Speaking to Harper’s Bazaar Putellas reflected on how Spain‘s Euro 2025 final defeat impacted her mindset. Despite dominating large parts of the game, La Roja fell short in the penalty shootout as England defended their title in dramatic fashion in Switzerland.
“That same day, when it’s over, you leave feeling like crap, talking badly. You feel like you’ve missed a huge opportunity, that you don’t understand many things or why it happened, and you rack your brains for days until you reach the limit and realize you need to stop, go on vacation, and recover mentally and physically,” she said.
Despite the heartbreak, Putellas remains one of the biggest names in women’s football. The 31-year-old scored three goals and added four assists during Euro 2025, including a record-breaking performance against Belgium, where she became the only player in tournament history to score twice and assist twice in the same game. She also holds the record for most appearances for Spain.
However, she has had her battle with injury and has learned that top-level sport often comes at a cost, saying: “Elite sports are not healthy, either mentally or physically. You have a very positive side, like playing in big stadiums in front of thousands of people and experiencing the feeling of this profession to the fullest. But of course, you no longer play sports to take care of yourself or stay healthy, but because it’s your job. I’m lucky to be 31 years old, and now I thank God because I can get up without severe pain after the knee injury I had. I’m doing very well now,” the 2023 World Cup winner added.
Putellas also spoke about how young women in football view the game differently, noticing changes between her generation and the current crop of promising talents. “Their priorities are different. I coach with 16 or 17-year-old girls, and they have different priorities and the importance of mental health is deeply instilled. Pushing yourself to the limit is sometimes necessary and sometimes not, but they don’t experience it the same way my generation did,” she explained.
Off the pitch, PSG have been circling with an ambitious contract offer ahead of the transfer deadline, but Alexia is most likely to continue her career at Barca. For now, her focus is on Sunday’s league clash with Sevilla before heading to Paris for the Ballon d’Or gala, where she is eyeing her third trophy after previously winning the award in 2021 and 2022.
