Alexia Putellas a worthy Ballon d’Or winner but the limited shortlist illustrates flaws

Neglect of African football and a third win for the Spanish great does little to challenge narrative that the prize is reserved only for top nations’ players After a four-year wait, Alexia Putellas is the queen of women’s football once again.

Receiving the Ballon d’Or for a record‑equalling third time to continue Spain’s domination of the award, the 32-year-old reinforces her status as one of the greatest players of all time. It was the sixth consecutive year in which the honour went to either Putellas or her international teammate Aitana Bonmatí,…