Barcelona Femeni captain Alexia Putellas created Women's Champions League history on Wednesday as her goal against Roma saw her leapfrog former striker Jenni Hermoso and three-time Ballon d'Or holder Aitana Bonmati. Putellas will now be eyeing further history with the dominant Catalan outfit just a month after he she received a mouth-watering offer from Paris Saint-Germain Feminines.
Putellas the Spaniard with most Women's Champions League goals
Putellas made history once again, as the two-time Ballon d'Or winner became not only Barcelona Femení’s all-time top scorer in the Women's Champions League but also the Spanish player with the most goals in the competition’s history. The captain scored a penalty in the 71st minute against Roma, with the Catalan heavyweights winning the game 4-0 on Wednesday.
Putellas has now scored 27 goals in the competition, eclipsing the 26 goals netted by former striker Jenni Hermoso and current midfield partner Aitana Bonmati. However, she remains a long way away from Ada Hegerberg, the competition's highest goal scorer of all-time with 67 goals to her name.
AdvertisementAFPPutellas delighted with her new record
Speaking to reporters after the game, Putellas said: "I'm very happy to be on this journey with Barca and to have competed in Europe for so many years. Being the top Spanish scorer is a recognition, but it's also the result of the team's hard work and all the team-mates who have supported me on this journey."
Messi and Cesar Rodriguez the only Barca icons with more goals
Putellas has scored 211 goals in 459 games for Barcelona, which makes her the third-highest goal scorer in history for both men and women. Cesar Rodriguez, who spent 13 seasons at the club between 1942 and 1955, scored 232 goals in 351 appearances. He is the second-highest goal scorer in club history, only behind Lionel Messi, who has scored a staggering 672 goals in 778 games.
Getty ImagesWill Putellas renew her contract?
Putellas is in the final year of her contract with Barca, with an option to extend for another year. Last month, in the final few days of the transfer window, she received an offer from PSG Feminines. The French side were ready to trigger the €1.1 million release clause in Putellas' contract. However, she opted against leaving after holding talks with the club's hierarchy.
Her future is up in the air. In a recent interview, she didn't provide clarity on where her long-term future lies. "My relationship with the club has always been one of trust and naturalness," she said. "Everyone knows what it means to me to play here: it's not a typical 'work for pay' relationship. It goes much further than that. I've spent almost half my life at Barca, I've played 95% of my career here. This will continue as long as, on the one hand, I continue to feel that motivation, energy and daily demand to perform at my best and meet my goals, and, on the other hand, the club feels the same way."