Barcelona star and Ballon d’Or winner ruled out of Euro 2022 following training ground injury
Alexia Putellas Segura of FC Barcelona women
One of the biggest names in women’s football, Alexia Putellas, will miss the upcoming women’s European Championship in England due to a last-minute injury.
The Spain international ruptured her ACL during a training session on Tuesday and has since been ruled out from the Euros - which starts on Wednesday night with England hosting Austria at Old Trafford.
A statement on the Spanish Football Federation website read: "Alexia Putellas suffers a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee.
"The tests carried out on the Spanish international on the afternoon of this Tuesday July 5 2022 at King Edward VII's hospital in London, have confirmed that the captain of the Spanish women's national team has suffered a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee."
The news came as a major blow for the Spaniards, who are also without Jennifer Hermoso following her knee issues.
Spain enter this year's tournament as favourites and will kick off their campaign against Finland on Friday in Milton Keynes. They will later take on Germany and Denmark in Brentford on July 12 and 16.
Jorge Vilda's side is largely made up of Barcelona players who won the domestic treble last season and also reached the Champions League final.
Heartbreak for Alexia Putellas on the eve of @WEURO2022 ? pic.twitter.com/9MdbuLoleO
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) July 5, 2022
Putellas was at the heart of Barcelona's success, having finished the campaign as the club's top scorer with 34 goals in 42 appearances.
The 28-year-old has won international silverware with Spain during the under-17 European Championships in 2010 and 2011, however she's yet to replicate that on the senior stage.
Having already made 100 appearances for her national side, Putellas was hoping to play a starring role in this year's Euros.
Nevertheless, the Spaniards will now have to navigate their way through the tournament without the 2021 Ballon d'Or winner.
