Alexia Putellas Wins Record-Equalling Third Ballon d’Or at 2026 Awards

Alexia Putellas won the 2026 Women’s Ballon d’Or at the annual France Football awards ceremony, taking the trophy for a record-equalling third time. Her win came at the same event where Harry Kane was crowned men’s Ballon d’Or winner, and Barcelona Femeni — the club side Putellas plays for — was named the best team of the year.

What happened at the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony?

The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony handed out its top honours around two familiar names. Alexia Putellas won the Ballon d’Or Feminin — the women’s award — for a record-equalling third time, according to the BBC. Harry Kane took the men’s Ballon d’Or, as confirmed in live coverage by Sportstar. In the team category, Barcelona Femeni was named the best team, as reported by Barca Blaugranes. No other individual winners were confirmed in the headlines available, so reporting centred on these results.

Coverage of the night was reported as a live event, with NBC Sports and Sky Sports publishing updates as the winners were announced.

How many Ballon d’Or awards has Alexia Putellas won?

Adding the 2026 win to her previous two, Alexia Putellas has now won the Ballon d’Or Feminin three times — a total the BBC described as record-equalling. That phrasing matters: it means she has matched the most wins in the award’s history rather than broken past it. That places her alongside the award’s most decorated recipients, even though the headlines do not name the player she is now level with. The detail of who previously held the record is left open.

Who else won at the 2026 Ballon d’Or?

Three headline honours were confirmed from the 2026 ceremony:

The pairing of Kane and Putellas as the night’s headline winners was flagged across multiple outlets, with NBC Sports describing both as the big winners of the 2026 ceremony.

Were Alexia Putellas and Harry Kane expected to win?

Both players were named among the pre-ceremony favourites for the France Football award. Sky Sports’ preview coverage ahead of the 2026 ceremony listed Harry Kane and Alexia Putellas as leading candidates, and both ultimately converted that favourite status into trophies on the night. Pre-ceremony predictions highlighted:

• Harry Kane — men’s Ballon d’Or favourite
• Alexia Putellas — Women’s Ballon d’Or favourite

What is the Ballon d’Or, and who presents it?

The Ballon d’Or is an annual football award presented by France Football, given to the players judged the best of the year. Its women’s counterpart, the Ballon d’Or Feminin, recognises the top female player. At the 2026 edition, Kane was crowned in the men’s category, Putellas in the women’s, and Barcelona Femeni as best team.

For broader context, the Ballon d’Or is long regarded as club football’s most prestigious individual honour. The ceremony headlines do not state how the 2026 voting was conducted or the size of the winners’ margins, so those specifics are not covered here.

Does a record-equalling third win mean she holds the outright record now?

Not necessarily. Record-equalling indicates a tie with the previous best rather than a new standalone record. Nothing in the ceremony headlines clarifies whether the record is shared or whether the totals were identical, so the precise status of the record remains open.

Why was Barcelona Femeni named best team?

Barcelona Femeni was named the best team at the 2026 Ballon d’Or, an honour reported alongside Putellas’s individual win. Putellas plays for Barcelona Femeni, so the two results shared a platform in coverage of the night. The selection criteria used for the team award are not detailed in the headlines available.

Who is Alexia Putellas?

Alexia Putellas is a Spanish footballer who has been central to Barcelona Femeni’s sustained success in the women’s game. She has been a defining presence in the club’s trophy-winning run, and her individual honours have repeatedly mirrored the club’s collective achievements. Her 2026 triumph underlines her standing at the top of the sport. Background details such as career statistics and international record are beyond what the ceremony headlines report.

How did the 2026 Ballon d’Or coverage unfold?

Outlets including Sky Sports, Sportstar and NBC Sports covered the 2026 Ballon d’Or as a live event, publishing updates as each winner was announced. Pre-ceremony reporting had flagged Kane and Putellas as favourites, and post-announcement coverage confirmed both had won, alongside Barcelona Femeni’s best-team recognition.

The 2026 Ballon d’Or in brief

• Men’s winner: Harry Kane
• Women’s winner: Alexia Putellas (record-equalling third Ballon d’Or)
• Best team: Barcelona Femeni
• Presenters: France Football
• Format: annual ceremony covered live by multiple outlets

Note: details beyond these points were not stated in the headlines cited.

What happens next for the 2026 winners?

The headlines do not indicate any immediate plans for Alexia Putellas or Harry Kane following the ceremony. Typically, Ballon d’Or winners return to their clubs and national teams, but nothing about their near-term schedules is stated in the reporting cited.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Ballon d'Or Feminin awards has Alexia Putellas won?

Alexia Putellas has won the Ballon d'Or Feminin three times. Her 2026 victory made it a record-equalling third time, according to the BBC. The available headlines do not identify the player whose record she matched, so the previous record-holder's identity is not confirmed in this coverage.

Who won the 2026 men's Ballon d'Or?

Harry Kane won the 2026 men's Ballon d'Or at the same France Football ceremony where Alexia Putellas claimed the women's award. Live coverage from Sportstar and NBC Sports confirmed Kane as the men's winner, with both players described as the big winners of the night.

Was Barcelona Femeni recognised at the 2026 Ballon d'Or?

Yes. Barcelona Femeni was named the best team at the 2026 Ballon d'Or, an honour reported alongside Alexia Putellas's individual women's win. Putellas plays for Barcelona Femeni. The selection criteria for the team award were not detailed in the ceremony headlines.

Which organisation presents the Ballon d'Or?

The Ballon d'Or is presented by France Football. The women's version is known as the Ballon d'Or Feminin. At the 2026 edition, France Football's awards crowned Harry Kane in the men's category, Alexia Putellas in the women's category, and Barcelona Femeni as best team.

Were Alexia Putellas and Harry Kane favourites before the 2026 ceremony?

Yes. Sky Sports' preview coverage listed both Harry Kane and Alexia Putellas among the favourites for the 2026 France Football award ahead of the ceremony. Both went on to win their respective categories on the night.

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Meera Krishnan

Meera Krishnan covers lifestyle, travel, food, wellness, home and everyday trends. Her articles focus on useful ideas, interesting developments and practical information for modern readers.

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