Alexia Putellas is the overwhelming favorite to claim a third Women's Ballon d'Or when the award is announced on Monday, extending a period of Spanish dominance that has seen the country's players win the past five editions.
Putellas leads Spanish dominance
The Barcelona captain, now playing for London City Lionesses, led her former club to a quadruple in May, including a third Champions League title in four years and a seventh consecutive Liga F crown. She contributed 21 goals and 13 assists during that campaign, adding to a career haul of 38 trophies. Spanish football expert Guillem Balague described her as "the best player in this campaign – and she won everything!" Spain has six players on the 30‑person shortlist, and eight members of Barcelona's Champions League final starting XI are nominated.
Challengers emerge
Manchester City striker Khadija Shaw presents the strongest alternative case. The Jamaica international scored 21 league goals and five in the FA Cup to secure City's first WSL title in a decade, becoming the league's top scorer for a third straight season and reaching 90 goals since her 2021 arrival. Arsenal forward Alessia Russo, last year's third‑place finisher, netted nine times in the Champions League but saw her side exit in the semi‑finals to Lyon. Barcelona's Ewa Pajor, the Women's Gerd Müller Trophy winner, struck 11 goals in 10 Champions League appearances, including a hat‑trick in the final against Lyon.
Voting process and criticism
The award covers performances from 3 August 2025 to 19 July 2026. Journalists from the top 50 FIFA‑ranked nations each rank their top 10 candidates on a descending points scale. While this year's ceremony avoids a clash with international breaks, critics note the continued absence of National Women's Soccer League players such as Trinity Rodman, whose season runs from February to November and falls outside the voting window.
