Alexia Putellas finally seems to be over the remnants of her ACL injury that plagued her the past couple of seasons. She made her much anticipated return from the torn ACL back in April of 2023.
Last season was her first full season back from the injury but she still didn't quite look like her former self, which was to be expected. She was making her way back and in a group stage Champions League match against Benfica, a clash for the ball resulted in her hobbling after the play.
She missed some time and ended up having surgery on her knee, Once she returned, she started to look like the player she was leading up to back-to-back Ballon d'Ors. She capped off last season by scoring Barcelona's second goal in their Champions League final victory over Lyon.
Putellas has gotten off to a blazing start this season and the emblematic Barcelona Femeni player has seen her contributions further etch her name in the Barcelona record books.
In the win over Eibar on Saturday, Putellas opened the score with a penalty and had an assist for Ona Battle's goal in the second half.
That goal, however, pusher her to 198 goals overall, tying her with Luis Suarez as the club's third highest goalscorer in history.
Alexia iguala Luis Suárez com a tercera màxima golejadora del Barça, amb 𝟭𝟵𝟴 𝗚𝗢𝗟𝗦. 🤩 pic.twitter.com/6LL7M9cW6Z
— FC Barcelona Femení (@FCBfemeni) November 2, 2024
As mentioned, Putellas has gotten things back on track following prolonged periods of uncertainty not only with the injury or the slight setbacks but with her future as well. Putellas' contract at Barcelona was set to end last season and there was some concern the two sides would go their separate ways.
Fortunately for Barcelona and their supporters, Putellas and the club reached an agreement on a two-year deal until 2026. There is no doubt if things continue going the way they are at the moment, they'll sit down sooner rather than later to discuss an extension should Putellas want to stay.
Putellas is only two goals away from the 200 mark, and 34 away from Cesar Rodriguez who sits second in the club's scoring charts. Reaching both marks seems doable given her current form, though it does look unlikely she'll get near Lionel Messi's 672 goals. Still, it would seem rather appropriate that Putellas and Messi become the club's standard bearers for their respective sections.