Alexia Putellas Matches Lionel Messi As She Completes Football With Spain’s World Cup Win

Alexia Putellas has further enriched her collection of accolades by clinching the World Cup trophy. This achievement was realized when Spain emerged victorious against England in the championship match. Notably, Lionel Messi replicated a similar feat last year by guiding Argentina to a World Cup triumph over France in the final.

It's no secret that Alexia Putellas admires Lionel Messi, and she emulated his accomplishment by securing the World Cup title on Sunday. This esteemed recognition has been added to her ever-expanding list of achievements.

E360hubs football takes a closer look at the achievements of these two exceptional athletes and delves into why some believe they personify the essence of football.

Alexia Putellas' Catalog of Achievements:

Alexia Putellas is widely acclaimed as one of the most exceptional female footballers in history. Her journey began with FC Barcelona Femeni in 2012, and since then, she has exhibited unparalleled dominance in the sport.

Throughout her illustrious career, she has clinched a remarkable seven La Liga F titles, consecutively securing victory in the last four editions. Additionally, she has triumphed in the Copa de la Reina seven times, attaining this prestigious accolade in 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, and 2022.

Notably, Putellas has also celebrated victory in the Supercopa on three occasions, accomplishing this feat with Barcelona in 2020, 2022, and 2023.

Her prowess has extended to the European stage, exemplified by her conquest of the UEFA Women’s Champions League in both 2021 and 2023. A particularly memorable moment was her role in Barcelona's comeback from a two-goal deficit in the second half to secure a 3-2 victory against VfL Wolfsburg in the competition.

Putellas' success with Barcelona led to an array of individual accolades. In 2021, she made history by becoming the first player to win the Ballon d'Or Féminin, the UEFA Women's Player of the Year Award, and the Best FIFA Women's Player Award in the same year. This remarkable achievement was replicated in 2022, as confirmed by UEFA.com.

Her impact was also felt on the international stage, as evidenced by her triumph in the UEFA Women’s U-17 Euros in both 2010 and 2011. While success on the senior level with Spain had previously eluded her, this changed in the current year when La Roja secured victory in the World Cup.

Overcoming a challenging start with a 4-0 loss to Japan in the group stage, Spain went on to conquer Switzerland, the Netherlands, Sweden, and England in the knockout rounds, ultimately clinching their inaugural World Cup title.

Lionel Messi's Array of Accomplishments:

Lionel Messi's illustrious career has been marked by a plethora of triumphs. The majority of his success materialized during his tenure with Barcelona.

His affiliation with the Catalan giants yielded an impressive 34 trophies, including an impressive 10 La Liga titles and seven Copa del Reys. Additionally, he etched his name in European football history by securing the UEFA Champions League title four times in 2006, 2009, 2011, and 2015.

Messi's achievements with Barcelona translated into numerous individual awards, most notably the six Ballon d'Or titles earned during his time with the Spanish club. In 2021, he extended his tally to seven after joining Paris Saint-Germain.

Further solidifying his dominance, Messi also claimed an unprecedented six European Golden Shoes.

Despite his remarkable accomplishments, Messi faced challenges in the international arena with Argentina. Despite finishing as runners-up in the World Cup in 2014 and the Copa America in 2015 and 2016, he secured the elusive title with La Albiceleste in 2021. This triumph was marked by a victory against Brazil in the Copa America final.

His pivotal role in the competition was underscored by winning the Golden Ball award, achieved through his four goals and five assists.

In 2022, Messi achieved a defining moment as he led Argentina to a World Cup victory. In an epic final against France, he scored twice, ultimately contributing to a penalty shootout victory with Argentina prevailing 4-2. This victory stood as a pinnacle in Messi's illustrious career.