1. Early life and youth career
Alejandro Balde Martínez was born on 18 October 2003, in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. His father is from Guinea-Bissau and his mother is from the Dominican Republic.
Balde began his football journey at a young age, starting with CE Sant Gabriel from 2007 to 2009. He then moved to RCD Espanyol's youth ranks, playing there from 2009 to 2011. In 2011, at the age of eight, Balde joined Barcelona's prestigious youth academy, La Masia, where he developed his skills until 2021.
2. Club career
Balde's club career began with FC Barcelona Atlètic before he made his breakthrough into the senior team, where he has become a key player, despite facing challenges like injuries.
2.1. FC Barcelona Atlètic
Balde progressed through Barcelona's youth system, eventually joining the reserve team, FC Barcelona Atlètic (formerly Barcelona B). Even at the age of 17, he was already playing for the B team, which is notable for a player his age.
During the 2020-21 season, he made 15 appearances in the Segunda División B and one appearance in the Segunda División B play-offs, accumulating a total of 16 matches for the team. In the subsequent 2021-22 season, he played 14 matches in the Primera División RFEF. Across his two seasons with FC Barcelona Atlètic, Balde made a total of 30 appearances without scoring a goal.
2.2. Senior team breakthrough
Balde made a significant impression during the pre-season of summer 2021, demonstrating his potential to the coaching staff. He began the 2021-22 campaign as the primary backup for veteran left-back Jordi Alba at the Camp Nou. He was named on the bench for Barcelona's opening La Liga match against Real Sociedad on 16 August 2021, and again for the following game against Athletic Bilbao.
His official debut for Barcelona's first team came on 14 September 2021, in a UEFA Champions League group stage match against Bayern Munich. He replaced Jordi Alba in the 74th minute of the 3-0 loss. Seven days later, on 21 September 2021, Balde made his La Liga debut, starting in a match against Granada CF that ended in a 1-1 draw. However, he was substituted in the 42nd minute due to a back injury.
For the 2022-23 season, coach Xavi gave Balde a more prominent role within the team. He started in more league matches than Jordi Alba and received increased playing time in crucial games, highlighting his growing importance. On 14 May 2023, Balde scored his first goal for the club during a 4-2 away victory over Espanyol. This win was particularly significant as it secured the league title for Barcelona.
On 12 January 2025, Balde netted his first goal in an El Clásico match, scoring against Real Madrid in the 45+10th minute of the 2025 Supercopa de España final. His goal contributed to Barcelona's eventual 5-2 victory in the match.
2.3. Contract renewals and injury
Balde's promising performances led to significant contract developments. In July 2021, he signed a contract extension with Barcelona until 2024, which included a substantial release clause of 500.00 M EUR. Later, on 20 September 2023, it was announced that Balde had agreed to a new contract, extending his stay at the club until 2028, with his buyout clause set at an impressive 1.00 B EUR.
However, his career faced a setback on 24 January 2024, when he sustained a hamstring injury in his right foot during the Copa del Rey quarter-final match against Athletic Bilbao, which Barcelona lost 4-2. Balde had to leave the pitch in tears and subsequently underwent successful surgery on the tendon in his right hamstring on 30 January 2024. This injury unfortunately led to him missing the remainder of the season.
3. International career
Alejandro Balde has represented Spain at various youth levels and has also made his debut for the senior national team, participating in major international tournaments.
3.1. Youth national teams
Balde has been a consistent presence in Spain's youth national team setup. He represented the U-16 team in 2019, making 6 appearances. From 2019 to 2020, he played for the U-17 team, featuring in 9 matches. In 2019, he also made 3 appearances for the U-18 team. He continued his progression with the U-19 team in 2021, playing 5 matches. Since 2022, he has been part of the U-21 team, making 2 appearances.
3.2. Senior national team
Balde is of Bissau-Guinean descent, making him eligible to play for either Guinea-Bissau or Spain. He ultimately chose to pledge his allegiance to La Roja, the Spanish national team.
He received a surprise call-up to the Spain senior national team just two days before the start of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. This call-up came as a replacement for Valencia left-back José Gayà, who had injured his ankle during a training camp. Balde made his international debut on 23 November 2022, in Spain's opening World Cup group stage match, a dominant 7-0 victory against Costa Rica. He entered the game in the 64th minute, substituting for Jordi Alba.
On 1 December 2022, Balde made his first start for Spain in the final group stage match against Japan. However, Spain suffered a 2-1 defeat, and Balde was criticized for his involvement in two of the goals conceded during his 68 minutes on the pitch. Despite the loss, Spain advanced to the Round of 16 as group runners-up, where they were eventually eliminated by Morocco.
4. Style of play
Alejandro Balde is renowned for his dynamic playing style as a left-back. His key strengths include his explosive pace, exceptional dribbling ability, and strong attacking contributions, making him a formidable presence on the left flank. He is widely regarded as one of the most promising young left-backs in world football.
His speed and agility are significant assets, allowing him to recover effectively in defensive phases and track back quickly to prevent counter-attacks. Furthermore, his composure on the ball and ability to carry it through opposition lines make him a reliable outlet for build-up play from the back. While highly praised for his offensive qualities, occasional critiques have been noted regarding his defensive positioning in high-pressure situations and the precision of his final ball delivery.
5. Career statistics
5.1. Club
| Club | Season | League | Copa del Rey | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Barcelona Atlètic | 2020-21 | Segunda División B | 15 | 0 | - | - | 1 | 0 | 16 | 0 | ||
| 2021-22 | Primera División RFEF | 14 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | |||
| Total | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 30 | 0 | ||
| Barcelona | 2021-22 | La Liga | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| 2022-23 | La Liga | 33 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 44 | 1 | |
| 2023-24 | La Liga | 18 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 28 | 1 | |
| 2024-25 | La Liga | 23 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 34 | 1 | |
| Total | 79 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 21 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 113 | 3 | ||
| Career total | 108 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 21 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 143 | 3 | ||
5.2. International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | 2022 | 4 | 0 |
| 2023 | 3 | 0 | |
| Total | 7 | 0 | |
6. Honours
Alejandro Balde has achieved several team titles with FC Barcelona and has also received individual recognitions for his performances.
6.1. Club
Barcelona
- La Liga: 2022-23
- Supercopa de España: 2023, 2025
6.2. Individual
- La Liga Team of the Season: 2022-23
- IFFHS Men's World Youth (U20) Team: 2023
- IFFHS Men's Youth (U20) UEFA Team: 2023