Barcelona‘s 2026 Women’s Champions League winning squad dominated the Women’s Ballon d’Or nominations, with eight players from that team making the 30-player shortlist.
Alexia Putellas and Mapi León, both of whom have joined London City Lionesses this summer, are among the nominees along with Esmee Brugts, Clàudia Pina, Caroline Graham Hansen, Ewa Pajor, Patri Guijarro and Cata Coll.
Aitana Bonmatí, who won the Ballon d’Or in each of the last two years, hasn’t been nominated following an injury-hit campaign.
Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw is also a strong candidate to win the award following her 21-goal season that led Manchester City to the Women’s Super League title last season. Her teammates Vivienne Miedema, Alex Greenwood, and Kerstin Casparij and Yui Hasegawa have also been nominated.
Alessia Russo, who finished third on the podium last year, has been nominated again as has her Arsenal teammate Mariona Caldentey.
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United States international Lily Yohannes is among the nominees for the Women’s Young Talent of the Year along with Barcelona duo Vicky López and Clara Serrajordi.
Real Madrid’s Felicia Schröder is also on the list with Chelsea defender Veerle Buurman the sole representative from the WSL.
Last season’s Women’s Champions League winners Barcelona have been nominated for the Women’s Club of the Year award, as have defeated finalists OL Lyonnes.
Women’s Super League winners Manchester City are also on the shortlist alongside Bayern Munich and Mexican side Club América.
The Women’s Coach of the Year shortlist was also announced for the best managers in the women’s game. Barcelona’s Pere Romeu, OL Lyonnes’ Jonatan Giraldez and Manchester City’s Andree Jeglertz are on the shortlist, while Nils Nielsen has been nominated for guiding Japan to an unbeaten Asia Cup triumph earlier this year.
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Elena Sadiku is the only woman to be nominated for the award. She guided Danish side BK Häcken to a historic Women’s Europa Cup triumph last season and had previously led Celtic to their first-ever Scottish league title.
Chelsea’s Hannah Hampton is in line to win her second succesive Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award after winning the WSL Golden Glove last season.
Man City’s Ayaka Yamashita and Barcelona’s Cata Coll have also been nominated along with NWSL duo Lorena and Ann-Katrin Berger.
Women’s Ballon d’Or nominees:
Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Club America, Manchester City, OL Lyonnes
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Jonatan Giraldez, Andree Jeglertz, Nils Nielsen, Pere Romeu, Elena Sadiku
Ann-Katrin Berger, Cata Coll, Hannah Hampton, Lorena, Ayaka Yamashita
Veerle Buurman, Vicky Lopez, Felicia Schroder, Clara Serrajordi, Lily Yohannes
Selma Bacha, Barbra Banda, Klara Buhl, Esmee Brugts, Mariona Caldentey, Scarlett Camberos, Kerstin Casparij, Temwa Chawinga, Cata Coll, Melchie Dumornay, Caroline Graham Hansen, Alex Greenwood, Patri Guijarro, Pernille Harder, Yui Hasegawa, Rose Lavelle, Mapi León, Lorena, Melvine Malard, Manaka Matsukubo, Vivianne Miedema, Ewa Pajor, Claudia Pina, Alexia Putellas, Wendie Renard, Alessia Russo, Khadija Shaw, Momoko Tanikawa, Caroline Weir, Tessa Wullaert
