Three Ballon d'Ors. Two countries. One Alexia Putellas. And apparently, the Women's Super League has decided that collecting world-class footballers is its latest hobby.

Alexia Putellas has officially won the 2026 Women's Ballon d'Or, becoming a three-time winner after her previous triumphs in 2021 and 2022.

But there's a rather interesting twist this time.

Having swapped Barcelona for London City Lionesses during the summer, Putellas has become a Ballon d'Or winner while playing in the Women's Super League for the first time.

Yes, you read that correctly. London City Lionesses have a three-time Ballon d'Or winner as their captain.

Not bad for a club that probably didn't have "sign one of the greatest footballers of her generation" on its bingo card a couple of years ago.

And while Putellas has added another golden ball to her collection, the WSL has decided to bring some receipts of its own.

According to a new article published by WSL Football, there's a statistical argument for calling the Barclays Women's Super League the best women's league in the world.

And, unlike certain transfer rumours, these numbers actually have something behind them.

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1. The title race is tighter than a defender marking Putellas in the penalty area

Across the 2023/24, 2024/25 and 2025/26 seasons, the average gap between first and second place in the WSL was just 5.3 points.

That's the smallest average margin among the six major women's leagues examined.

For comparison:

• WSL: 5.3 points
• Serie A Women: 8.7 points
• Liga F: 12.7 points

Remember Chelsea and Manchester City finishing level on points in 2023/24, with Chelsea taking the title on goal difference?

That wasn't a title race. That was a full-season cardiovascular examination.

And according to projections from 22 October, Chelsea had a 59% chance of winning this season's title, compared with Manchester City's 40%.

Meanwhile, the favourites in Germany, Spain and France were projected to have an 88–99% chance of winning their respective leagues.

The WSL title race clearly hasn't discovered the concept of a comfortable lead.

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2. English clubs aren't just turning up in Europe for the sightseeing

Over the past three seasons, WSL clubs have won 67% of their UEFA Women's Champions League matches.

That's the highest win percentage among the leagues compared.

Liga F comes next with 60%, followed by France's Première Ligue at 53%.

And Arsenal provided a rather convincing demonstration in 2025, defeating Barcelona 1-0 to lift the Champions League trophy.

Apparently, somebody forgot to tell Arsenal that Barcelona were the favourites.

Manchester United also reached the quarter-finals in their debut Champions League campaign in 2025/26, while Chelsea have produced their fair share of memorable European nights.

Four of the world's top 10 clubs in the rankings used by the article are WSL sides: Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United.

The league isn't exactly short of heavyweights. At this rate, the Champions League might need a separate queue for English clubs.

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3. The passing statistics suggest somebody has been watching Guardiola's tactical presentations

WSL teams have completed 81% of their passes this season, the highest percentage across the six leagues examined.

In fact, the WSL has led this particular statistic for three consecutive seasons.

Some other interesting figures:

• 874 passes between both teams in an average WSL match.
• 80 completed attacking-third passes per team, per match.
• 24 short passes per goalkeeper, per match.
• 78% goalkeeper pass completion.

Even the goalkeepers are getting involved in the build-up.

Gone are the days when the goalkeeper's only distribution instruction was to launch the ball towards the nearest available postcode.

And with an average of just 16.7 fouls per match, the league has also recorded the fewest fouls among the six competitions over the past three seasons.

Plenty of passing, fewer interruptions, and defenders occasionally being forced to question their career choices.

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4. The supporters are making themselves heard

Between October 2025 and October 2026, five of the 10 biggest domestic league attendances across the six competitions examined were recorded at WSL matches.

No other league managed more than two.

So the football is attracting attention both on the pitch and in the stands.

It turns out that putting world-class players in competitive matches might actually encourage people to buy tickets.

Groundbreaking research, I know.

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5. And then there's the small matter of Alexia Putellas

Putellas arrived at London City Lionesses from Barcelona in July, after an extraordinary career that established her among the greatest players in women's football.

Now she's added a third Ballon d'Or to her collection while captaining London City.

She's not just bringing star power to the WSL. She's bringing enough silverware experience to make a trophy cabinet consider early retirement.

And her arrival is part of a much bigger story about elite players choosing to play in England.

Of course, we should acknowledge that these figures come from a promotional article published by the WSL itself, using data from Twenty First Group.

The numbers make an interesting case, but the best league in the world is still a matter of debate. Competitive title races, European performances, technical quality, depth and attendances don't necessarily produce the same winner.

And the WSL certainly isn't the only league producing outstanding football.

Liga F has Barcelona, the NWSL has enormous strength and depth, and the other major European leagues have plenty to offer.

Still, when a league can point to closely contested title races, strong Champions League results, impressive passing statistics and a newly crowned three-time Ballon d'Or winner, it's fair to say there's something worth discussing.

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So, r/soccer, what do we reckon?

Is the Women's Super League now the strongest women's domestic league in the world, or do Liga F and the NWSL still have the better claim?

And which matters more when judging a league: European trophies, competitive title races, overall squad depth, or the quality of football?

One thing is certain: Alexia Putellas has won another Ballon d'Or, and London City Lionesses now have a captain with more golden balls than most clubs have major trophies.

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Source: WSL Football – Putellas wins Ballon d'Or: why the BWSL is the best league

Statistics sourced from Twenty First Group via WSL Football, published 27 October 2026.

In response to the severely negative remarks about China made by Real Madrid player Kylian Mbappé, China Media Group (CMG) took immediate countermeasures on October 26 by suspending the broadcast of La Liga matches, all games involving Mbappé, and his endorsement advertisements.

Upon receiving Tebas’s letter, China Media Group (CMG) responded swiftly: an apology must be offered first; otherwise, no further discussion will take place. In a reply signed by the CMG Director-General, the organization made it clear that La Liga, Real Madrid, and Kylian Mbappé himself must issue a public apology as soon as possible, this is a fundamental prerequisite.

The new season of the Eurojackpot KNVB Cup kicks off this Tuesday, and it is no longer just the ‘De Dennenappel’ trophy that is up for grabs. For the first time, individual awards will also be presented to the standout players in the competition.

From this season onwards, the best player and the most promising talent in the cup competition will receive an individual award: the Eurojackpot KNVB Cup Ring. In both the men’s and women’s competitions, two players who have made a difference will be honoured.

Who gets to slip the four Rings onto their fingers will be decided by a jury from Voetbal International and ESPN, comprising Pieter Zwart, Freek Jansen, Milan van Dongen and Fresia Cousiño Arias.

‘The Eurojackpot KNVB Cup is all about players who rise above themselves at decisive moments,’ says KNVB director Marianne van Leeuwen. ‘A single piece of play can mean the difference between elimination and a place in the next round. With the Ring, we’re highlighting individual performances in the cup tournament. It’s a wonderful addition to the prizes we already have and a recognition that players truly deserve.’

This is the second year running that a new prize has been added to the cup competition: last year, ‘De Blauwe Dennenappel’ was introduced for the best amateur club in the tournament. De Treffers became the first winner of this prize.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

Official US Select Committee on China Statement:

International soccer star @KMbappe should not apologize for calling Mao Zedong a dictator. Mao was a dictator, and by orders of magnitude, he did more harm to the Chinese people than a comment from a soccer player ever could. Mao was the leader of the CCP for decades and his dictatorship and disastrous policies killed tens of millions of Chinese people in the Cultural Revolution, the Great Famine, and other atrocities.

Involved in the Party from its first national meeting in 1921, Mao is the principal historical figure for a Party that continues his practices of oppression and ideological purges. For decades, the CCP has denied the Chinese people basic human rights including freedom of expression and freedom of religion. These are rights enjoyed by Mbappe and millions of people around the world and Mbappe should exercise this opportunity to tell the horrific truth about Mao’s dictatorship.

The real disgrace in this news story is the companies rushing to apologize so they can continue to do business in China. The CCP is the largest oppressor of the Chinese people and their human rights, and those businesses that work with the CCP help normalize its crushing brutality.

Full Time: Al-Shamal 3 - 1 Al Hilal

⚽ Al-Shamal: Wesley Saïd 8' 8', Baghdad Bounedjah 48' 48', Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane 54' 54'

⚽ Al Hilal: Salem Al-Dawsari 32' 32'

Line-ups

Al-Shamal (4-2-3-1)

Al Hilal (3-5-2)

Match Events

• Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
• First Half begins.
• 45' Substitution, Al Shamal. Nassim Benaïssa replaces Jeison Murillo because of an injury.
• 45'+6' First Half ends, Al Shamal 1, Al Hilal 1.
• 45' Second Half begins Al Shamal 1, Al Hilal 1.
• 52' Wesley Saïd (Al Shamal) is shown the yellow card.
• 60' Substitution, Al Hilal. Kalidou Koulibaly replaces Théo Hernández.
• 60' Substitution, Al Hilal. Nasser Al Dawsari replaces Murad Al Hawsawi.
• 60' Substitution, Al Hilal. Ollie Watkins replaces Mohamed Meïté.
• 68' Substitution, Al Hilal. Sultan Mandash replaces Sabri Dahal.
• 81' Substitution, Al Hilal. Nawaf Al Habashi replaces Moteb Al Harbi.
• 83' Substitution, Al Shamal. Abdelkarim Hassan replaces Wesley Saïd.
• 89' Substitution, Al Shamal. Moufak Awad replaces Riyad Mahrez.
• 89' Substitution, Al Shamal. Ahmed Suhail replaces Tiago Silva.
• 90'+6' Second Half ends, Al Shamal 3, Al Hilal 1.
• Match ends, Al Shamal 3, Al Hilal 1.

Match Stats

Group B

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Full Time: Sassuolo 2 - 6 Lazio

⚽ Sassuolo: Josip Sutalo 7' OG 7', Sebastiano Esposito 43' 43'

⚽ Lazio: Kenneth Taylor 2' 2', Gustav Isaksen 13' 13', Romano Floriani 16' 16', Mattia Zaccagni 45'+1' 45'+1', Tijjani Noslin 55' 55', Tijjani Noslin 65' 65'

Line-ups

Sassuolo (4-2-3-1)

Lazio (4-3-3)

Match Events

• Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
• First Half begins.
• 7' Own Goal by Josip Sutalo, Lazio. Sassuolo 1, Lazio 1.
• 16' VAR Decision: Goal Sassuolo 1-3 Lazio (Romano Floriani Mussolini).
• 31' Kristian Thorstvedt (Sassuolo) is shown the red card.
• 45'+8' First Half ends, Sassuolo 2, Lazio 4.
• 45' Second Half begins Sassuolo 2, Lazio 4.
• 45' Substitution, Lazio. Fisayo Dele-Bashiru replaces Kenneth Taylor.
• 45' Substitution, Sassuolo. Ibrahim Sulemana replaces Darryl Bakola.
• 47' Penalty conceded by Simone Cinquegrano (Sassuolo) with a handball in the penalty area.
• 47' VAR Decision: Penalty Lazio.
• 54' Domenico Berardi (Sassuolo) is shown the yellow card.
• 62' Substitution, Lazio. Manuel Lazzari replaces Romano Floriani Mussolini.
• 63' Substitution, Lazio. Alfonso Pedraza replaces Nuno Tavares.
• 63' Substitution, Lazio. Matteo Cancellieri replaces Gustav Isaksen.
• 63' Substitution, Sassuolo. Kieron Bowie replaces Sebastiano Esposito.
• 63' Substitution, Sassuolo. Fali Candé replaces Domenico Berardi.
• 70' Substitution, Sassuolo. Andrea Ghion replaces Armand Laurienté.
• 71' Substitution, Lazio. Andrea Pinamonti replaces Tijjani Noslin.
• 82' Substitution, Sassuolo. Sebastian Walukiewicz replaces Duje Caleta-Car.
• 90'+2' Second Half ends, Sassuolo 2, Lazio 6.
• Match ends, Sassuolo 2, Lazio 6.

Match Stats

overall

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After all the rightly unfortunate news about Chinese football/China in general on this sub the last 24 hours, I thought I'd share something to feel positive about :)