Only two African footballers have been nominated for the 2026 Women’s Ballon d’Or, with Zambia’s Barbra Banda and Malawi’s Temwa Chawinga earning places on the prestigious 30-player shortlist.
The nominations, announced by France Football, highlight the growing global recognition of African women’s football while also underlining the limited continental representation among the world’s elite players. Banda and Chawinga are the only African names on the women’s top 30 list.
Banda, one of Zambia’s leading footballers, has continued to establish herself as one of the most dangerous forwards in women’s football. Her nomination adds another major individual recognition to a career that has already seen her emerge as a key figure for both club and country.
Chawinga, meanwhile, has also attracted international attention through her performances in the United States. The Malawi international is among the standout African players competing at the highest level of the women’s game and has become an important figure in the global growth of African football.
The limited African representation is notable given the continent’s strong history in women’s football. African nations have produced several globally recognised stars, including Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala, who has won the CAF African Women’s Player of the Year award a record six times.
The 2026 shortlist features several of the biggest names in women’s football, including Barcelona stars Alexia Putellas and Ewa Pajor, Manchester City forward Khadija “Bunny” Shaw and Arsenal’s Alessia Russo. Barcelona’s dominance is particularly evident, with several of its players included after a highly successful campaign.
The nominations are significant for African football because they provide Banda and Chawinga with an opportunity to compete directly against the world’s leading players for one of the sport’s most prestigious individual honours.
The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled to take place in London on October 26.
