The nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or Féminin have been revealed, and, for the first time since 2022, we’re guaranteed a new winner.
Aitana Bonmatí, winner of the last three editions in 2023, 2024 and 2025, is absent from this year’s 30-player shortlist.
Bonmatí made a strong start to the 2025/26 season, but broke her leg on international duty on 30 November, ruling her out for over five months.
She made an emotional return at the Camp Nou in the second leg of Barcelona’s Champions League semi-final win over Bayern Munich, and went on to make a cameo appearance in the final.
That limited game time, however, wasn’t enough to earn her a nomination this year, opening the door for a new winner to step into the spotlight.
The Full 30 Nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or Féminin
Barcelona’s Champions League-winning squad makes up the biggest single contingent on the list, with eight nominees, while five of the Manchester City squad appear. The full list is as follows:
- Barbra Banda (Orlando Pride, Zambia)
- Selma Bacha (OL Lyonnes, France)
- Klara Bühl (FC Bayern Munich, Germany)
- Esmee Brugts (FC Barcelona, Netherlands)
- Scarlett Camberos (Bay FC, USA)
- Mariona Caldentey (Arsenal, Spain)
- Temwa Chawinga (Kansas City Current, Malawi)
- Kerstin Casparij (Manchester City, Netherlands)
- Catalina Coll (FC Barcelona, Spain)
- Melchie Dumornay (OL Lyonnes, Haiti)
- Alex Greenwood (Manchester City, England)
- Caroline Graham Hansen (FC Barcelona, Norway)
- Patricia Guijarro (FC Barcelona, Spain)
- Pernille Harder (FC Bayern Munich, Denmark)
- Yui Hasegawa (Manchester City, Japan)
- Rose Lavelle (NJ/NY Gotham FC, USA)
- Mapi Leon (FC Barcelona, Spain)
- Lorena Leite (Kansas City Current, Brazil)
- Manaka Matsukubo (North Carolina Courage, Japan)
- Melvine Malard (Manchester United, France)
- Vivianne Miedema (Manchester City, Netherlands)
- Ewa Pajor (FC Barcelona, Poland)
- Alexia Putellas (FC Barcelona, Spain)
- Claudia Pina (FC Barcelona, Spain)
- Wendie Renard (OL Lyonnes, France)
- Alessia Russo (Arsenal, England)
- Khadija Shaw (Manchester City, Jamaica)
- Momoko Tanikawa (FC Rosengaard, Japan)
- Caroline Weir (Real Madrid, Scotland)
- Tessa Wullaert (Como 1907, Belgium)
The 2026 Ballon d’Or Féminin ceremony takes place on Monday, 26 October, in London – keep an eye out for updates from us on the winners.
