Barcelona midfielder Alexia Putellas has won the women’s Ballon d’Or for 2022.
Putellas has made history as the first women’s player to become a back-to-back winner of the prize.
“Without my team-mates this would not have been possible,” said Putellas after picking up the award. “I want to thank the staff and the coach and everyone involved at Barcelona.
“I’m very happy to be back here and pleased because a year ago I was able to win this prize and it pushed me to want to be even better.”
England’s Beth Mead was the runner-up for the award after guiding the Lionesses to the European Championships title, with Chelsea’s Sam Kerr having to settle for third.
Spain international Putellas suffered a long-term injury earlier this year which ruled her out of the European Championship and is still out of action, but she still helped Barcelona to a historic Spanish league title before the setback, with the Catalan club winning all 30 matches last term.
Injury ruled Putellas out of Spain’s Euro 2022 campaign
During that campaign, Putellas scored 18 goals and registered 15 assists to help her team to glory.
Two more England players made the shortlist of the top 20 female players in the world, with right-back Lucy Bronze – who moved from Manchester City to Barcelona over the summer in tenth – while Chelsea defender Millie Bright finished in 15th place.
But Mead led the way for English players at the ceremony in Paris, with the Arsenal attacker adding the runner-up Ballon d’Or status to the Player of the Tournament award at this summer’s European Championships.
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We take a look back at Beth Mead’s goals and assists for Arsenal during the 2021-22 campaign
Mead was the competition’s top scorer with six goals but also registered five assists as Sarina Wiegman’s side won a historic first major tournament for the England women’s national team.
The 27-year-old also scored 11 goals in 22 Women’s Super League matches last season for Arsenal, who finished as runners-up to Chelsea.
Australian attacker Kerr was crucial to the Blues’ success in pipping Arsenal to the league title, scoring 20 goals in 20 matches for Emma Hayes’ team.
‘Mead rightly recognised for her contribution’
Karen Bardsley told Sky Sports:
“I’m gutted Beth didn’t win it on a selfish level. It would’ve been great to have an England player win it again but the fact she’s on the list and she’s getting the recognition over the course of the year is great.
“She had a great season last year at Arsenal but you’re thinking given the contribution at Arsenal and during the summer – and especially because England won the Euros would help.
“Beth has known how good she is, but now the whole world does.
“The criteria has changed this year and they’ve looked at the individual performance over the course of the domestic season.
“Ultimately, Alexia Putellas is a fantastic player, she’s an amazing midfielder and you can’t deny the success she’s had which took Barcelona to the La Liga title. She is very deserving of the award.”
Was Lyon’s Champions League success overlooked?
Andy Brassell told Sky Sports:
“I think a lot of people felt Alexia deserved to win it because of her status in the women’s game.
“For me, it seems a little harsh when you look at how Lyon’s incredible season coming back and won the Women’s Champions League and their highest ranked player was Ada Hegerberg who finished seventh on the list.
“I don’t think she was Lyon’s best player – Catarina Macario was – so there was a bit of a surprise with the vote but Beth Mead has won the award that really matters – which was the Euros.”
The full women’s Ballon d’Or award rankings
1st – Alexia Putellas (Barcelona and Spain)
2nd – Beth Mead (Arsenal and England)
3rd – Sam Kerr (Chelsea and Australia)
4th – Lena Oberdorf (Wolfsburg and Germany)
5th – Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona and Spain)
6th – Alexandra Popp (Wolfsburg and Germany)
7th – Ada Hegerberg (Lyon and Norway)
8th – Wendie Renard (Lyon and France)
9th – Catarina Macario (Lyon and USA)
10th – Lucy Bronze (Man City – now Barcelona and England)
11th – Vivianne Miedema (Arsenal and Netherlands)
12th – Christiane Endler (Lyon and Chile)
13th – Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride, San Diego Wave and USA)
14th – Selma Bacha (Lyon and France)
15th – Millie Bright (Chelsea and England)
16th – Marie-Antoinette Katoto (PSG and France)
17th – Asisat Oshoala (Barcelona and Nigeria)
18th – Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit and USA)
19th – Fridolina Rolfo (Barcelona and Sweden)
20th – Kadidiatou Diani (PSG and France)