Alexia Putellas’ Brilliant Performance Against Belgium Moves Her Closer to Ballon d’Or Glory

Alexia Putellas shone brightly in Spain’s resounding 6-2 victory over Belgium, netting two goals and providing two assists, earning her second Player of the Match accolade in just two outings at EURO 2025 on Monday night. This performance perfectly highlighted the form of the two-time Ballon d’Or recipient as she concluded the season with Barcelona on a high note.

Shifting from right to left, Alexia Putellas has made her mark before the blue backdrop featuring the VISA and UEFA logos.

Spain’s number 11 has collected the coveted match award twice in a mere four days, proudly holding the notable trophy adorned with a ball.

Putellas is having a spectacular European Championship in Switzerland, boasting three goals and two assists over just two matches, with Spain’s emphatic wins of 6-2 against Belgium on Monday and 5-0 against Portugal on Thursday.

These triumphs bode well for the world champions, who historically have struggled at the European Championship, never advancing beyond the quarter-finals.

The last time they faced elimination at this stage was in 2022, losing 2-1 in extra time to England, who ultimately lifted the European title. During that period, Putellas was recovering from a serious cruciate ligament injury suffered in training prior to the Euros.

A past injury

The player who had secured her first Ballon d’Or at that point endured a classic journey faced by elite athletes confronting such injuries: a year’s hiatus, meticulous recovery, and a gradual return to the pitch…

Putellas received medical clearance to return right at the close of the 2022-23 season, although she subsequently required an arthroscopy on the same knee that had been previously operated on in December 2023.

This challenging medical journey did not deter her selection by Jorge Vilda for the 2023 World Cup, yet it did significantly limit her playing time and impact at both Barcelona and with La Roja.

However, after enduring two challenging seasons (2022-23 and 2023-24), Putellas appears to have rediscovered her brilliance. The midfielder has notched up 16 goals and 11 assists across 24 LaLiga matches, along with four goals and three assists in 10 Champions League fixtures.

These impressive statistics, coupled with her significant contributions to Barcelona since March, led Montse Tome to make her an integral part of the national squad, particularly as Aitana Bonmati missed out due to meningitis at the tournament’s outset.

And the player who simply goes by “Alexia” is certainly impressing her coach. “I process things quickly; I can envision the game unfold ahead of me, which is crucial for me to feel at my best,” she remarked in the mixed zone following Spain’s victory over Belgium.

A newfound role in Spanish football

“When I witness the team in sync, enjoying the interplay and our combinations? That lifts my performance as well,” she added.

In the match against Belgium, La Roja’s vice-captain, in support of Irene Paredes, completed 88% of her passes, provided six key passes, had 110 touches (the second-highest in the match), and hit the post once. This performance has her on the cusp of potentially claiming a third Ballon d’Or, which would set a new benchmark for female players.

Nonetheless, she isn’t focused on individual accolades at a moment when the entire nation’s eyes are set on capturing the European title.

The playmaker is eager to share the accolades with her teammates, some of whom may not be in the spotlight as much.

“Due to my position, I have the responsibility of creating opportunities; sometimes it’s me finishing moves, and other times it’s my teammates who capitalise or maintain the flow. (…) I’m here thanks to this award, but it’s the entire team that deserves recognition,” she stated.

Her team has now advanced to the quarter-finals of the Euros following two dominant victories, ensuring they match the achievements of previous generations.

“Everyone has a part to play: the pressure exerted by Esther (González), the decisions made by (Claudia) Pina and Mariona (Caldentey), as well as the brilliance of Patri; our defenders? We all understand precisely what we need to do to go as far as we can.”