Spanish · Mollet del Vallès, Spain · Born 4 February 1994Spanish footballer and two-time Ballon d'Or winner, widely regarded as one of the greatest female players of all time and captain of Barcelona Femení.
Alèxia Putellas i Segura was born on 4 February 1994 in Mollet del Vallès, Catalonia, to Jaume Putellas and Elisabet Segura, growing up a devoted Barcelona supporter who regularly travelled to Camp Nou with her father to watch matches, idolising Andrés Iniesta, Rivaldo, and Ronaldinho. She began playing at seven with CE Sabadell — the only nearby club with a girls' team — where, despite being younger than her teammates, she was made captain, an early sign of the leadership that would define her career. Putellas joined Barcelona's famed La Masia academy in 2005, but a club restructuring eliminated her age group within a year, sending her across the city to Espanyol, where she made her senior debut at 16. After five seasons there and a spell at Levante, Barcelona brought her back to the club she had always supported in 2012, and she has remained there ever since, becoming its captain and defining figure. Putellas led Barcelona to a historic continental treble in 2020-21 — the Champions League, league title, and Copa de la Reina, in which she was also top scorer and MVP — form that earned her the 2021 Ballon d'Or Féminin, making her the first Spanish woman to win the award. She retained the trophy in 2022 despite tearing her ACL just before that summer's European Championship, an injury that sidelined her for roughly nine months. Putellas returned to help Barcelona continue its dominance domestically and in Europe, and captained Spain to its first-ever World Cup title in 2023. She has since transitioned into more of a forward role, becoming Barcelona's all-time leading goalscorer, and in 2025 moved to London City Lionesses in a transfer widely described as the biggest signing in Women's Super League history.
First player to win consecutive Ballon d'Or Féminin awards (2021, 2022)
How They Played
Creative attacking midfielder with exceptional vision, passing range and leadership qualities
Lasting Impact
Transformed women's football in Spain and established Barcelona Femení as dominant force
Career Honours
- Ballon d'Or Féminin 2021, 2022
- UEFA Women's Champions League 2021, 2023
- FIFA Women's World Cup Winner 2023
- Liga F 2020
- Liga F 2021
- Liga F 2022
- Liga F 2023
- Copa de la Reina 2017
- Copa de la Reina 2018
- Copa de la Reina 2020
- Copa de la Reina 2021
| Club | Period | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Espanyol B | 2008–2010 | — | — |
| Espanyol | 2010–2011 | 25 | 3 |
| Levante | 2011–2012 | 34 | 15 |
| Barcelona | 2012–2026 | 350 | 156 |
| London City Lionesses | 2026–Present | 0 | 0 |
 Spain | — | 100 | 28 |
Spanish Athletes