Top 10 Best Female Footballers for Ballon d Or 2026

The race for the Best Female Footballers for Ballon d Or 2026 is already intense. Rising stars and established players are battling to claim the top prize in women's football. Barcelona continues to dominate, led by Aitana Bonmati, who is chasing her fourth consecutive win. Alongside her, Alexia Putellas remains a strong contender, while Alessia Russo aims to go one step further after narrowly missing the award last year.

This season also sees talents like Ewa Pajor, Caroline Graham Hansen, and Patri Guijarro making strong cases for the Best Female Footballers for Ballon d Or 2026. Based on early 2025–26 performances in domestic leagues, UEFA Women's Champions League (UWCL), and international matches.

List of 10 Best Female Footballers for Ballon d Or 2026

Ranking Criteria

Before listing the Best Female Footballers for Ballon d Or 2026, these factors are considered:

Goals Scored: Consistent scorers often influence the votes.

Assists: Creating chances is as important as scoring.

Performance in UWCL: Top European matches reveal true quality.

International Form: Strong displays for national teams increase visibility.

Consistency: Maintaining high performance across seasons matters.

10. Mariona Caldentey (Arsenal | Spain)

Mariona Caldentey joined Arsenal in 2024 after a decade at Barcelona, where she won 22 trophies including three UWCL titles. Her move to English football has been smooth, and she continues to impress with her creativity, vision, and leadership on the field. Caldentey is not only versatile in playing multiple positions - central midfield, left wing, and attacking midfield - but also possesses the intelligence to read the game and anticipate opponents' moves. Her physical style combined with technical skills makes her a consistent threat. While currently ranked 10th among the Best Female Footballers for Ballon d Or 2026, she has the potential to climb higher if she maintains this form.

9. Ewa Pajor (FC Barcelona | Poland)

Ewa Pajor, often called the "female Robert Lewandowski," is one of the most lethal forwards in women's football. In the 2024–25 season, she scored 43 goals and added 14 assists for Wolfsburg before transferring to Barcelona. Pajor's excellent movement, anticipation, and finishing ability make her an elite striker capable of turning games around. This season, she has already scored crucial goals in both domestic league matches and UWCL encounters. Pajor's combination of speed, technique, and goal-scoring instinct firmly places her among the Best Female Footballers for Ballon d Or 2026, making her a key player to watch.

8. Vicky López (FC Barcelona | Spain)

At just 19 years old, Vicky López is already making history in women's football. She became the first female winner of the Kopa Trophy at the 2025 Ballon d'Or ceremony, highlighting her rapid rise to prominence. López's creativity, speed, ball control, and intelligence on the field make her a dangerous attacking threat. Primarily a right-winger, she can also excel in an attacking midfield role, demonstrating versatility beyond her years. Her confidence in one-on-one situations, precise passing, and ability to read tight spaces makes her a strong contender among the Best Female Footballers for Ballon d Or 2026.

7. Tabitha Chawinga (OL Lyon | Malawi)

Tabitha Chawinga has been one of the most consistent forwards in recent years, known for her speed, agility, and goal-scoring ability in crucial moments. Chawinga previously made history as the first African woman to finish as top scorer in Serie A during her loan spell at Inter Milan. Now with Lyon, she continues to terrorize defenses with her pace, positioning, and clinical finishing. Chawinga's early performances in the 2025–26 season have already drawn attention, solidifying her place among the Best Female Footballers for Ballon d Or 2026. Her ability to influence big matches makes her a standout forward.

6. Vanessa Gilles (Bayern Munich | Canada)

Vanessa Gilles is a rare example of a defender competing at the highest level for the Ballon d'Or. The Canadian center-back is not only defensively solid but also dangerous in attacking set-piece situations. Her composure, range of passing, and leadership qualities make her a cornerstone for Bayern Munich. Gilles' ability to deliver accurate long passes and contribute to goals increases her value, positioning her among the Best Female Footballers for Ballon d Or 2026. Her presence on the field often defines games defensively and offensively.

5. Caroline Graham Hansen (FC Barcelona | Norway)

Caroline Graham Hansen is one of the most feared wingers in modern women's football. Her dribbling, sharp turns, accurate passing, and vision make her extremely difficult to defend against. Last season, she produced 30 goal contributions (16 goals + 14 assists) for Barcelona, playing a central role in the club's domestic dominance. Hansen's experience, technical ability, and creativity allow her to dictate play from the wings, making her a strong contender among the Best Female Footballers for Ballon d Or 2026.

4. Patri Guijarro (FC Barcelona | Spain)

Patri Guijarro is widely regarded as one of the most intelligent midfielders in women's football. Her positioning, defensive awareness, and ability to switch play make her essential for Barcelona's midfield dominance. Guijarro excels at dictating the tempo of the game and knows precisely when to join attacks or hold her defensive line. Described by FIFA as a complete box-to-box midfielder, she balances creativity with tactical discipline. Guijarro's contributions firmly place her among the Best Female Footballers for Ballon d Or 2026.

3. Alessia Russo (Arsenal | England)

Alessia Russo was a standout in the 2025 season, nearly winning the Ballon d'Or Féminin after leading Arsenal to their first UWCL title since 2007. She scored crucial goals for both club and country, including a decisive strike in the Women's Euro final to secure England's trophy. Russo's physicality, strength, and intelligent movement make her a top striker. She has started the 2025–26 season in brilliant form, making her one of the Best Female Footballers for Ballon d Or 2026.

2. Alexia Putellas (FC Barcelona | Spain)

Alexia Putellas has made a remarkable comeback from injuries over the past two years. Already a two-time Ballon d'Or Féminin winner, she is considered one of the greatest players in modern women's football. Putellas' vision, passing accuracy, creativity, and leadership make her a complete midfielder. Her stats, ranking in the 99th percentile for progressive carries and touches, highlight her technical brilliance. She continues to inspire teammates and fans, earning her place among the Best Female Footballers for Ballon d Or 2026.

1. Aitana Bonmati (FC Barcelona | Spain)

At the top of the list is Aitana Bonmati, the current Ballon d'Or Féminin holder and arguably the world's best female footballer. She is targeting a record fourth consecutive Ballon d'Or title. Bonmati combines the vision and intelligence of a playmaker with the finishing ability of a forward. Her technique, balance, and composure make her the perfect all-rounder. With 5 goals and 1 assist already this season, Bonmati remains the clear favorite among the Best Female Footballers for Ballon d Or 2026.