Women’s Ballon d Or 2026 Contenders and Top Contenders
- The race for the Ballon d'Or is taking shape as BBC Sport evaluates contenders, including Alexia Putellas, following standout domestic and continental campaigns.
- Manchester City forward Khadija Shaw enters the conversation after firing her club to their first title in a decade with 21 league goals last season, BBC Sport reported.
- Arsenal forward Alessia Russo finished second to Shaw in the league scoring charts last season and netted nine goals in the Champions League, according to BBC Sport.
The race for the Ballon d’Or is taking shape as BBC Sport evaluates contenders, including Alexia Putellas, following standout domestic and continental campaigns.
Khadija Shaw and Manchester City Title Dominance
Manchester City forward Khadija Shaw enters the conversation after firing her club to their first title in a decade with 21 league goals last season, BBC Sport reported. The Jamaica striker added another five goals in the FA Cup to help complete the double. Shaw has claimed the Women’s Super League top scorer crown for the past three seasons, amassing 90 goals since joining the club in July 2021 and securing a four-year contract extension in June. Former England international Ellen White stated I would love to see Shaw up there – brilliant goalscoring
while noting the lack of a major international tournament on the calendar.
Alessia Russo and Arsenal Continental Ambitions
Arsenal forward Alessia Russo finished second to Shaw in the league scoring charts last season and netted nine goals in the Champions League, according to BBC Sport. Russo placed third in the Ballon d’Or voting last year behind Aitana Bonmati and Mariona Caldentey following the Gunners’ Champions League victory in May 2025. However, Arsenal’s elimination in the semi-finals against Lyon this term may hurt her chances of claiming the top prize.
Ewa Pajor and Barcelona Goalscoring Prowess
Barcelona striker Ewa Pajor represents a strong challenge to the recent Spanish dominance of the award, BBC Sport reported. The Poland international scored 11 goals in just 10 Champions League matches last season, including a hat-trick in the final against Lyon. The 29-year-old collected the Women’s Gerd Muller trophy as top scorer last season and finished eighth in the overall rankings.