Alexia Putellas

Alexia Putellas is a Spanish professional footballer widely regarded as one of the greatest female players of all time. A midfielder and forward, she spent 14 seasons with FC Barcelona, where she became the club's all-time top scorer with 232 goals in 508 appearances. She captained Barcelona to three UEFA Women's Champions League titles, eight league championships, and multiple Copas de la Reina, including a historic continental treble in 2020–21.

Putellas made history in 2021 by becoming the first player to win the Ballon d'Or Féminin, The Best FIFA Women's Player, and UEFA Women's Player of the Year in the same calendar year. She repeated that trio of individual honors in 2022 despite missing the European Championship with an ACL injury, becoming the first woman to win any of those awards consecutively. On the international stage, she debuted for Spain in 2013 and has since earned over 100 caps, captaining her country to victory at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup and the 2023–24 UEFA Women's Nations League.

In 2026, Putellas left Barcelona after 14 seasons to join London City Lionesses in the English Women's Super League, with her sights set on the 2027 World Cup and 2028 Olympics. Her combination of technical brilliance, leadership, and resilience has made her a global icon in women's sports. [edit]

Putellas grew up in Mollet del Vallès, a town just outside Barcelona, in a family of devoted FC Barcelona supporters. Her father Jaume was a member of the local penya, and she would travel with him to Camp Nou for matches, often watching games at a bar called La Bolera with her family. From a young age, she was obsessed with football, dribbling past classmates on the playground with such ease that local media called her the Maradona of the playground.

She joined CE Sabadell's youth team at age seven in 2001, then moved to Barcelona's youth academy in 2005. A year later, she switched to Espanyol's youth system, where she spent two years before making her senior debut for Espanyol at 16 in 2010. After one season with the first team, she transferred to Levante in 2011, where she scored 15 goals in 34 appearances and caught the attention of Barcelona, who brought her back home in 2012. [edit]

Putellas returned to Barcelona at age 18 and quickly became a cornerstone of the team. She played in the club's first-ever UEFA Women's Champions League match in 2012 and scored a memorable goal in the 2013 Copa de la Reina final that made national headlines, earning tournament MVP. In 2015, she was named Catalan Player of the Year.

The 2020–21 season was transformative: Putellas captained Barcelona to a continental treble and became the first Barcelona player to lift the Champions League trophy as captain. That year she swept the three biggest individual awards in women's football. She repeated the individual treble in 2022 despite a torn ACL that kept her out of Euro 2022. In 2023, she led Spain to World Cup glory and was named Champions League top scorer and Player of the Tournament. She added a Nations League title in 2024 and another Champions League crown in 2024.

In her final season with Barcelona (2025–26), Putellas scored 21 goals and provided 13 assists in 42 appearances, captaining the team to a continental quadruple. She reached 500 appearances for the club before announcing her departure to join London City Lionesses in 2026. [edit]

Putellas is the public face of Barcelona's women's team and Spanish women's football. She is seen as a generational icon who helped elevate attendance, television audiences, and interest in women's soccer throughout Spain. Fans view her as one of their own, a local Catalan player who embodies the club's identity and values. Her departure from Barcelona in 2026 was described as the end of an era, marked by emotional tributes from teammates and supporters. She is known for her calm, professional demeanor on and off the pitch, and her leadership by example has earned her respect across the football world. [edit]

Alexia Putellas grew up in Mollet del Vallès, a small town where she dribbled past classmates as if they were broomsticks, a local legend that foreshadowed her global ascent. For over a decade, she became the heartbeat of FC Barcelona's women's team, embodying the club's identity so completely that fans viewed her as one of their own. Her influence transcended the pitch, elevating attendance and television audiences across Spain until her departure in 2026 marked the end of an era. While supporters often identify simply as fans of Barcelona or the Spanish national team, Putellas herself embraces the term 'supercampeonas' to describe her vast, international following, which includes dedicated groups in the United States and beyond. The transfer to London City Lionesses in July 2026 was not just a career move but a cultural moment, with media and crowds treating the two-time Ballon d'Or winner as a historic figure reshaping the English Women's Super League. Her legacy is cemented by records like winning the UEFA Women's Player of the Year award four times, a feat that turned her consistency into a mythology of its own. As her career evolved from a playground dreamer to a continental icon, her fame expanded far beyond football circles. According to the iFANN Global Fame Rankings, Alexia Putellas is currently the 69th most famous person from Spain, a position holding steady from the previous cycle.[edit]

Putellas has been a member of the Mollet del Vallès penya since childhood and still held a membership card in 2021. The only exception to her family's Barcelona fanaticism is a cousin who supports Real Madrid. She idolized French midfielder Louisa Nécib alongside Barcelona legends Andrés Iniesta, Rivaldo, and Ronaldinho. Her younger sister Alba works as a model. Local Catalan outlet La Sotana described young Putellas as the Maradona of the playground because she dribbled past classmates as if they were broomsticks. A story fans still retell involves teenagers like Clara Serrajordi being tasked with filling her boots at Barcelona following her departure, highlighting how deeply her presence shaped the next generation. Her move to London City Lionesses in 2026 was dubbed a 'mega-money contract,' marking a historic shift for the player who spent over two decades at her boyhood club. This transition became a key part of her modern lore, with reports noting that fans and media are closely watching how she adapts to life in the English Women's Super League.[edit]

Putellas was born to Jaume Putellas Rota and Elisabet Segura Sabaté, known as Eli. She has a younger sister named Alba, who is a model. The family lived in Mollet del Vallès and were fanatical Barcelona supporters, with her father taking her to matches at Camp Nou through the local penya. As of 2026, Putellas keeps her personal life private and has not publicly discussed her living situation or whether she has pets. [edit]

Putellas has been praised by Barcelona legend Andrés Iniesta, who called her a role model for the club. Former Spain coach Jorge Vilda coached her from a young age and highlighted her passion and understanding of the game. Bayern Munich and Denmark forward Pernille Harder has called herself a big fan of Putellas. At Barcelona, she played alongside Mapi León, who is set to join her at London City Lionesses, and Melanie Serrano, the club's all-time appearance leader. She also shared the pitch with Verónica Boquete and Marta Torrejón on the Spanish national team. [edit]

Alexia Putellas has kept her romantic life extremely private throughout her career. As of 2026, there are no publicly confirmed relationships, partners, or marriages documented in credible sources. Unlike many high-profile athletes, she has never discussed dating anyone in interviews or on social media. Her focus has consistently been on her football career and her charitable foundation. The latest reported status is single. [edit]

As of 2026, iFANN currently estimates Alexia Putellas's net worth at $10 Million. Her primary income source was her salary from FC Barcelona, where she spent 14 seasons as a key player and captain. She also earns from endorsement deals, though specific brand partnerships are not publicly detailed. In 2026, she signed with London City Lionesses, securing a new contract in the English Women's Super League. Additionally, she founded the Eleven Foundation, which promotes soccer and emotional education in Mexico, reflecting her off-field interests. Her net worth has grown steadily over the years as women's football has gained more commercial attention.[edit]

Putellas has won the Ballon d'Or Féminin twice (2021, 2022), The Best FIFA Women's Player twice (2021, 2022), and the UEFA Women's Player of the Year twice (2021, 2022). She is the first woman to win any of these awards consecutively and the first to win all three in the same year. She also won the UEFA Women's Champions League three times (2021, 2023, 2024), the FIFA Women's World Cup (2023), and the UEFA Women's Nations League (2024). Domestically, she has won eight league titles and eight Copas de la Reina with Barcelona. [edit]