Alexia Putellas facts for kids
{{Infobox football biography | name = Alexia Putellas | image = Brann - Barça Femení CG3A5851 (cropped).jpg | caption = Putellas with Barcelona in 2024 | full_name = Catalan: Alèxia Putellas i Segura
Spanish: Alexia Putellas Segura | birth_date = 4 February 1994 | birth_place = Mollet del Vallès, Catalonia, Spain | height = 1.73 m | position = Midfielder | currentclub = Barcelona | clubnumber = 11 | youthyears1 = 2001–2005 | youthclubs1 = [[ spurs | youthyears2 = 2005–2006 | youthclubs2 = Barcelona | youthyears3 = 2006–2008 | youthclubs3 = Espanyol | years1 = 2008–2010 | clubs1 = Espanyol B | caps1 = | goals1 = | years2 = 2010–2011 | clubs2 = Espanyol | caps2 = 25 | goals2 = 3 | years3 = 2011–2012 | clubs3 = Levante | caps3 = 34 | goals3 = 15 | years4 = 2012– | clubs4 = Barcelona | caps4 = 311 | goals4 = 144 | nationalyears1 = 2004–2007 | nationalteam1 = Catalonia U12 | nationalcaps1 = 3+ | nationalyears2 = 2006–2008 | nationalteam2 = Catalonia U14 | nationalyears3 = 2008–2010 | nationalteam3 = Catalonia U15/U16 | nationalcaps3 = 3+ | nationalgoals3 = 2+ | nationalyears4 = 2009–2011 | nationalteam4 = Spain U17 | nationalcaps4 = 4+ | nationalgoals4 = 1+ | nationalyears5 = 2010–2012 | nationalteam5 = Catalonia U18 | nationalyears6 = 2011–2013 | nationalteam6 = Spain U19 | nationalcaps6 = 20 | nationalgoals6 = 13 | nationalyears7 = 2013– | nationalteam7 = Spain | nationalcaps7 = 116 | nationalgoals7 = 30 | nationalyears8 = 2014– | nationalteam8 = Catalonia | nationalcaps8 = 3 | nationalgoals8 = 1 | club-update = 06:39, 16 November 2024 (UTC) | nationalteam-update = 23:50, 19 June 2024 (UTC) | medaltemplates = |- align=center valign=middle bgcolor="#eeeeee" |colspan ="3"| Women's football
|- align=center valign=middle bgcolor="#eeeeee" |colspan ="3"| Representing 
Spain
|- align=center valign=middle bgcolor="#cccccc" |colspan ="3"| FIFA Women's World Cup
|- align=center valign=middle bgcolor=white |bgcolor=gold| Winner|| 2023 Australia-New Zealand||
|- align=center valign=middle bgcolor="#cccccc" |colspan ="3"| UEFA Women's Nations League
|- align=center valign=middle bgcolor=white |bgcolor=gold| Winner|| 2024 France–Netherlands–Spain|| }} Alexia Putellas (born February 4, 1994) is a Spanish professional footballer. She plays as a midfielder or forward. Alexia is the captain for Liga F club Barcelona and the Spain women's national team. She has also played for Espanyol and Levante. Many people think she is one of the best female footballers ever.
Alexia has been with Barcelona since 2012. Before that, she played for Espanyol's youth teams. With Barcelona, she has won many titles, including eight league titles, eight Copas de la Reina, and three UEFA Women's Champions League trophies. In the 2020–21 season, she helped Barcelona win the Champions League and a special "continental treble" (three major trophies in one season) for the first time.
After this amazing season, Alexia won several big individual awards in 2021. These included the UEFA Women's Player of the Year Award, the Ballon d'Or Féminin, and The Best FIFA Women's Player. She was the first player to win all three in the same year. In 2022, she won all three awards again, even though she was injured. This made her the first woman to win any of these awards two years in a row.
For Spain's national teams, Alexia has also had great success. She won two UEFA Women's U-17 Euros in 2010 and 2011. She also helped Spain win the 2023 World Cup and the 2023–24 UEFA Women's Nations League. Alexia holds the record for the most appearances for the Spain women's team, with over 100 games played.
Contents
Early Life and How She Started
Alexia Putellas was born on February 4, 1994, in Mollet del Vallès, Spain. She has a younger sister named Alba. Alexia has always been a big fan of FC Barcelona. She used to go to matches with her dad at the Camp Nou. Her family loved football, and she grew up watching games with them.
When she was young, Alexia looked up to male Barcelona players like Andrés Iniesta and Ronaldinho. She also admired female footballer Louisa Nécib. Iniesta has even said that Alexia is a great role model.
Alexia came from a family that played basketball. She tried many sports as a child, including basketball, roller hockey, and tennis. She started playing football at school. At seven years old, she joined her first club, CF Mollet UE. She soon moved to the Sabadell girls' team. Even though some people thought football wasn't for girls, her family always supported her dream. Alexia was a quiet but strong leader from a young age.
In 2013, Alexia started studying Business Administration at Pompeu Fabra University. She later paused her studies to focus on football. This was because women's football in Spain became more professional around 2015.
Playing for Clubs
Youth Teams
Alexia started playing for Sabadell when she was seven. She even played with future Barcelona teammates like Vicky Losada. She was younger than many players but became a team captain.
In 2005, Alexia joined a Barcelona youth team for a year. It was her dream to play for Barcelona. She won youth titles there. But she had to leave when the team changed. Many players, including Alexia, then joined Espanyol.
Espanyol and Levante
Alexia joined Espanyol's youth team when she was twelve. Espanyol was a strong team in women's football back then. She played with future Barcelona stars like Marta Torrejón. At 16, in 2010, she made her first team debut for Espanyol. She helped them win the Copa de la Reina in 2010.
In 2011, Alexia moved to Levante when she was seventeen. Levante had a professional environment, which was rare then. This helped Alexia grow as a player. She scored 15 goals in 34 games in her season there. Her coach helped her improve her skills and use both feet.
Joining Barcelona
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In 2012, Alexia rejoined Barcelona. It was a big moment for her. Barcelona wanted her to be a key player for their long-term goals. She started playing as a forward or winger. In 2013, she won her first league title with Barcelona. She also scored a famous goal in the Copa de la Reina final, which Barcelona won 4–0. She was named the best player of that final.
By 2014, Alexia was seen as the future of both Barcelona and the Spanish national team. She helped Barcelona win another league title. She also scored important goals in the 2014 Copa de la Reina final, helping them win on penalties. She was again named the best player of the final.
In 2015, Barcelona won their third league title with Alexia. The club became fully professional in 2015. Alexia was happy to be able to make a living from football.
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In 2017, Barcelona reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Women's Champions League for the first time. Alexia helped them win the Copa de la Reina again that year. In 2018, she wore the captain's armband for Barcelona for the first time.
Becoming a Captain and Winning Big
In the 2018–19 season, Alexia became Barcelona's fourth captain. She helped Barcelona reach their first ever Champions League final in 2019. They lost to Lyon, but Alexia was named to the Champions League Squad of the Season. She also became Barcelona's top scorer that season.
In 2019, Alexia became Barcelona's second captain. She often led the team on the field. In 2020, she made her 300th appearance for Barcelona. She helped Barcelona win the league title in 2020, her fourth league title with the club. She was named the best player of the 2019–20 league season.
In 2021, Alexia scored the first competitive goal by a female player at Barcelona's famous Camp Nou stadium. She helped Barcelona win their first ever UEFA Women's Champions League title in 2021. She scored a penalty in the final against Chelsea, which Barcelona won 4–0. This win meant Barcelona completed a historic "continental treble" (winning the league, cup, and Champions League). Alexia was named the MVP of the Copa de la Reina final for the third time. She was also the highest-scoring midfielder in Europe that season.
Top Awards and Injury
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At the start of the 2021–22 season, Alexia became Barcelona's main captain. In August 2021, she won the UEFA Women's Player of the Year Award. In November 2021, she won the Ballon d'Or Féminin, becoming the first Spanish woman to win this big award. She dedicated it to her father. In January 2022, she also won The Best FIFA Women's Player award.
In March 2022, Alexia scored two goals in a Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid. The home game at Camp Nou broke the record for attendance at a women's football match, with over 91,500 fans! She also scored two goals in the semi-final against Wolfsburg, breaking the attendance record again with over 91,600 fans.
Barcelona reached the Champions League final again in 2022, but lost to Lyon. However, Alexia was named the Champions League Player of the Season and the top scorer with 11 goals. She finished the 2021–22 season as Europe's highest-scoring midfielder again, with 34 goals.
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In July 2022, Alexia suffered a serious knee injury (ACL tear) while training with Spain. This meant she missed most of the 2022–23 season. Despite her injury, she still won the UEFA Women's Player of the Year, Ballon d'Or Féminin, and FIFA The Best Women's Player awards again, setting a new record for winning them two years in a row.
She returned to playing in April 2023. In Barcelona's last match of the season, the 2023 UEFA Women's Champions League final, she came on as a substitute. Barcelona won 3–2 against Wolfsburg, winning another Champions League title.
Recent Seasons
In the 2023–24 season, Alexia played more as a striker. She made her 400th appearance for Barcelona. She also became Barcelona's all-time leading goalscorer, passing Jennifer Hermoso. She scored her 182nd goal for the club.
Alexia had another knee surgery in late 2023 but returned to play in March 2024. She helped Barcelona win their third Champions League title in 2024. This win completed a historic "continental quadruple" for Barcelona, meaning they won four major trophies in one season!
In the 2024–25 season, Alexia continued to score important goals. By November 2024, she had reached 200 goals for Barcelona, becoming the club's third-highest goalscorer of all time.
Playing for Spain
Youth Success
Alexia played for Catalonia's youth teams from age ten. She won Spanish Championships with them.
She started playing for Spain's national youth teams at fifteen. She won the UEFA U-17 Women's Championship in 2010. She also helped Spain finish third in the 2010 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup that same year. In 2011, Spain won the UEFA U-17 Women's Championship again, with Alexia scoring important goals.
In 2012, Alexia played for Spain's under-19 team and was their captain. She helped them reach the final of the 2012 UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship.
Senior Team and World Cup Wins
Alexia first played for the Spain senior national team in 2013. She scored her first goal in a 3–2 win against England at the UEFA Women's Euro 2013. This was Spain's first Euro win in 16 years.
In 2015, Alexia was part of Spain's squad for their first ever FIFA Women's World Cup. In 2019, she played in her second World Cup. She also helped Spain win second place in the 2020 SheBelieves Cup in 2020. Alexia was named the best player of that tournament.
In April 2021, Alexia became one of Spain's three captains. In October 2021, she broke the record for most appearances for the Spain national team. In July 2022, she became the first player to reach 100 games for the national team.
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Unfortunately, just before the UEFA Women's Euro 2022, Alexia tore her ACL and missed the tournament.
After recovering from her injury, Alexia returned to the national team in June 2023. She was called up for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. Even though she wasn't fully fit, she helped Spain win their first ever major trophy by winning the World Cup!
After the World Cup, there were some disagreements between the players and the Spanish Football Federation. Alexia helped the players talk to the federation to make things better. She was voted captain of the team again.
In February 2024, Alexia returned to play for Spain in the 2024 UEFA Women's Nations League Finals. Spain won the final, which also qualified them for the 2024 Summer Olympics.
How She Plays
Alexia Putellas is known as a left-sided central or attacking midfielder. She is mostly left-footed. People say she plays like famous Barcelona male midfielders such as Xavi and Andrés Iniesta. She has great vision, passing skills, and is very creative. She is also a strong leader and very fit.
Alexia is a big part of Barcelona's attacks. She can play as an attacking midfielder or a second striker. She often scores goals and provides assists. She is known for her "fancy flicks" and clever moves with the ball. She can pass the ball very well, especially into the penalty area. Even though she isn't super fast, she can dribble well and keep the ball.
When the ball is on the right side of the field, Alexia often positions herself in the box to score. She takes many shots from inside the box. She is good at finding open spaces and making runs that are hard for defenders to spot.
Alexia also helps with defense. She can press high up the field to win the ball back. She is good at winning defensive challenges.
Personal Life
Alexia was very close to her father. He traveled to watch her play even when he was sick. He passed away in 2012. Alexia often points to the sky after scoring goals to remember him.
In 2020, her friend Virginia Torrecilla was diagnosed with cancer. Alexia started wearing Torrecilla's number 14 jersey for the Spain national team to show support.
Alexia speaks Catalan as her main language. She learned Spanish in school and English more recently. She has a pet dog named Nala. Alexia has many tattoos, including Latin phrases and symbols that are important to her.
Honours
Espanyol
- Copa de la Reina: 2010
- Copa Catalunya: 2008
Barcelona
- Primera División: 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24
- UEFA Women's Champions League: 2020–21, 2022–23, 2023–24
- Copa de la Reina: 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2023–24
- Supercopa de España: 2019–20, 2021–22
- Copa Catalunya: 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
Spain U17
- UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship: 2010, 2011
Spain
- FIFA Women's World Cup: 2023
- UEFA Women's Nations League: 2023–24
Individual Awards
- Ballon d'Or Féminin: 2021, 2022
- The Best FIFA Women's Player: 2021, 2022
- UEFA Women's Player of the Year: 2020–21, 2021–22
- UEFA Women's Champions League Player of the Season: 2021–22
- UEFA Women's Champions League Midfielder of the Season: 2020–21
- UEFA Women's Champions League Squad of the Season: 2018–19, 2020–21, 2021–22
- UEFA Women's Champions League Best Goalscorer: 2021–22
- IFFHS Women's Player of the Year: 2021, 2022
- IFFHS Women's Playmaker of the Year: 2021, 2022
- World Soccer Women's World Player of the Year: 2021
- Globe Soccer Women's Player of the Year: 2021, 2022
- FIFA FIFPRO Women's World 11: 2022, 2024
- Catalan Women's Player of the Year: 2015, 2017, 2021, 2022
- Primera División MVP of the Season: 2019–20
- Copa de la Reina Final MVP: 2013, 2014, 2021
- Copa de la Reina Top goalscorer: 2020–21, 2021–22
- Spain women's national team Player of the Year: 2021
- SheBelieves Cup Tournament MVP: 2020
- IFFHS Women's World Team: 2021, 2022
- Creu de Sant Jordi: 2021
Images for kids
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Putellas with Barcelona in February 2016
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Putellas with Barcelona in February 2017
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Putellas (left) with Barcelona during the 2019 UEFA Women's Champions League final
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Putellas with Spain in 2024
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See Also
In Spanish: Alexia Putellas para niños
- List of women's footballers with 100 or more international caps
- List of recipients of the Creus de Sant Jordi
