alexia Putellas is the first woman to win back-to-back UEFA Women’s Player of the Year awards and Ballon d’Or Féminin twice in a row.

She has won the FIFA World Cup and Nations League with Spain and other titles at the national youth level. Alexia Putellas has starred for Barcelona, winning several titles including the league title.

Player Profile Overview

Early Life and Background

Alexia Putellas was born in the picturesque town of Mollet del Vallès, nestled in the province of Barcelona, Spain. Growing up in a sports-enthusiastic family, her early years were imbued with a love for football.

Her father, Jaume, was particularly influential, encouraging her burgeoning talent and passion for the sport. From a young age, Putellas demonstrated an extraordinary aptitude for football. She often outshone her peers with her innate skills and strategic acumen on the pitch.

Playing Style and Skills

Alexia Putellas is renowned for her role as a left-sided central or attacking midfielder for Barcelona and Spain. Known for her playmaking abilities and vision, she is often compared to male Barcelona footballers like Xavi and Andrés Iniesta.

Putellas is a key contributor to Spain and Barcelona’s attack, often finishing seasons as a top scorer and assist provider. Her style involves positioning in the opposition’s half, using her technical skills to maintain possession and create goal-scoring opportunities.

Although Alexia Putellas is not particularly fast, her ball control and dribbling are exceptional. Defensively, she contributes by blocking opposition midfielders and engaging in high pressing, despite occasionally fouling. Her leadership and fitness further enhance her impact on the field.

Alexia Putellas Youth Career and Development

When Alexia Putellas was seven, she began playing for Sabadell, enrolled through a family friend despite the team’s age requirement of eight. She played alongside future Barcelona teammates Vicky Losada and Marta Corredera and became one of the team captains despite being smaller and weaker than her peers.

Her success was attributed to her ability to find space on the field. Sabadell was the only nearby club with a women’s section, though it was not a priority for the club. Managing her training was challenging, but by 2004, she was dedicated to football.

In 2005, Putellas joined Barcelona’s girls’ youth team, part of La Masia, winning the youth Copa Catalunya and the league. However, due to a restructuring of the women’s system, she had to leave as there was no team for her age group. Expected to return eventually, she joined Espanyol, another club in Barcelona.

Alexia Putellas joined Espanyol’s girls’ team at age 12 when the club was a dominant force in Spanish women’s football. She played alongside future Barcelona teammates Marta Torrejón and Andrea Pereira. The Espanyol Cadet team won the youth Copa Catalunya in 2007 and the league title in 2008.

Alexia Putella’s Professional Debut and Early Career

Alexia Putellas began playing for the women’s Espanyol B team at 14 and debuted for the first team at 16 in 2010. She was part of the squad that won the 2010 Copa de la Reina and played in the 2011 final, which Espanyol lost to Barcelona.

In 2011, at 17, Putellas moved to Levante, gaining attention as one of Spain’s best young players.  At Levante, with its professional environment, she developed technical and tactical skills.

This included playing off the ball and using both feet. She had a successful season, scoring 15 goals in 34 matches, becoming Levante’s top scorer and demonstrating her growth as a player.

Establishing Herself at FC Barcelona

Alexia Putellas’ journey with FC Barcelona began in 2012 when she rejoined the club after a successful season with Levante and her father’s passing.

Putellas, signed as a forward, debuted in the UEFA Women’s Champions League, where Barcelona lost to Arsenal in the Round of 32. She won her first league title with the club in May 2013 and played a key role in Barcelona’s historic domestic double by winning the Copa de la Reina, earning the MVP title for her performance.

In the 2013-14 season, Putellas helped Barcelona reach the Women’s Champions League quarterfinals for the first time, though they were defeated by Wolfsburg.

She won another league title and a second consecutive Copa de la Reina, again earning MVP honors. The following season, Putellas scored her first Champions League goal and secured her third league title. She was recognized among Spain’s best young players, shifting to a midfield role.

FIFPro Nomination and UEFA Champions League Run

By 2015-16, Barcelona had turned fully professional, with Putellas contributing significantly in both domestic and international competitions. In 2016-17, Putellas was a candidate for the FIFPro Women’s World XI and led Barcelona to the Champions League semifinals for the first time, though they were again defeated by PSG.

She also won her third Copa de la Reina. The 2017-18 season saw Putellas don the captain’s armband for the first time and lead Barcelona to another Copa de la Reina victory.

Named Barcelona’s fourth captain in the 2018-19 season, Putellas overcame an own goal in the Champions League to help the team reach the semifinals.

She scored four goals in a league game against Rayo Vallecano and played a pivotal role in Barcelona’s journey to their first UWCL final, where they lost to Lyon.

Her outstanding performance earned her a spot in the UEFA Women’s Champions League Squad of the Season, and she extended her contract with the club, finishing as Barcelona’s top scorer.

Becoming Second Captain for Barcelona Femini

In 2019, Alexia Putellas became Barcelona’s second captain and led the team during Vicky Losada’s injury. She scored the first goal at Estadi Johan Cruyff and in the 2019-20 Champions League.

By February 2020, she led Barcelona to win the Supercopa de España Femenina and made her 300th club appearance. The COVID-19 pandemic halted the season, but Barcelona was declared league champions, and Putellas was named the best player.

In the 2020-21 season, Putellas frequently captained the team, scoring in key matches including the first women’s El Clásico and a historic game at Camp Nou. She played an essential role in Barcelona’s Champions League victory, scoring a penalty in the final despite an injury.

Alexia Putellas ended the season with a treble, winning the Champions League, league, and Copa de la Reina, and was the highest-scoring midfielder in Europe with 26 goals.

Alexia Putellas Wins Back-T0-Back Ballon d’Or Femini

Alexia Putellas assumed the role of captain for Barcelona Femení after Vicky Losada’s departure at the start of the 2021-22 season. She clinched the UEFA Women’s Player of the Year award in August 2021. Putellas also became the first Spanish woman to win the Ballon d’Or Femini ahead of Sam Kerr and Jenni Hermoso.

Alexia Putella showed her commitment to Barcelona by renewing her contract until 2024. Her season highlights included a remarkable hat-trick against Valencia in September 2021 and significant contributions to Barcelona’s victories in the Supercopa Femenina and Copa de la Reina.

Despite facing injury setbacks in the 2022-23 season, she remarkably retained her prestigious awards, including the UEFA Women’s Player of the Year and Ballon d’Or Féminin. She staved off competition from Beth Mead And Sam Kerr.

Alexia Putellas made a triumphant return to the pitch, aiding Barcelona in securing the UEFA Women’s Champions League title.

Transitioning into the 2023-24 season, she embraced a new role as a forward and set records as Barcelona’s all-time leading goalscorer. Displaying her scoring prowess consistently, Putellas maintained her influential presence on the field, driving Barcelona’s continued success.

International Career with Spain

Alexia Putellas’ early football career saw her involvement with both Catalonia’s autonomous youth teams and the Spanish national youth squads. Beginning at the age of ten, Putellas thrived in Catalonia’s youth setup, contributing to multiple championship victories across different age groups.

Her success with the Catalan teams fostered a strong attachment to representing Catalonia, a sentiment she reiterated when given the opportunity to play for the senior Catalan national team in 2016. Putellas transitioned to the Spanish youth national teams at fifteen.

Alexia Putellas quickly made her mark, playing pivotal roles in Spain’s triumphs at the UEFA U-17 Women’s Championship in 2010 and the subsequent FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

Her leadership and scoring prowess continued with the U-19 team, where she captained Spain in the UEFA Women’s Under-19 Championship in 2012, despite personal adversity following her father’s passing. However, Spain’s failure to qualify for the 2013 UEFA Women’s Under-19 Championship marked the end of a dominant era.

Playing for the Spanish National Team

Alexia Putellas has been a pivotal figure in Spain’s women’s national soccer team since her debut in 2013. Notably, she scored her first international goal in the 2013 European Championship, securing Spain’s first victory in the tournament in 16 years.

She continued to represent Spain in major tournaments, including the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2015 and 2019, where she played significant roles despite mixed results for the team. Under coach Jorge Vilda, she contributed to Spain’s UEFA Women’s Euro campaigns, reaching the knockout stage in 2017.

Alexia Putellas showcased her leadership qualities by being named one of the team’s captains in 2021, and she achieved significant milestones, including surpassing appearance records and being named the Spain women’s national team Player of the Year.

However, her participation in the 2022 UEFA Women’s Euro was cut short due to an ACL tear, marking a setback in her international career. Throughout her journey, Putellas has demonstrated resilience, skill, and dedication to the Spanish national team.

Winning the FIFA World Cup and UEFA Nations League

In September 2022, Alexia Putellas voiced her support for fifteen of her Spanish teammates, dubbed Las 15, who protested against the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) due to concerns regarding their mental and physical well-being within the squad.

Together with the players, Putellas issued a joint statement criticizing the RFEF’s handling of the situation. Acting as a mediator between the players and the federation, Putellas aimed to resolve the conflict ahead of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, resulting in some improvements in conditions.

After recovering from an ACL injury, Putellas made a comeback to the national team in June 2023, scoring in a friendly against Panama and subsequently being included in the squad for the World Cup.

After her return, she played a limited role in the tournament due to fitness concerns, though she contributed an assist in a group stage match. Following Spain’s victory in the World Cup final against England, Alexia Putellas faced renewed turmoil within the squad, including the Rubiales affair and the #SeAcabó movement she initiated.

Despite challenges and opposition from certain quarters of the RFEF, Putellas emerged as a central figure advocating for structural changes. She regained the captaincy of the national team amidst ongoing restructuring efforts.

Alexia Putella’s Awards and Recognition

Over the years, Alexia Putellas has amassed a plethora of awards and accolades which is a testament to her extraordinary talent and contributions to the sport. Her two Ballon d’Or stands out among her honours, symbolizing her status as the world’s best player.

Beyond her on-field exploits, Putellas is a staunch advocate for women’s soccer and equality. Her community engagement and charitable work highlight her commitment to making a positive impact off the pitch. As a role model, she inspires young athletes, encouraging them to pursue their dreams and strive for excellence.

Personal Life and Interests

Alexia Putellas shared a close bond with her father, who battled heart problems while she played for Levante. Despite his illness, he made the effort to watch her games in Valencia.

Putellas contemplated studying medicine to aid him, but tragically, he passed away just before the 2012 UEFA Women’s Under-19 Championship. To honour him, Alexia Putellas dedicates her habitual goal celebration by pointing her fingers to the sky.

Alexia Putellas primarily speaks Catalan, learned Spanish in school, and picked up English in the 2020s. She owns a Pomeranian named Nala, who even has her own Instagram account.

The Spaniard is currently in a relationship with Olga Rios after her previous relationship with teammate Jennifer Hermoso. After winning the Champions League in 2023, a video of Putellas greeting her girlfriend in the stands went viral on TikTok.

She is a tattoo lover with numerous tattoos. Alexia Putellas’ ink includes Latin phrases like “Labor omnia vincit,” symbols like the Hand of Fatima and Eye of Horus. She also inked a silhouette of him holding her as a baby and passing her a football.

Alexia Putellas’ Sponsorship

Putellas, sponsored by Nike, gained attention for scoring a 100m goal at Camp Nou during a Nike event. She received custom boots from Nike after her Ballon d’Or wins.

She also has sponsorships with Cupra, Allianz, Visa, and is a Mango ambassador and is known as “La Reina” (The Queen). Putellas has won various awards, including the 2021 Premio Reina Letizia and the Creu de Sant Jordi.

She’s depicted in art and inspired songs, but also speaks out on social issues. Putellas’ story is told in documentaries and books, solidifying her as a symbol of excellence.

Role Models and Influences on Alexia Putellas Career

Alexia Putellas’ footballing idols came from past Barcelona men’s teams and Olympique Lyon teammates. Putellas drew inspiration from Brazilian legends Rivaldo and Ronaldinho, as well as Spanish icon Andrés Iniesta. At the same time, she also admires Louisa Necib for her playmaking abilities during her time at Lyon.

Conclusion

Alexia Putellas’ journey from a passionate young footballer in Mollet del Vallès to the pinnacle of women’s soccer is a story of talent, determination, and unwavering passion.

Her achievements have not only elevated her status in the sporting world but also inspired countless others. As she continues to shine on and off the pitch, her legacy and influence will undoubtedly endure, shaping the future of women’s soccer for years to come.