Alexia Putellasย has won theย Ballon dโOr 2021. The midfielder was named as the world player of the year inย Parisย on Monday night, where she was by joined four teammates who were also among the nominees (Paรฑos,ย Paredes,ย Hermoso, andย Martens). It is the first time thatย France Football has ever given the honor to a member of the Barรงa womenโs team. The evening was a memorable one withย Pedri winning the Kopa Trophyย for best young player andย Leo Messi claiming his seventh Ballon d’Or title.ย
Thrilled to win, the midfielder said “I want to thank my teammates. This is an individual award but it is unquestionably a team prize. To all the coaches that have believed in me, the fans, who I hope continue to enjoy what we do, the club, on its 122nd anniversary, and the destiny that has brought me to lift this trophy today … and to my family.”
? ALEXIA PUTELLAS, the best football player in the world! ?#MoreThanEmpowerment #BallonDor pic.twitter.com/ictiOTBvRZ
— FC Barcelona Femenรญ (@FCBfemeni) November 29, 2021
But the person she wanted to remember the most was her father: “I hope you are proud of your daughter” she said. “This is for you daddy, wherever you are.”
After the 2020 edition was canceled due to Covid-19, Alexia follows in the steps of Megan Rapinoeย (2019) andย Ada Hegerberg (2018) as she becomes the first-ever Catalan winner, male or female, and only the second Spaniard afterย Luis Suรกrez, also of Barรงa and 61 years ago in 1960.
Other Barรงa players, all men, who have previously collected the accolade areย Johan Cruyffย (1973 & 1974),ย Hristo Stoichkovย (1994),ย Rivaldoย (1999),ย Ronaldinhoย (2005), and Leo Messiย (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015 & 2019).
Alexiaโs award tops a remarkable treble-winning year for the Catalan club. She scored the second of the goals inย Gothenburgย to win the teamโs maiden Champions League and was MVP of the Copa de la Reina final which Barรงa also won to complete the domestic double. In 44 games, Alexia scored 26 goals and already has 13 from 13 games played so far this term.
Now a club icon and an example for women players in the country, she has the third-highest number of appearances for the team (364) and the second biggest all-time goal tally (157). She scored the first-ever goal at the Estadi Johan Cruyffย and also the first of modern times for a female player atย Camp Nou.
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