Alexia Putellas: Five things you did not know about the Barcelona and Spain football star

Growing up in Catalonia, women’s football star Alexia Putellas was surrounded by a family of die-hard Barcelona fans.

Despite traveling from their home in Mollet del Valles to Camp Nou often to watch the men's team play, she didn't expect that years later she too would be stepping out onto that pitch captaining a Barcelona side.

From her multiple personal accolades to her achievements with club and country, there is no doubt that the attacking midfielder has helped shaped the modern game of women's football.

Think you know the Spanish superstar? Think again.

Here are five things you did not know about Barcelona captain and Spain international, Alexia Putellas.

Alexia Putellas: Idols

The majority of Putellas’ footballing idols are those from past Barcelona men's teams - most notably Brazil's Rivaldo and Ronaldinho, and fellow Spaniard, Andres Iniesta.

With such talent going forward, it’s no surprise that the Barcelona Women’s captain has taken inspiration from three of the world’s greatest attacking midfielders.

However, Putellas also cites a former Lyon player as one of her main idols. Louisa Nécib spent the majority of her career at Lyon, becoming known as an incredible playmaker for the French club.

Similar to France’s Nécib, Putellas can play as an attacking midfielder or in a more central role.

The pair have both received high praise for their vision and passing, as well as their technicality and creativity on the ball.

It’s thanks to these traits that comparisons have previously been drawn between Nécib and Zinedine Zidane, as well as Putellas and Iniesta.

Alexia Putellas: Before football

Despite being born into a family of culers (Barcelona FC fans), football wasn’t always Putellas’ choice of sport.

Growing up, she followed in the footsteps of family members and began playing basketball - another popular sport in the Catalan region.

Alongside basketball, Putellas also played tennis and hockey.

It wasn’t until she started school that she started playing football, and attended football summer camps run by now-Barcelona manager, Xavi Hernandez.

Her early experiences of team sports led her to joining her first football club at the age of seven.

Alexia Putellas: Starting young

The 29 year old’s first ever football club was Sabadell - the only youth team in the Barcelona area with a specific women and girls section at the time.

When Putellas was seven, she managed to join the club with help from a family friend - despite Sabadell officially only accepting girls from the age of eight. It wasn't long before she was made one of the club’s captains, despite being a lot younger than the majority of her teammates.

It was here that Putellas’ leadership skills became evident, and the club experienced continuous success under the now Barcelona captain.

However, the Sabadell’s girls’ team was not a priority, which led to Putellas leaving the club to spend a year at Barcelona’s academy, La Masia. After being left with no team for her age group at La Masia, she joined Espanyol’s girls team where she went on to make her senior debut at the age of 16.

Alexia Putellas: Delight at the double

After an impressive stint with Levante, Alexia Putellas rejoined Barcelona in 2012.

In her first season with the club, she won her first ever league title after a 2-1 win at Athletic Bilbao in front of a bumper crowd.

When asked about the most special game of her career in a SPORT interview, it’s this game that she reflects on.

“The game at San Mamés in my first year, my first league. We won in front of 25,000 people, which back then 10 years ago didn't usually happen.”

Following the league win, Barcelona went on to win their first ever domestic double - beating Zaragoza 4-0 in the Copa de la Reina final.

Putellas made headlines after scoring her side’s third goal and being named the Copa de la Reina final MVP.

“I remember the first year [at Barcelona], that at 18 I was already a starter and I played practically everything,” she told SPORT.

“We won the double, the following year we repeated... practically every year I have managed to put a title in my personal record and I think that the evolution has been very good. Every time I get closer to the player I want to be and it is clear that this benefits the club. A club that I love very much, so I'm delighted.”

Alexia Putellas: History maker

As well as making history on the pitch, Putellas is no stranger to breaking barriers off of it.

In 2021, she became the third ever footballer - and first female player - to receive the prestigious Creu de Sant Jordi, an award to honour services to Catalonia. The two previous footballing recipients were Lionel Messi and Johan Cruyff.

Putellas also became the first ever woman to be projected onto Dubai’s Burj Khalifa. An image of her face was beamed onto the iconic building during the Globe Soccer Awards in 2023.

On the pitch, Putellas has become known for setting - and shattering - records.

From being the first woman to score in a competitive match at Camp Nou, to scoring in the first ever women’s El Clasico against Real Madrid - she also led Barcelona to a record-breaking season in 2021.

That season the attacking midfielder managed 18 goals in 31 games, and her side picked up 99 points from a possible 102, finishing the season with a +152 goal difference.

Alexia Putellas: Where to watch next

Putellas has been sidelined since July 5, 2022 when she tore her ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) just before the UEFA Women's European Championships.

A week after her suffering the injury, she was operated on and over the last nine months, has been working to make a full recovery.

Barcelona are set to play the second leg of their Champions League semi-final against Chelsea on April 29, 2023, and although Putellas has returned to training, it is unknown whether she will feature.

If Barcelona can make it past Chelsea, they will face either Wolfsburg or Arsenal in the Netherlands on June 3, 2023 - perhaps a more realstic date for the 29 year old to make.

There is also still ample time for Putellas to feature in this season's La Liga F. Barcelona have five remaining league games, with their last on May 21, 2023, and are currently ten points clear.

However, the fast approaching 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup is the more key goal for Putellas's return, with Spain kicking off their campaign against Costa Rica on July 21, 2023.