Liga F Moeve takes centre stage at the Ballon d'Or Gala
Spanish football, thanks to FC Barcelona, captured the spotlight at a Balón de Oro Gala where Alexia Putellas won the award after her outstanding year as an *azulgrana*. The *Blaugrana* side was the best club in the world, Pere Romeu was named the best coach, Cata Coll won the Premio Yashin and Vicky López the Kopa.
27 OCT 2026
Following another stellar season, Liga F Moeve once again took centre stage at the Ballon d'Or Gala, driven by an FC Barcelona side that clinched a historic quadruple: the league title, the UEFA Women's Champions League, the Copa de la Reina, and the Supercopa de España. Four trophies on their way to being crowned the Best Women's Club—an award they also claimed in 2023 and 2024. The Catalan side enjoyed a stunning campaign, winning 44 of their 48 matches across all competitions, scoring 193 goals and suffering just a single defeat, edging out Bayern Munich, Club América, Manchester City, and Olympique Lyonnais in the final shortlist. Meanwhile, Vicky López retained the Kopa Trophy for the second consecutive year, recognising the game's finest young talent.
The youngster from Vallecas saw off competition from teammate Clara Serrajordi, Real Madrid Femenino's Felicia Schröder, Lily Yohannes, and Veerle Buurman. "Mum, even though you are no longer by my side, I feel you in every step I take. Everything I am and everything I achieve is largely down to you. Thank you for teaching me how to fight and to never give up," said the forward, whose 12 goals and 13 assists in 45 matches proved pivotal as the team secured every available trophy. Another major protagonist of the Gala was Cata Coll. The goalkeeper made 32 appearances for the club, keeping 18 clean sheets—five of them in the Champions League—making her the most resolute shot-stopper in Europe last term. In the league, she conceded an average of just 0.35 goals per match.
"To all those goalkeepers who paved the way, and to those little girls who dream of following in their footsteps. Showing those girls that one day they can be standing right here is more important than any trophy," expressed the goalkeeper, who finished ahead of Ann-Katrin Berger, Hannah Hampton, Lorena, and Ayaka Yamashita, and whose life changed forever when she switched from central defence to pull on the goalkeeper's gloves. Meanwhile, Pere Romeu made history. The FC Barcelona head coach became the first Spanish manager to be recognised at a global level in women's football. "I see this award as a collective achievement, thanks to having a fantastic squad of players and backroom staff who raise their game every single day," said the boss, who claimed the prize ahead of Jonatan Giráldez, Elena Sadiku, Nils Nielsen, and Andrée Jeglertz.
The ultimate spotlight, however, fell on Alexia Putellas. The player from Mollet del Vallès claimed her third Ballon d'Or—and the sixth in the history of Spanish women's football—following her previous triumphs in 2021 and 2022. It capped an unforgettable year in which she netted 20 goals and provided 14 assists in 43 matches. "I remember when my leg gave way, the pain in my knee, when I had to learn to walk all over again, and when I had the most doubts—friends and family, you were right there," reflected the midfielder, who encouraged young girls to keep playing football. The accolade serves as a fitting tribute to her 14 seasons with the club, during which she has amassed 38 trophies, a record in the professional history of the blaugrana outfit. Furthermore, alongside her teammates, she lifted the UEFA Women's Nations League with Spain under the skies of the Estadio Metropolitano.