Night of women's glory in London.. Putellas reclaims the throne and Chawinga & Barbra Banda write history

Alexia Putellas reclaimed the Women's Ballon d'Or on Monday 26 October, winning her third title at the ceremony in London while Malawi international Temwa Chawinga secured 10th place in the 2026 rankings.

The Spanish midfielder finished ahead of Barcelona striker Ewa Pajor and Manchester City's Khadija Shaw who claimed second and third respectively.

Meanwhile, Chawinga emerged as Africa's highest ranked representative, according to France Football's official final standings.

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Putellas returns to the summit after four years

Putellas 32 claimed the award for the third time after her previous victories in 2021 and 2022, matching the record of compatriot Aitana Bonmatí who dominated the competition from 2023 to 2025.

The Spanish international's latest triumph followed an outstanding 2025 /26 campaign with Barcelona where she helped the Catalan club win four trophies including the UEFA Women's Champions League.

According to UEFA, Putellas contributed seven goals and seven assists in the European competition and was subsequently named its Player of the Season.

She also played an important role in Spain's UEFA Women's Nations League triumph.

Her victory carries additional significance following her departure from Barcelona to join London City Lionesses ahead of the 2026 /27 season.

As previously reported by Foot Africa, Putellas became a three time Women's Ballon d'Or winner, completing an impressive return to the top after the serious knee injury that interrupted her career in 2022.

During Monday's ceremony, the midfielder also delivered an encouraging message to aspiring footballers, urging them to pursue their dreams.

"Believe in yourself" she said.

Temwa Chawinga breaks into the world's top 10

For African football, one of the most significant developments came through Malawi striker Temwa Chawinga.

The Kansas City Current forward finished 10th, climbing seven positions from her 17th place ranking in 2025.

Her progress reflects two remarkable seasons in the United States where she became the first player in NWSL history to win both the Most Valuable Player and Golden Boot awards in consecutive campaigns.

Chawinga scored 20 regular season goals in 2024 before adding another 15 in 2025, helping Kansas City Current secure the NWSL Shield.

Despite missing the beginning of the 2026 season through injury, the Malawian returned impressively, scoring seven goals in six matches during May and earning the league's Player of the Month award.

Her 10th place finish represents a major improvement on her 2025 Ballon d'Or ranking when both she and Barbra Banda missed out on the top 10.

Significantly, Chawinga was the only player representing an NWSL club among the 2026 top ten, underlining her ability to compete for international recognition alongside stars playing in Europe's leading competitions.

Barbra Banda drops to 18th as Africa maintains its presence

Zambian forward Barbra Banda was the other African player included in the final 30 player ranking.

The Orlando Pride striker finished 18th, slipping four positions from 14th in 2025 and six places from her 12th-place finish in 2024.

Nevertheless, Banda's third consecutive Ballon d'Or nomination demonstrates her sustained recognition among the world's leading footballers.

With Chawinga reaching the top ten and Banda maintaining her place in the rankings, African women's football continues to establish a presence in the international individual awards.

Why Malawi's historic Women's AFCON campaign did not count in 2026

One important detail provides additional context to Chawinga's ranking.

The Malawi international played a central role in her country's historic run to the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations final, alongside her sister Tabitha.

As Foot Africa reported during the tournament, the Chawinga sisters were instrumental in Malawi's remarkable journey.

Malawi eventually finished runners up to Cameroon and secured qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup, the country's first appearance at the tournament.

However, those achievements did not contribute to the 2026 Ballon d'Or assessment.

Under France Football's official regulations, performances were evaluated between 3 August 2025 and 19 July 2026.

The Women's Africa Cup of Nations concluded on August 16, placing it outside that evaluation period.

Consequently, Malawi's historic continental campaign will instead be eligible for consideration in the 2027 awards.

That distinction makes Chawinga's 10th place finish particularly noteworthy: her recognition was secured without the benefit of one of the most significant achievements in Malawi's football history.

With the 2027 Women's World Cup approaching, the Kansas City Current forward will have another opportunity to strengthen her international reputation and challenge for an even higher position in the next Ballon d'Or rankings.

Khaled Hegazy |

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Journaliste sportif spécialisé dans la couverture du football et la création de contenu numérique, alliant expérience éditoriale et expertise des médias sociaux.

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