Barcelona star Putellas wins UEFA Women's Player of the Year award

Alexia Putellas has been named the UEFA Women's Player of the Year as Barcelona scored a clean sweep of awards on Thursday.

Champions League winners Barcelona dominated the awards, after the club won the 2020-21 Champions League by defeating Chelsea 4-0 in the final. 

All six awards were won by Barca players, though Irene Paredes earned the prize for her exploits with PSG before she made the move to Catalonia this summer.

Putellas holds off Barca team-mates

Putellas faced competition for the award from two of her Barca team-mates who were also named finalists: Jenni Hermoso and Lieke Martens.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta hailed his side's achievements on Twitter, saying: "We are very happy that your excellence, work and effort are being recognized."

What was said?

"I am very happy to receive the UEFA Women's Player of the Year award," Putellas said in a video statement.

"First I would like to thank my team-mates and the whole team, who made it possible for us to have such a successful season.

"I would also like to mention the rest of the nominees, particularly Lieke and Jenni, with whom I am sharing this podium.

"At the end of the day, it's the entire team and club who have won this. It is such an achievement that so many Barca players are nominated for these awards.

"I'd also like to thank the fans for all the love they've shown me. Now let's go for more!"

Who won the other women's awards?

In other awards, Paredes was named the Defender of the Year. Paredes recently moved to Barcelona but won the award for her exploits with PSG. She beat out Magdalena Eriksson and Mapi Leon for the prize.

In addition to being named Player of the Year, Putellas was also named Midfielder of the Season, coming out on top ahead of her Barcelona team-mate Aitana Bonmati and Chelsea's Ji So-Yun.

Sandra Panos won the Goalkeeper of the Season, the Barcelona shot-stopper beating out competition from Christiane Endler and Ann-Katrin Berger.

Another Barcelona star, Hermoso, was named Forward of the Season, finishing ahead of two club team-mates: Martens and Caroline Graham Hansen.

Finally Barcelona boss Lluis Cortes was named Women's Coach of the Year, coming out on top ahead of Sweden's Peter Gerhardsson and Chelsea's Emma Hayes.

Further reading

• Champions League group stage: Messi's PSG face Man City

• Jorginho named UEFA Men's Player of the Year