Zambia’s Barbra Banda and Malawi’s Temwa Chawinga will represent Africa among the 30 nominees for the 2026 Women’s Ballon d’Or, giving the continent two contenders for football’s most prestigious individual prize.
Banda, who plays for Orlando Pride, and Chawinga, of Kansas City Current, were recognised after impressive campaigns that have continued to raise the profile of African women’s football internationally.
Their nominations place them alongside many of the biggest names in the women’s game.
Banda earns another place among the elite
Banda has again been included among the leading players in world football after being named on the Ballon d’Or Feminin shortlist.
The Zambia international has become one of Africa’s most prominent footballers and will compete with some of the sport’s most decorated players for the award.
Her selection is another significant achievement for Zambian football, with Banda continuing to represent her country at the highest level.
Chawinga recognised after rapid rise
Chawinga is the second African player on the 30-woman shortlist.
The Kansas City Current forward has enjoyed a remarkable rise and now finds herself competing for recognition alongside established global stars.
Her nomination is particularly important for Malawi and follows the country’s successful campaign at the recently concluded 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, where Malawi won the silver medal.
Together, Banda and Chawinga give Africa two genuine contenders in the main women’s Ballon d’Or category.
Manchester City forward Khadija Shaw is also nominated, although she represents Jamaica rather than an African national team.
Shaw, who is of African descent, scored 21 goals in 22 Women’s Super League matches last season and remains one of the most dangerous forwards in world football.
Two-time winner Putellas among nominees
The shortlist includes many of the leading figures in the women’s game.
Two-time winner Alexia Putellas is considered one of the favourites after helping Barcelona win the Champions League.
Her Barcelona team-mate Aitana Bonmati, who has won the award for the past three years, is absent after missing a large part of the season with a broken leg.
England have two nominees: Arsenal forward Alessia Russo and Manchester City defender Alex Greenwood.
Russo finished third in last year’s voting after scoring 24 goals in 40 club appearances. Greenwood helped Manchester City win both the Women’s Super League and the FA Cup.
Scotland international Caroline Weir, who joined Lyon from Real Madrid in June, also made the shortlist after scoring 20 goals in all competitions for the Spanish club.
Full 2026 Women’s Ballon d’Or shortlist
- Selma Bacha Lyon/France - Barbra Banda Orlando Pride/Zambia - Klara Buhl Bayern Munich/Germany - Esmee Brugts Barcelona/Netherlands - Mariona Caldentey Arsenal/Spain - Scarlett Camberos Club America/Mexico - Kerstin Casparij Manchester City/Netherlands - Temwa Chawinga Kansas City Current/Malawi - Cata Coll Barcelona/Spain - Melchie Dumornay Lyon/Haiti - Caroline Graham Hansen Barcelona/Norway - Alex Greenwood Manchester City/England - Patri Guijarro Barcelona/Spain - Pernille Harder Bayern Munich/Denmark - Yui Hasegawa Manchester City/Japan - Rose Lavelle Gotham FC/United States - Mapi Leon London City Lionesses/Spain - Lorena Kansas City Current/Brazil - Melvine Malard Chelsea/France - Manaka Matsukubo Chelsea/Japan - Vivianne Miedema Manchester City/Netherlands - Ewa Pajor Barcelona/Poland - Claudia Pina Barcelona/Spain - Alexia Putellas London City Lionesses/Spain - Wendie Renard Lyon/France - Alessia Russo Arsenal/England - Khadija Shaw Manchester City/Jamaica - Momoko Tanikawa Bayern Munich/Japan - Caroline Weir Lyon/Scotland - Tessa Wullaert Como/Belgium
No African nominees in other women’s categories
Africa’s representation at the 2026 awards is limited to Banda and Chawinga in the main women’s Ballon d’Or category.
There are no African nominees in the other four women’s awards.
Women’s Young Talent of the Year
- Veerle Buurman Chelsea/Netherlands - Vicky Lopez Barcelona/Spain - Felicia Schroder Real Madrid/Sweden - Clara Serrajordi Barcelona/Spain - Lily Yohannes OL Lyonnes/United States
Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year
- Ann-Katrin Berger Gotham FC/Germany - Cata Coll Barcelona/Spain - Hannah Hampton Chelsea/England - Lorena Kansas City/Brazil - Ayaka Yamashita Manchester City/Japan
Women’s Coach of the Year
- Jonatan Giraldez OL Lyonnes - Andree Jeglertz Manchester City - Nils Nielsen Japan - Pere Romeu Barcelona - Elena Sadiku Celtic/BK Hacken
Women’s Club of the Year
- Barcelona Spain - Bayern Munich Germany - Club America Mexico - Lyon France - Manchester City England
The nominations give African women’s football another opportunity to make an impact on one of the sport’s biggest stages.
The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony will be held in London on 26 October, when the award will celebrate its 70th anniversary.
France Football created the award in 1956, with former England international Sir Stanley Matthews becoming its first winner.
Neither Banda nor Chawinga is among the traditional European favourites, but their inclusion underlines the growing recognition of talent emerging from Africa.