The 2026 Ballon d’Or Féminin will see a new winner emerge, as three-time title-holder Aitana Bonmatí is missing from the list.
Bonmatí – who claimed the last three editions in 2023, 2024 and 2025 – missed out on a nomination after an injury-hit 25/26 season, which saw her sitting out for almost six months with a broken leg.
Her absence leaves the door open for someone else to lift the trophy, and 11 players from the Women’s Super League are hoping it’ll be them.
Manchester City Lead the WSL Charge for the 2026 Ballon d’Or
Manchester City has the biggest representation of any WSL club, with five nominees: Kerstin Casparij, Alex Greenwood, Yui Hasegawa, Vivianne Miedema and Khadija Shaw.
Shaw enjoyed a standout 25/26 season, scoring 21 goals to win the WSL Golden Boot for a third consecutive year, while also picking up the Players’ Player of the Year award as City won their first title in a decade.
Miedema, the WSL’s all-time top scorer, also returned to form with 10 goals, her best total since 21/22.
Arsenal have two nominees in Mariona Caldentey and Alessia Russo, the latter of whom topped the club’s WSL goal-scoring table last season with 13.
The 11 WSL Nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or
The 11 current WSL players vying for the 2026 Ballon d’Or Féminin are:
- Kerstin Casparij (Manchester City)
- Alex Greenwood (Manchester City)
- Yui Hasegawa (Manchester City)
- Vivianne Miedema (Manchester City)
- Khadija Shaw (Manchester City)
- Mariona Caldentey (Arsenal)
- Alessia Russo (Arsenal)
- Melvine Malard (Chelsea)
- Manaka Matsukubo (Chelsea)
- Alexia Putellas (London City Lionesses)
- Mapi Leon (London City Lionesses)
Leon and Putellas were nominated for their performances during the 2025/26 season with Barcelona, prior to their summer moves to London City Lionesses.
The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony takes place on Monday, 26 October, in London.
SEE ALSO: The 30 Players Nominated for the 2026 Ballon d’Or Féminin
