A shift to the right, a shift to the left. In front of the blue panel displaying the VISA and UEFA logos, Alexia Putellas. She has now made herself at home.

Spain's number 11 has made two appearances in four days, carrying the prestigious trophy topped with a ball: that of the best player of the match.

The two-time Ballon d'Or winner is having a dazzling European Championship in Switzerland, already tallying three goals and two assists in two matches, which concluded with 6-2 victories overBelgium on Monday and 5-0 against Portugal on Thursday.

These victories bode well for the world champions, who have never advanced past the quarter-finals of a European Championship.

Their last exit at this stage of the competition occurred in 2022, when they lost 2-1 in extra time to England. The Lionesses subsequently became the European champions, while Putellas was on the operating table after tearing her cruciate ligament during training prior to the start of the Euros.

An injury of the past.

The player who had won only one Ballon d'Or at that time began the typical ordeal of a top-level athlete facing such an injury: a year away, cautious recovery, and a gradual return to the field...

Putellas received medical clearance to play again at the very end of the 2022-23 season, only to return to the hospital for an arthroscopy on the same knee that had previously undergone surgery in December 2023.

This medical journey did not prevent her from being selected by Jorge Vilda for the 2023 World Cup, but it significantly limited her playing time and, most importantly, her impact at Barcelona and with La Roja.

However, after two seasons (2022-23 and 2023-24) filled with pain and challenges, Putellas appears to have regained her previous form. The midfielder has scored 16 goals and provided 11 assists in 24 LaLiga matches, along with four goals and three assists in 10 Champions League games.

These statistics and her pivotal role in Barca since March led Montse Tome to include her as a regular in the national team, particularly at the start of the Euros, when Aitana Bonmati had to sit out due to meningitis.

And the player who prefers to simply call herself "Alexia" is making her coach proud. "I think quickly, I see the entire game beforehand, and that's a crucial element for me in feeling good," she stated in the mixed zone following Spain's victory over Belgium.

A renewed influence on the Spanish game.

“When I see that the team is moving, that we can combine, that we're enjoying playing together? That reflects on me as well,” she added.

Against Belgium, La Roja's vice-captain, behind Irene Paredes, completed 88% of her passes, made six key passes, had 110 touches (the second-highest total of the match), and hit the post once. This performance brings her closer to a potential third Ballon d'Or, which would set a record for female players.

However, she is not focused on individual accolades at a time when all of Spain is aspiring for a European title.

The midfield playmaker is striving to share the spotlight with her teammates, who may be a bit less recognized.

She remarked: "Due to my position, I also have the responsibility of creating opportunities; sometimes I finish, and sometimes other teammates finish or maintain the flow. (...) I'm here because I've received this award, but it's a team that deserves recognition.

Her team has just advanced to the quarter-finals of the Euros following two commanding victories, ensuring they will match the achievements of previous generations.

“We all have a role to play: the pressure from Esther (González), the decisions made by (Claudia) Pina and Mariona (Caldentey), and Patri, who is exceptional, the central defenders? We all understand what we need to do to go as far as possible.”

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