Ballon d’Or 2021: Barcelona captain, Alexia Putellas, named female player of the year

FC Barcelona midfielder Alexia Putellas won the 2021 Ballon d’Or on Monday, awarded to the best female player of the year. Putellas won the prestigious individual award after a remarkable year with Barcelona, ​​as the club went on to win the treble in their 2020-21 season. The win also marks the return of the prize, after the pandemic canceled the event in 2020. The previous winners of the award were Ada Hegerberg and Megan Rapinoe, winners of the year respectively. 2018 and 2019.

The event marks the first time French football awarded the honor to a member of the Barca women’s team. Putellas is now the first Catalan player to win, male or female, and only the second Spaniard and Barca player after Luis Suárez to win the award in 61 years. Other Barça players who have previously won the award have all been men, including Johan Cruyff (1973, 1974), Hristo Stoichkov (1994), Rivaldo (1999), Ronaldinho (2005) and Leo Messi (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019).

The 27-year-old Putellas is one of five players representing the Catalan side along with Barcelona teammates Lieke Martens, Jennifer Hermoso, Sandra Paños and Irene Paredes. Putellas won the award after taking the lead in the vote past Chelsea striker Sam Kerr and her Barcelona team-mate Hermoso to enter the top three. The reigning UEFA Women’s Player of the Year scored a staggering 37 goals and 27 assists last season as Barca side secured everything in their sights including La Liga Primera Iberdrola, Copa de la Reina and UEFA Women’s Champions League.

Putellas has been a mainstay for Barcelona since joining the club from Levante in 2012 and has made more than 350 appearances in all competitions. The team captain could have more glory with the Catalan giants in the near future after extending her contract with the club in October, which will keep her in Blaugrana’s uniform until 30. June 2024.