Barbra Banda and Temwa Chawinga Represents Africa in 2026 Women’s Ballon d'Or Shortlist

Africa will have two representatives chasing the biggest individual prize in women's football after Zambia's Barbra Banda and Malawi's Temwa Chawinga were named among the 30 nominees for the 2026 Women's Ballon d'Or.

The nominations give Africa a strong presence on a shortlist dominated by some of the biggest names in women's football.

Banda, who plays for Orlando Pride, and Chawinga, who represents Kansas City Current, are the continent's two nominees for the women's top individual award.

Their inclusion comes after impressive campaigns that have continued to raise the profile of African women's football on the global stage.

Zambia’s Barbra Banda Makes the Cut

Banda is once again among the world's elite after earning a place on the Ballon d'Or Féminin shortlist.

The Zambia international has established herself as one of Africa's biggest stars and will now compete against some of the game's most decorated players for the prestigious award.

Her nomination is another major recognition for Zambian football, with Banda continuing to carry the country's flag at the highest level of the women's game.

Malawi’s Temwa Chawinga Also Nominated

Malawi's Temwa Chawinga is the other African player on the 30-woman shortlist.

The Kansas City Current forward has enjoyed a remarkable rise and is now receiving recognition alongside some of the world's most established stars.

Chawinga's nomination is particularly significant for Malawi, giving the country's successful run in the recently concluded 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nation (WAFCON 2026) where they took the silver medal.

Together, Banda and Chawinga provide Africa with two genuine contenders for the award.

Khadija Shaw Adds Caribbean Representation

Manchester City's Khadija Shaw is also among the nominees.

However, while Shaw is one of the most prominent players of African descent in women's football, she represents Jamaica, meaning she is not one of Africa's nominees.

Shaw scored 21 goals in 22 Women's Super League games last season and remains one of the most dangerous forwards in world football.

Who Else Is Nominated?

The 30-player shortlist features some of the biggest stars in women's football.

Two-time winner Alexia Putellas is considered one of the favourites after helping Barcelona win the Champions League.

Barcelona's 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 in Alessia Russo and Alex Greenwood.

Russo finished third in last year's voting after scoring 24 goals in 40 club appearances, while Greenwood helped Manchester City win the Women's Super League and FA Cup.

Scotland's Caroline Weir, who joined Lyon from Real Madrid in June, also made the list after scoring 20 goals in all competitions for the Spanish club.

Full 2026 Women's Ballon d'Or Shortlist

1. Selma Bacha — Lyon/France
2. Barbra Banda — Orlando Pride/Zambia
3. Klara Buhl — Bayern Munich/Germany
4. Esmee Brugts — Barcelona/Netherlands
5. Mariona Caldentey — Arsenal/Spain
6. Scarlett Camberos — Club America/Mexico
7. Kerstin Casparij — Manchester City/Netherlands
8. Temwa Chawinga — Kansas City Current/Malawi
9. Cata Coll — Barcelona/Spain
10. Melchie Dumornay — Lyon/Haiti
11. Caroline Graham Hansen — Barcelona/Norway
12. Alex Greenwood — Manchester City/England
13. Patri Guijarro — Barcelona/Spain
14. Pernille Harder — Bayern Munich/Denmark
15. Yui Hasegawa — Manchester City/Japan
16. Rose Lavelle — Gotham FC/United States
17. Mapi Leon — London City Lionesses/Spain
18. Lorena — Kansas City Current/Brazil
19. Melvine Malard — Chelsea/France
20. Manaka Matsukubo — Chelsea/Japan
21. Vivianne Miedema — Manchester City/Netherlands
22. Ewa Pajor — Barcelona/Poland
23. Claudia Pina — Barcelona/Spain
24. Alexia Putellas — London City Lionesses/Spain
25. Wendie Renard — Lyon/France
26. Alessia Russo — Arsenal/England
27. Khadija Shaw — Manchester City/Jamaica
28. Momoko Tanikawa — Bayern Munich/Japan
29. Caroline Weir — Lyon/Scotland
30. Tessa Wullaert — Como/Belgium

No African Nominee in the Other Women's Categories

Africa's representation is limited to Banda and Chawinga in the main women's Ballon d'Or category. There are no African nominees in the remaining four women's categories.

Women's Young Talent of the Year

1. Veerle Buurman — Chelsea/Netherlands
2. Vicky Lopez — Barcelona/Spain
3. Felicia Schroder — Real Madrid/Sweden
4. Clara Serrajordi — Barcelona/Spain
5. Lily Yohannes — OL Lyonnes/United States

Women's Goalkeeper of the Year

1. Ann-Katrin Berger — Gotham FC/Germany
2. Cata Coll — Barcelona/Spain
3. Hannah Hampton — Chelsea/England
4. Lorena — Kansas City/Brazil
5. Ayaka Yamashita — Manchester City/Japan

Women's Coach of the Year

1. Jonatan Giraldez — OL Lyonnes
2. Andree Jeglertz — Manchester City
3. Nils Nielsen — Japan
4. Pere Romeu — Barcelona
5. Elena Sadiku — Celtic/BK Hacken

Women's Club of the Year

1. Barcelona — Spain
2. Bayern Munich — Germany
3. Club America — Mexico
4. Lyon — France
5. Manchester City — England

Africa Eyes Ballon d'Or History

The nominations of Banda and Chawinga give African women's football another opportunity to make its mark on one of the sport's biggest stages.

The 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony will take place in London on 26 October, as the prestigious award celebrates its 70th anniversary.

The award was created by France Football in 1956, with former England star Sir Stanley Matthews becoming its first winner.

While neither player is among the traditional European favourites, their inclusion itself represents growing recognition of the talent emerging from the continent.