Alexia Putellas already collected numerous titles, but also had to master setbacks. Now she is the formative figure of Spain at a tournament for the first time-and the greatest danger to the DFB team.
The world champion is waiting after the effort against France. On Wednesday (9 p.m. in the T-Online Livetecker), the German national women’s team will meet Spain at the European Championship in Switzerland-and is again an outsider. This is because “La Furia Roja” has so far put an impressive tournament. Four games, four victories, plus most of the goals (16) of all teams.
One who has been shining at the club level for years, but despite their 136 international matches, it has not yet been able to shape a major tournament in the national team. Until now. Alexia Putellas, nickname: “La Reina”, the queen. She is the top scorer of this European Championship with three goals and four templates. And in the form of her life. Which means something in view of your incomparable title collection.
Twice world footballer of the year, Europe’s footballer of the year, three Champions League title, nine-time Spanish champion, ten times cup winner with FC Barcelona. In addition world champion 2023. The awards and titles of Spain’s player sound after a fairytale-macellilous career. But her career was not always straight.
Putellas was 18 when her father Jaume died in 2012. He was her sponsor. She devoted her first balloon d’Or 2021 to him. After a goal, she regularly points up to him to the sky. Her path to the top still seemed effortless – until she tore the cruciate ligament on the eve of 2022. Spain lost 0-2 in the group phase against Germany and failed in the quarter -finals on the later title holder of England.
Her debut in the national team made Putellas shortly before the European Championships in 2013, which was also her first international tournament. Since then it has been an integral part of the national team. In 2017 she was part of the European Championship squad and also took part in the 2015 and 2019 World Championships. But she never got out of the quarter -finals with her team.
In the 2023 World Cup triumph, the left-footer only played a supporting role because of her long injury. In the same year, a meniscus injury threw it back. At the time, she told her mother that she had to “give up football”.
Fortunately, an error. Because: Putellas came back more than before. “I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time, I’m really excited. I worked hard to be here again,” said the 31-year-old before the tournament start in Switzerland. Now the vice captain is an indispensable leader and player. “The best Alexia is back – and maybe even better,” wrote the Spanish Sportblatt As.
With her achievements, she not only impressed Spanish media, but also former world -class players. Barça legend Xavi Putellas recently nestled. “When it comes to passing, it is the best when it comes to speed, it is one of the best when it comes to technical skills, it is the best,” said the 2010 world champion.
Putellas played over 400 games for FC Barcelona, for which she has been running since 2012. With more than 180 goals, she is a record scorer of the association. She is so popular in her home country that a documentary entitled “Alexia: Labor Omnia Vincit” (German: “Work Defeated”) appeared. But she never looked at this. “I know who I am,” said Putellas.