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More than half a century.

To be exact, 61 years old.

That period of time separates the only two Spanish Ballons d'Or.

That of

Luis Suárez

, achieved as a Barça player in 1960, and that of

Alexia Putellas

, the first Barça player to win a very young award.

France Football's

first recognition of

female

footballers came in 2018.

In his speech, especially in Spanish, but with a part in Catalan, to commemorate the fact that this November 29 was celebrated exactly the 122 anniversary of Barça, he wanted to thank all those people with whom he has shared a dressing room for the award.

Especially to her current colleagues.

“It is an individual award, but without a doubt it is a collective success.

I hope you feel that way, because I feel that way, "he said.

The most emotional point, however, came at the end of his speech: «Above all, I dedicate it to someone who has been and is very special to me.

For whom I do everything.

I hope you are very proud of your daughter.

Wherever you are, this is for you, Dad

.

It may just be the first of many.

Both for the women's section of the Barcelona entity and for Spanish football.

“An extraordinary generation is being created. Looking to the future, we must reinforce the bet so that it continues to give us joy, with success and a good game. I hope it will be the first of many for some players who deserve everything ”, says

Maria Teixidor

, one of the promoters of the professionalization of Barça women's football during the presidency of

Josep Maria Bartomeu

.

«A couple of seasons ago, I expected a Barça player to take him away, but I was thinking above all of a foreign name.

The evolution of the nationals has been incredible and the personality they have, too.

To be taken by a Barça player and a culé as Alexia is excellent, but it is clear that any Spanish player can take it in the coming years ”, highlights

Xavi Llorens

, head of the Catalan women's team and creator of the Alexia's return to Barça.

"An essential leader"

In the 2011/12 academic year, she was one of those players who preferred to speak on the field. "She was always one of those who was on the lookout for everything, but she has been growing so fast in the last three seasons that, without wanting to be the leader, she is," Llorens explains. «He breathes football through every pore of his skin. He is a very serious person in his work, very sure of the steps he is taking and with a very strong commitment to this team.

She is an essential leader for the successes that are coming

”, adds Teixidor.

"On the pitch or in the dressing room he has assumed that role, both in the club and in the national team, but what he likes the most is playing," insists Llorens, who also emphasizes that Alexia has always preferred to keep her personal sphere in a small circle , but very related. Something that is powerfully reminiscent of a midfielder who has already burned his name in both areas, despite the fact that the Ballon d'Or turned his back on him time and again: Andrés Iniesta.

Looking back, Spanish football has been undervalued. But that may change thanks to the new open front for women's football. “Foreigners have been more media and that has caused things to have been like this. For more than a decade, in boys,

Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have monopolized practically everything. And at the female level, the American players, the Brazilian Marta or some German or English player

who, sometimes, also stood out, like it or not, were at another level. Is not easy. But in this case, Alexia's season clearly marked the differences, "explains the coach.

«She shines because the whole team accompanies her.

In that sense, I think it is a recognition to all the people who have contributed to the growth of this team.

By allocating resources to this side of football, notable successes are achieved.

Everything that professionalization entails has repercussions on performance

, their working conditions and what the players can give of themselves, ”Teixidor sentenced.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

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