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Another familiar figure is widely expected to lift the prestigious Ballon d’Or trophy for the best female footballer at Monday night’s ceremony. Spanish icons Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas have claimed the past five awards between them, with Putellas entering the event as the favorite to secure the honor for a third time.
Spain’s Continued Dominance in the Women’s Game
In May, Putellas captained Barcelona to a domestic quadruple, which included securing a third Champions League trophy in four years alongside their seventh consecutive Liga F title. Bonmati missed out on contention this time solely due to a serious leg injury sustained while on international duty in November 2025.
Spain’s grip on the sport extends directly to the national team, which won the World Cup in 2023, finished as runners-up to England at the Euros in 2025, and triumphed in the Nations League last December by defeating Germany in the final. Putellas served as the driving force behind this success, contributing 21 goals and 13 assists during Barcelona’s standout campaign.
Spanish football expert Guillem Balague told BBC Sport, “Give it to her! Along with Marta, she is the best player in history. No doubt she was the best player in this campaign – and she won everything!”
Spain boasts six players on the 30-strong shortlist, more than any other nation, alongside eight starters from the Champions League final. Among these nominees are star striker Claudia Pina, goalkeeper Cata Coll, and midfielder Patri Guijarro.
Challengers to the Spanish Stranglehold
While Putellas now plays for London City Lionesses in England, another forward in the country presents a strong case for the trophy. Khadija Shaw scored 21 league goals last season to guide Manchester City to their first title in a decade, adding another five goals in the FA Cup to complete a double.
The Jamaica striker has finished as the Women’s Super League top scorer for three consecutive seasons, netting 90 goals since arriving in the summer of 2021 before signing a four-year contract in June. Former England international Ellen White told BBC Sport regarding the nominees, “We haven’t had a major tournament but there are some amazing players on the list. I would love to see Shaw up there – brilliant goalscoring.”
Shaw represents one of five Manchester City players on the shortlist, though their absence from last season’s Champions League could hinder their chances. Arsenal’s Alessia Russo finished second to Shaw in league scoring last term and scored nine goals in the Champions League, following a third-place finish in the previous year’s Ballon d’Or voting behind Bonmati and Mariona Caldentey. However, Arsenal’s semi-final exit to Lyon this year may impact her bid.
Another strong challenger comes from within Barcelona itself. Poland international Ewa Pajor scored 11 goals in 10 Champions League matches last season, including a hat-trick in the final against Lyon, earning her the Women’s Gerd Muller trophy for top scorer and an eighth-place finish in the overall rankings.
The Voting Process and Ongoing Criticisms
The award evaluates performances, collective achievements, and fair play between August 3, 2025, and July 19, 2026. Selected international journalists representing the top 50 nations in the FIFA world rankings submit their top 10 candidates, with points awarded on a descending scale.
While past ceremonies faced criticism for being too Euro-centric and overlapping with international women’s football breaks, this year’s event avoids the scheduling conflict by taking place during the domestic calendar. Nevertheless, critics point out the continued absence of United States-based players from the National Women’s Super League, largely because the NWSL season operates from February to November and misaligns with the award’s evaluation period.
This scheduling mismatch leaves standout performers such as Washington Spirit player Trinity Rodman absent from the list of the world’s best players.
