Photo by Catherine Ivill - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images

The Barcelona superstar is ready to lead Spain to glory and show the world ? and herself ? what she?s all about. Alexia Putellas is the best player in the world. The reigning two-time Ballon d?Or and FIFA?s ?The Best? winner has separated herself from her peers in the last few years, and the Barcelona captain sets the standard for the women?s game.
Alexia has absolutely everything: the skills, the intelligence, the physical stature to impose her will in midfield and incredible poise and efficiency in front of goal, and on top of it all she adds style and flair to every pass and dribbling move. There is no one else in the game that can make the ruthless look so beautiful. She truly is one of one. Putellas arrives at the 2023 Women?s World Cup as part of a strong Spain squad that will be among the favorites, and she?s just won her second Champions League in three years with Barça. But everything isn?t perfect. Alexia was gone for most of the season, recovering from a serious knee injury for more than 10 months ? an injury she suffered, ironically, while preparing for last year?s EUROs with Spain.
She returned at the very end of Barça?s season but played only 120 total minutes in six games off the bench, appearing in the UWCL Final for only five minutes as a late substitute in a classy move by her manager to make sure she could be the captain and get to lift the trophy.
It?s been a long, hard road ...