Ballon d’or has unveiled the 30-woman shortlist for the 2026 Ballon d’Or Féminin on Tuesday, and two African forwards, Zambia’s Barbra Banda and Malawi’s Temwa Chawinga, earned nominations on the back of standout seasons in the NWSL and deep runs at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Banda, who captains Orlando Pride and the Zambian national team, continued her run as one of the NWSL’s most feared strikers this season.
The 26-year-old has scored 14 goals and added 3 assists in 19 league appearances for Orlando in 2026, ranking among the league’s top forwards by output. She backed up that club form on the continental stage, netting 5 goals in 3 matches for Zambia at this year’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Banda already holds the distinction of being the first African player named to the FIFPro Women’s World 11, back in 2024, and has previously reached Ballon d’Or finalist status.
Chawinga, Kansas City Current’s dynamic left winger, matched Banda’s impact on both fronts. The Malawian forward has contributed goals throughout the NWSL season for Kansas City while also inspiring her country’s WAFCON campaign, scoring 4 goals and adding 2 assists across 5 matches for Malawi in the tournament. Her form included a goal and an assist in a win over Ghana and a strike against Egypt, underlining her role as the focal point of Malawi’s attack.
Notably, Banda’s Zambia and Chawinga’s Malawi crossed paths directly at this year’s WAFCON, with Zambia edging Malawi 2-1 in a tightly contested group-stage clash, a result that added extra intrigue to both players’ tournament numbers heading into the Ballon d’Or conversation.
The two Africans join a 30-strong list that spans clubs and countries across Europe, North America, and beyond. Spain’s Alexia Putellas, now at London City Lionesses, and her former Barcelona teammate Ewa Pajor headline the field after three-time defending champion Aitana Bonmatí missed out following an injury-hit campaign.
Chelsea’s Mariona Caldentey and Alex Greenwood, Manchester City duo Khadija Shaw and Caroline Weir, and Lyon’s Melvine Malard also feature prominently among the nominees.
The full shortlist includes Selma Bacha, Barbra Banda, Klara Bühl, Esmee Brugts, Mariona Caldentey, Scarlett Camberos, Kerstin Casparij, Temwa Chawinga, Cata Coll, Melchie Dumornay, Caroline Graham Hansen, Alex Greenwood, Patri Guijarro, Pernille Harder, Yui Hasegawa, Rose Lavelle, Mapi León, Lorena, Melvine Malard, Manaka Matsukubo, Vivianne Miedema, Ewa Pajor, Claudia Pina, Alexia Putellas, Wendie Renard, Alessia Russo, Khadija Shaw, Momoko Tanikawa, Caroline Weir, and Tessa Wullaert.
For Banda and Chawinga, the nominations mark a significant moment for African representation on women’s football’s biggest individual stage, built on sustained club form in the United States and standout performances for their countries at this year’s continental championship.
The Ballon d’Or Féminin winner will be announced alongside the men’s award on October 26 in London, as part of a ceremony marking the trophy’s 70th anniversary and its first staging outside Paris.
