500 games for FC Barcelona: How Alexia Putellas became the heart of Blaugrana

Alexia Putellas is synonymous with FC Barcelona. She is not the ‘female [Lionel] Messi’, she is one of one – a player whose career at the club spans decades, achieving mammoth milestones and taking her side from a semi-professional outfit to one of, if not the, best football teams in the women’s game.

On Thursday (2 April), her longevity and resilience culminated in her 500th appearance for the Catalan club. It was fitting that the landmark achievement would fall on a Champions League night, Putellas scoring the first goal of a 6-0 thumping over rivals Real Madrid.

“I have no words to describe the feeling right now,” she told Disney+ at full-time. “It’s been magical. Around 20 years ago, it was me sat in the corner of the stadium with my family, and now I can say that I have played my 500th game for the club here.”

Putellas sounded out the fans, who have helped create a number of special moments over the years. She added: “The fans are the best, I have always said it. The best thing this side has is the connection with the supporters because we always go out to try and represent the shirt as best we can.

“I am super grateful and I hope the fans see it as an opportunity for them, because I was where they were. I am human, like everyone here today, and one day I am sure they can achieve [this].”

An appearance milestone of this size is impressive in any capacity, but to achieve it for one club at a time when the sport is still very much on the rise, is a testament to Putellas’ drive and determination.

Alexia Putellas: A formidable rise to the top

Putellas is a player purpose-built for the big moments. Whether it is for club and country, she has become the kind of leader teammates can rely on.

To understand just how special the ties that bind her to Barça are, you must trace it back to the earlier days of her sporting career which initially consisted of basketball. While from a family of culers, she grew up spending her time on the court as opposed to the pitch.

She equally tried her hand at tennis and hockey, but it wouldn’t be until school when she would begin playing football. Putellas attended summer camps ran by legendary Barça midfielder Xavi Hernández. By seven, she was part of her first club.

At Sabadell – one of the only sides with a girls’ youth team in the Barcelona region at the time – she displayed those early signs of being a real leader, prompting her to become captain. As the years went on, however, it became clear the girls’ team was not a priority at the club, leading Putellas to write her first chapter in the Barcelona history books.

At 11, she spent a year in La Masia. After a restructuring of the women’s set-up, she was left with no team for her age group, putting a life-long dream on-hold with a move to Espanyol in 2006. In 2012, via a year-long stint at Levante, she rejoined Barça to resume what would go on to be a truly special story between a player and the club of her life.

She has gone on to guide them to domestic dominance, Champions League success, and be seen as the face of not only the club but of Spanish football, too. Putellas was eventually entrusted with the captain’s armband, a nod to her leadership both on and off the field.

As far as history goes, the 32-year-old hasn’t finished writing it for Blaugrana just yet.

Key numbers behind the milestone

1 – Alexia’s first official game for FC Barcelona came in 2012, where the Catalan club beat L’Estartit 8-0 in the semi-final of Copa Catalunya.

100 – A century of games came in a league game against Athletic Club in 2014, winning 4-0 and marking it with a goal just before half-time.

200 – Putellas played her 200th game for Barça in 2017, coming against Fundación Albacete in a comfortable 3-0 victory.

300 – Milestone No. 300 came in 2020, featuring a blistering 7-0 victory over Huelva. Once again, she marked the occasion with a goal.

400 – Three years later, game 400 was the curtain-raiser of the 23/24 campaign where Barça eclipsed Madrid CFF in a 2-0 win.

500 – The most recent landmark in Alexia’s lengthy Catalan career came in the 25/26 UEFA Women’s Champions League, up against Real Madrid in an El Clásico. Putellas opened the scoring to mark the occasion, as her side advanced following a hefty 12-2 score on aggregate.

516 – This is an appearance number yet to be achieved, though one which would see her become the club’s all-time leading appearance maker. The record is currently held by Melanie Serrano. If it comes, however, it won’t be until next season.

229 – With 229, Putellas currently stands as the club’s all-time leading goalscorer. She has contributed to 10 per cent of their overall goals in the Champions League.

35 – Over the course of her career in Spain, Alexia has won 35 trophies, many of which she has lifted as the captain of the club.

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