Alexia Putellas (32) is leaving FC Barcelona. The journey with the symbolic captain who was part of the women's team's history is also coming to an end.
FC Barcelona announced on the 27th (Korean time) through the club's official channels that "Alexia Putellas will leave the team after the end of this season."
The club said, "A player who joined from Levante in 2012 and has served as a symbol of Barcelona's women's team for 14 years," and explained, "She was more than just a footballer for the club."
Putellas is a player who represents the history of Barcelona's women's team. She served as team captain for a long time and led Barcelona's heyday. Her position is attacking midfielder.
A native of the Catalonia region, Putellas began playing football in her youth, went through Espanyol and Levante, and joined Barcelona in 2012. For more than 10 years afterward, she played as a central player for the team and became an iconic figure of the Barcelona women's team as it grew into the world's best.
She began to make her presence felt on the world stage in the 2020-21 season. At that time, Putellas led Barcelona to a historic treble and became the first Spanish female player to win the Ballon d'Or. She went on in 2022 to again claim the Ballon d'Or and the FIFA Best Women's Player award simultaneously, cementing her place among the world's best players.
Her playing style was also highly regarded. She was considered a midfielder who possessed attacking development, game coordination skills, and goal-scoring ability. In fact, she is the player with the most goals in Barcelona women's team history.
There were trials as well. In 2022 she suffered a major injury, an anterior cruciate ligament tear, and was sidelined for a long period. However, she succeeded in returning after about a year and then again played a central role for the team, contributing to the winning streak.
The statistics are overwhelming. Putellas appeared in 507 official matches for Barcelona. That is the second-most appearances in the women's team's history. Her goal tally is a whopping 232 goals.
The number of trophies is dazzling as well. She reached the top a total of 38 times, including four UEFA Women's Champions League titles, 10 league titles, 10 Copa de la Reina titles, six Spanish super cups, and eight Catalonia cups.
Her individual career is also world-class. She claimed the Ballon d'Or twice, FIFA Best Women's Player twice, and UEFA Women's Player of the Year, among others, establishing herself as a leading figure in women's football.
She also left significant achievements with the Spain national team. She was part of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup–winning squad and experienced winning the UEFA Women's Nations League twice.
Putellas is not evaluated as just an outstanding player. She remains a figure symbolizing the growth of Barcelona's women's team and the rise of the status of women's football worldwide.
Putellas is scheduled to hold an official farewell event at Spotify Camp Nou on the 27th.
Barcelona said, "Putellas is a player who left a great impact on the development of women's football both on and off the field. We will prepare a special occasion to honor the legacy she left."
Barcelona did not assess Putellas as merely a star player. The club emphasized, "She returned endlessly despite serious injuries and each time led the team again," and added, "She was a player who demonstrated sacrifice, patience and mental strength."
The club added, "Putellas's story is not simply a personal success story. She was a symbol of the growth of Barcelona's women's team and a figure who will be remembered in the history of women's football worldwide."
[OSEN]