The 30 nominees for the 2026 Women’s Ballon d’Or have been announced, with some of the biggest names in women’s football competing for the game’s leading individual award.
Khadija Shaw, Alexia Putellas, Ewa Pajor, Alessia Russo, Caroline Graham Hansen and Melchie Dumornay are among the players included on the shortlist following standout seasons for club and country.
Manchester City have five players among the nominees, while European champions Barcelona are also heavily represented after another trophy-filled campaign.
One major name is absent: Aitana Bonmatí. The Barcelona midfielder, who won the Women’s Ballon d’Or in each of the previous three years, has not been included among the 30 nominees.
Here is the complete 2026 shortlist and a closer look at some of the leading candidates.
2026 Ballon d’Or awards
Women’s Ballon d’Or | Young Talent | Goalkeeper | Coach | Club | Striker
Women’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominees
| Player | Nation | Club(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Selma Bacha | France | OL Lyonnes |
| Barbra Banda | Zambia | Orlando Pride |
| Klara Bühl | Germany | Bayern Munich |
| Esmee Brugts | Netherlands | Barcelona |
| Mariona Caldentey | Spain | Arsenal |
| Scarlett Camberos | Mexico | Club América |
| Kerstin Casparij | Netherlands | Manchester City |
| Temwa Chawinga | Malawi | Kansas City Current |
| Cata Coll | Spain | Barcelona |
| Melchie Dumornay | Haiti | OL Lyonnes |
| Caroline Graham Hansen | Norway | Barcelona |
| Alex Greenwood | England | Manchester City |
| Patri Guijarro | Spain | Barcelona |
| Pernille Harder | Denmark | Bayern Munich |
| Yui Hasegawa | Japan | Manchester City |
| Rose Lavelle | United States | Gotham FC |
| Mapi León | Spain | Barcelona / London City Lionesses |
| Lorena | Brazil | Kansas City Current |
| Melvine Malard | France | Manchester United / Chelsea |
| Manaka Matsukubo | Japan | North Carolina Courage / Chelsea |
| Vivianne Miedema | Netherlands | Manchester City |
| Ewa Pajor | Poland | Barcelona |
| Clàudia Pina | Spain | Barcelona |
| Alexia Putellas | Spain | Barcelona / London City Lionesses |
| Wendie Renard | France | OL Lyonnes |
| Alessia Russo | England | Arsenal |
| Khadija Shaw | Jamaica | Manchester City |
| Momoko Tanikawa | Japan | Bayern Munich |
| Caroline Weir | Scotland | Real Madrid / OL Lyonnes |
| Tessa Wullaert | Belgium | Inter Milan / Como |
Who are the leading Women’s Ballon d’Or contenders?
The shortlist contains several players with compelling cases after combining individual numbers with major team success.
Khadija Shaw
Manchester City striker Khadija Shaw produced one of the outstanding goalscoring seasons among the nominees. The Jamaica international scored 36 goals in 36 appearances, while also providing 10 assists.
Shaw helped Manchester City win both the Women’s Super League and FA Cup, giving her 46 direct goal contributions across the season. Those numbers make her one of the most obvious candidates for a high finish in the voting.
Ewa Pajor
Ewa Pajor played a major role in Barcelona’s success, scoring 34 goals in 46 matches and adding eight assists. Barcelona won the Women’s Champions League, Liga F, Copa de la Reina and Spanish Super Cup, completing a remarkable trophy haul.
Pajor therefore combines one of the strongest scoring records on the shortlist with success at both domestic and European level.
Alexia Putellas
Two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas is back among the nominees following another highly productive season.
Putellas recorded 26 goals and 15 assists in 53 appearances, while winning the Nations League with Spain and four major trophies with Barcelona.
She has since left Barcelona to join London City Lionesses, making her one of the most significant arrivals in the WSL ahead of the 2026/27 season.
Pernille Harder
Pernille Harder also has numbers that stand out. The Bayern Munich forward scored 35 goals and provided 12 assists in 47 matches, helping Bayern win the Bundesliga, German Cup and German Super Cup.
Her 47 direct goal contributions put her among the most productive attacking players on the entire shortlist.
Alessia Russo
Alessia Russo is one of two Arsenal players nominated alongside Mariona Caldentey. The England striker scored 29 goals in 50 appearances and provided nine assists during the period considered for the award.
Russo also helped Arsenal win the Champions Cup, adding European success to a season in which she established herself as one of the club’s most important attacking players.
Caroline Weir
Caroline Weir’s individual numbers also deserve attention. The Scotland international scored 32 goals and registered 13 assists in 50 matches across her time with Real Madrid and OL Lyonnes.
Her 45 goal contributions came despite finishing the season without one of the trophies listed by Ballon d’Or organisers, creating an interesting contrast with candidates whose cases are strengthened by major team honours.
Barcelona heavily represented on the shortlist
Barcelona have the largest presence among the leading clubs after another dominant season. Esmee Brugts, Cata Coll, Caroline Graham Hansen, Patri Guijarro, Ewa Pajor, Clàudia Pina, Mapi León and Alexia Putellas are all included after representing Barcelona during the period considered for the award.
Several have since moved clubs, including Putellas and Mapi León, who joined London City Lionesses during the summer. Barcelona’s nominees were part of a team that won the Champions League, Liga F, Copa de la Reina and Spanish Super Cup.
Pina had an especially productive campaign with 32 goals and nine assists, while Graham Hansen contributed 17 goals and 16 assists.
Manchester City have five nominees
Manchester City are another of the best-represented clubs on the shortlist.
Kerstin Casparij, Alex Greenwood, Yui Hasegawa, Vivianne Miedema and Khadija Shaw have all been nominated following City’s WSL and FA Cup-winning season.
Shaw leads the group with 36 goals, while Miedema scored 18 times in 30 appearances. Hasegawa also enjoyed international success with Japan, adding the Asian Cup to City’s domestic double.
Aitana Bonmatí absent after three consecutive wins
Perhaps the biggest surprise on the 2026 shortlist is the absence of Aitana Bonmatí. The Spain and Barcelona midfielder had won the Women’s Ballon d’Or for three consecutive years, taking the award in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
Her absence means there will be a new winner in 2026. Alexia Putellas is the only previous Women’s Ballon d’Or winner among this year’s 30 nominees. The Spanish midfielder won the award in 2021 and 2022 before Bonmatí’s three-year run.
Goalscoring numbers among the nominees
Several candidates produced exceptional attacking numbers during the period assessed for the award.
| Player | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| Khadija Shaw | 36 | 10 |
| Pernille Harder | 35 | 12 |
| Ewa Pajor | 34 | 8 |
| Clàudia Pina | 32 | 9 |
| Caroline Weir | 32 | 13 |
| Alessia Russo | 29 | 9 |
| Tessa Wullaert | 29 | 15 |
| Scarlett Camberos | 27 | 7 |
| Alexia Putellas | 26 | 15 |
| Melchie Dumornay | 21 | 12 |
Shaw has the most goals among the 30 nominees, while Harder, Pajor, Pina and Weir all passed the 30-goal mark. Tessa Wullaert’s season should not be overlooked either. The Belgium international recorded 29 goals and 15 assists in 38 appearances.
Who won the Women’s Ballon d’Or in 2025?
Aitana Bonmatí won the 2025 Women’s Ballon d’Or, completing a historic third consecutive victory. She had previously won the award in 2023 and 2024.
The previous Women’s Ballon d’Or winners are:
- 2018: Ada Hegerberg
- 2019: Megan Rapinoe
- 2020: No award
- 2021: Alexia Putellas
- 2022: Alexia Putellas
- 2023: Aitana Bonmatí
- 2024: Aitana Bonmatí
- 2025: Aitana Bonmatí
A new name will therefore be added to the list of winners in 2026.
When is the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony?
The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony will take place on 26 October 2026 at the London Palladium. Alongside the Women’s Ballon d’Or, awards will also recognise the leading young player, goalkeeper, coach, club and striker in the women’s game. The ceremony marks the 70th anniversary of the Ballon d’Or.
Women’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominees: FAQ
How many players are nominated for the 2026 Women’s Ballon d’Or?
There are 30 players on the shortlist for the 2026 Women’s Ballon d’Or.
Is Aitana Bonmatí nominated for the 2026 Ballon d’Or?
No. Bonmatí is not among the 30 nominees after winning the Women’s Ballon d’Or in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
Which England players are nominated?
Manchester City defender Alex Greenwood and Arsenal striker Alessia Russo are the two England internationals on the 2026 shortlist.
Which player scored the most goals among the nominees?
Based on the statistics published by the Ballon d’Or, Khadija Shaw scored the most with 36 goals in 36 appearances.
When will the 2026 Women’s Ballon d’Or winner be announced?
The winner will be revealed during the Ballon d’Or ceremony at the London Palladium on 26 October 2026.
Source: Ballon d’Or
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