London City’s Putellas wins record-equalling third Ballon d’Or

Alexia Putellas has won the Ballon d’Or Féminin for a record-equalling third time, extending Spanish players’ run of victories to six years. The award recognises her return to the top of the game after a career-threatening knee injury and comes after she captained Barcelona to a quadruple before joining London City Lionesses.

Putellas, 32, scored 21 goals and made 13 assists last season, including seven goals in Barcelona’s Champions League-winning campaign. She received the most votes from journalists in the top 50 Fifa-ranked countries; Barcelona’s Ewa Pajor finished second and Manchester City’s Khadija Shaw third. Putellas now shares the record with Spain team-mate Aitana Bonmatí, and has won 38 trophies across 14 years at Barcelona.