India, Oct. 27 -- Alexia Putellas returned to the Ballon d'Or podium four years after her last triumph. The 32-year-old Spaniard had previously won the award in 2021 and 2022. She has now drawn level with her former Barcelona teammate Aitana Bonmati at three Ballon d'Or Feminin awards.

Putellas led Barcelona to four trophies in the 2025-26 season. The individual award is recognition of the exceptional season she had. But it had not always been a smooth-running story.

Putellas's career lately has been a story of momentum interrupted by unfortunate injuries. In 2021-22, she played 3,118 minutes for Barcelona. Putellas made 42 appearances that season and scored 34 goals.

However, she could not build on that form after suffering an ACL inj...