Barcelona's Alexia Putellas looks close to injury comeback in training video | OneFootball

Barcelona star Alexia Putellas looks close to returning from an ACL injury in a training video shared by her club.

Women’s football fans were left devastated after Putellas ruptured her ACL on the eve of Euro 2022, ruling her out of the tournament and the following months.

With the average recovery time for an ACL injury estimated at nine months, Putellas is now nearing her return to the pitch.

It certainly looks that way in a video shared by Barcelona on Twitter, which shows the 29-year-old completing an agility test.

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She is captured running up and down past a number of cones, before weaving round a couple of slalom poles. The star then receives a pass and slots the ball into a mini goal.

Putellas had been filmed running on a football pitch in December, but she looks far more agile in today’s clip, quickly turning direction at speed.

It’s very promising signs for Barcelona fans, who would be delighted to see Putellas play a number of matches before the conclusion of this season.

Is Alexia Putellas the best women’s football player in the world?

Putellas is a strong contender for the title of world’s best female football player.

Despite playing in midfield, the Spaniard scored 18 goals in the Primera Iberdrola last season, captaining Barcelona to yet another league title.

She also scored a competition-leading 11 goals in the Champions League as Barcelona reached the final, alongside four in the Copa de la Reina and one in the Super Cup.

Putellas has won the Ballon d'Or Féminin for the last two years in a row, although she will be out of contention for the 2023 award due to her time on the sidelines.

SANT JOAN DESPI, SPAIN - OCTOBER 19: Alexia Putellas of FC Barcelona pose for a photo with the Ballon d'Or Feminin award prior to the UEFA Women's Champions League group D match between FC Barcelona and SL Benfica at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper on October 19, 2022 in Sant Joan Despi, Spain. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)

SANT JOAN DESPI, SPAIN - OCTOBER 19: Alexia Putellas of FC Barcelona pose for a photo with the Ballon d'Or Feminin award prior to the UEFA Women's Champions League group D match between FC Barcelona and SL Benfica at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper on October 19, 2022 in Sant Joan Despi, Spain. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)

Even if her comeback is in the next few months, Putellas could still miss out on the Women’s World Cup, however.

A number of Spanish players are currently refusing to play for the national team under coach Jorge Vilda, citing “situations that affect our emotional and personal state, our performance, and consequently the results of the national team”.

While it is not clear whether Putellas will take the same stance when she returns from injury, her vocal support of her teammates suggests she will.