Barca legends Iniesta and Xavi send messages of support to Spain's Alexia Putellas after ACL injury
The Spanish midfielder was dealt the divesting news of her ACL injury just 24 hours before the women's European Championships kicked off. Now her club and country will have to prepare for months without the Ballon d'Or winner.
Spain midfielder Alexia Putellas has been ruled out of the women's EURO after suffering an ACL tear.
The 2021 Ballon d'Or winner was destined to shine on one of international football's biggest stages - but it was not meant to be.
Just a day before action got underway with the opening game of the tournament, Putellas was handed the devastating blow.
"I don't know how to start writing these lines," she wrote on Instagram.
"I look at the photo and see how quickly everything can change in a second.
"But the first thing that this situation has confirmed for me is the real pure love I feel for this sport."
Putellas talks about not going more than 'five days without touching a ball, training or competing'.
"It was and is my passion and this process will be quite a challenge but I am confident that I will recover, get back on track and finish what I start," she adds.
But for now, she will sit in the stands and "live every moment" supporting her Spanish teammates through the competition.
And while she is busy supporting them, she has been surrounded by messages of support from others.
Barcelona legends send support to Putellas
Andrés Iniesta and current FC Barcelona manager Xavi are among those to send their support to Putellas.
“I wish you to recover as soon as possible,” wrote Iniesta on Twitter.
“I’m sure you’ll come out of this even stronger.”
Xavi posted a picture of a young Putellas - who has been a lifelong Barça fan - and himself, captioned: “Here I am with the best player in the world!
“She will show us all that she is a champion.”
The two Spanish legends were among several people to show their support for Putellas, with many commenting on her Instagram post.
USWNT star Christen Press, who also suffered a recent ACL tear, writes: “Sending love & healing energy, Alexia! You are strong.”
While club and country teammate, Andrea Pereira, is determined to give back to Putellas.
“You have given and give so much to us that it is up to us to give back what we can,” she commented.
The 27-year-old has been inundated with support, and that will go a long way as she spends a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
Who can Spain call on in Putellas' absence?
As the most recent Ballon d’Or winner, and UEFA Player of the Year recipient, it is clear to see Alexia Putellas will be a huge loss for Spain.
This season alone she contributed 18 goals and 15 assists - from midfield - to Barça’s title-winning campaign.
But for Spain, the show must go on.
And though without Putellas, they still have a wealth of options to call upon in midfield.
Aitana Bonmati is one of the players that will likely step into the spotlight in the absence of her club and country teammate.
The 24-year-old has a low centre of gravity making it extremely difficult for opponents to take the ball from her.
Bonmati is a player who enjoys picking the ball up in the middle of the pitch and driving it forward; she contributed 13 goals and six assists in the league this season.
Another player that Spain can call upon is Teresa Abelleira.
The Real Madrid midfielder was not originally named in the Euros squad, but was called upon when injuries impacted their selected 23.
And now with a key player missing in the middle, she could stake her claim as a replacement.
Abelleria, like Bonmati, makes it hard for opponents to take the ball off her, notably due to her excellent close control.
Though she does not play as advanced as some midfielders, she is key at progressing the ball during transition.
Her defensive awareness can bring a sense of security to the Spanish midfield, which may be required against tough opponents.
While the loss of Putellas will be felt across the tournament, Spain are luckily not shy of options that can excel in her absence.