Alexia Putellas' third lesson at the European Championship

Spain has two thrashings and Alexia Putellas has two MVPs at the European Championship in Switzerland. The Spanish national team has two of the tournament's top scorers, with three goals each. One is number nine, Esther, and the other is Alexia herself. It's no coincidence. The Barcelona captain is masterfully leading the Reds . This Friday against Italy, she'll try to use her third lesson to take the team to first place in the group.

At 31, the midfielder is shining in an international tournament like never before. The double Ballon d'Or winner's performance proves that her serious knee injury is history.

Two games, two MVPs With three goals and two assists, the midfielder has already been voted player of the match twice.

This European Championship, the third of her career, is special for her as the previous one ended prematurely and abruptly . On July 5, 2022, three days before her debut in England, Putellas tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee. It took her almost 10 months to return to the field.

That's all behind her, but not forgotten, as Alexia learned that she had to take care of herself, prepare, and recover after every effort. She came back with flying colors and now writes brilliant pages as the narrator of the national team's attacks. In addition to her three goals, one against Portugal and two against Belgium , she has also provided two assists, both against the Belgians. Last Monday, in Thun, only the post prevented her from scoring a hat trick . That performance earned her a score of 10 on Sofascore, a website specializing in advanced statistics.

From nightmare to dream In July 2022, a serious knee injury caused him to miss the Euro in England and three years later he is shining

In the absence of her friend Jenni Hermoso, due to a technical decision, and with Aitana Bonmatí starting from the bench in the first two matches in Switzerland , Alexia has detected the need and stepped up to put her class and vision of the game at the service of the team.

Her teammates know her influence and all seek her out on the pitch. Her Ballon d'Or status also intimidates opponents. Against Portugal, she made 83 saves. Against Belgium, she made well over 100 saves (111). Between the two matches, in 180 minutes, she only failed to make 17 passes.

He's back in the mix She already has 27 goals and 19 assists, the same numbers that in 20-21 made her the first Spanish woman to win the Ballon d'Or.

“When I see the team flowing, finding each other and linking up, it reflects on me,” she says of her influence in the game. Her leading role on the field doesn't go unnoticed by Montse Tomé. “She's giving a lot of performance to the team. You can tell she's enjoying herself and she's had two great matches. I'm very happy for her,” the coach adds.

But Alexia, despite being a star, is everyone's friend, especially when she's teamed up with her Barça midfield teammates Patri Guijarro, Aitana, Vicky López, and Pina, with whom she gets along perfectly. "Because of my position, I have the role of creating chances; sometimes I finish them or others finish them."

In 2023, as expected, she struggled to get going after the operation and the long recovery, but she was included in the squad to play and win the World Cup. Alexia started three matches and came on as a substitute in the other four, including the historic final against England when she came on in the final stretch to hold on.

The coach sees her influence "She's giving a lot of performance as a team. You can tell she's enjoying herself and she's had two great matches. I'm very happy for her," says Montse Tomé.

He had been key in the Champions League final in Bilbao (Barça beat Lyon 2-0), and his performances increased at the Olympic Games (276 minutes, 64 more, in six matches), but he wasn't the undisputed star he always was. He came on as a substitute in the quarterfinal elimination against Brazil, and then missed the penalty that could have forced extra time in the bronze medal match against Germany.

A blow that has further spurred her on to be decisive again. She currently has 27 goals and 19 assists this season between her club and national team. These are exactly the same numbers that helped her become the first Spanish woman to win the Ballon d'Or in 2020-21. But the sensations and agility back up those numbers. "I'm feeling very mentally quick, and for me it's a sign that I feel good," confesses Alexia, who, thanks to lessons, is back in the running for the grand prize three years after her nightmare.