Neglect of African football and a third win for the Spanish great does little to challenge narrative that the prize is reserved only for top nations’ players

After a four-year wait, Alexia Putellas is the queen of women’s football once again. Receiving the Ballon d’Or for a record-equalling third time to continue Spain’s domination of this award, the 32-year-old reinforces her status as one of the greatest players of all time.

It was the sixth consecutive year in which the honour went to either Putellas or her international teammate, Aitana Bonmatí, and it was symbolic of Putellas’ resurgence after her comeback from the anterior cruciate ligament injury she suffered in her left knee in 2022, her refusal to surrender her career to that setback, and her majestic rise back to the top.