The nominees for the 2026 Women’s Ballon d’Or have been unveiled, and this year’s list comes with a major talking point: three-time defending champion Aitana Bonmatí is not among the 30 candidates after being sidelined for most of the season with a fractured fibula.
With the reigning winner out of the picture, a new name will be etched onto the trophy on October 26 at the awards gala in London.
The Women’s Super League is strongly represented. Arsenal’s Alessia Russo is nominated after scoring 29 goals and providing 9 assists in 50 appearances. Manchester City’s Khadija Shaw is a leading contender, having scored 36 goals and registered 10 assists in just 36 matches.
Following another trophy-laden campaign that included the Champions League, Liga, Spanish Cup, and Spanish Super Cup, Barcelona has six players on the list. The standout performer for the Catalan club is Polish striker Ewa Pajor, who scored an impressive 34 goals in 46 appearances. Two-time winner Alexia Putellas is also nominated after a season where she recorded 26 goals and 15 assists.
Two African stars, Zambia’s Barbra Banda and Malawi’s Temwa Chawinga, made the list, their nominations coming after brilliant performances at the 2026 CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
