Alexia Putellas finished with 618 points in the 2026 Women’s Ballon d’Or vote, 86 clear of Ewa Pajor. Even so, the night at the London Palladium on 26 October told a bigger story. Eleven WSL players made the shortlist, so the league’s reach was hard to miss. Meanwhile, the Lionesses squad guide shows how England’s own stars fit into that picture.
So why does this award matter to English fans? For one thing, the ceremony marked the 70th edition of the Ballon d’Or, and London hosted it. Beyond that, England’s Alessia Russo and Alex Greenwood were both on the list. This guide covers the winner, the WSL contenders, the Lionesses and what comes next.
How the 2026 Women’s Ballon d’Or Race Played Out
A shortlist of 30 with one big gap
France Football named 30 nominees, and the list had one obvious absence. Aitana Bonmatí, who won the last three editions, wasn’t on it. As a result, the door swung open for someone new. In fact, the favourite was a player who had already lifted the trophy twice.
Voting came from 50 journalists, and the margins were clear. Putellas took 618 points, Pajor collected 532 and Jamaica’s Khadija Shaw added 344. That left an 86-point gap between first and second place. Still, Pajor’s runner-up finish was the best ranking of her career.
Putellas completes a third award
The Spanish midfielder joined London City Lionesses in the summer. Her trophy count now reads 2021, 2022 and 2026, which puts her level with Bonmatí on three. Before the move, she helped Barcelona win the league and the Champions League. Along the way, she racked up seven goals and seven assists in Europe.
The WSL Stars Who Made the Women’s Ballon d’Or Shortlist
Here’s the thing: the WSL had a bigger presence than ever. According to DAZN, eleven league players appeared on the list. Some play for the reigning champions, while others come from the newest arrivals. Take a look at the names below.
- Arsenal: Alessia Russo and Mariona Caldentey
- Manchester City: Alex Greenwood, Khadija Shaw, Yui Hasegawa, Kerstin Casparij and Vivianne Miedema
- Manchester United/Chelsea: Melvine Malard and Manaka Matsukubo
- London City Lionesses: Alexia Putellas and Mapi León
Manchester City supplied the largest group, and that makes sense. City won the 2025-26 title with 55 points. Shaw scored 21 league goals that season, which topped the scoring chart. Even so, she finished third in the vote.
If you want the full picture of where these clubs stand today, the WSL 2026-27 mid-season guide tracks the table and the key names.
Lionesses in the Women’s Ballon d’Or Conversation
Russo and Greenwood fly the flag
Only two Lionesses made the women’s list, Alessia Russo and Alex Greenwood. Russo plays for Arsenal, while Greenwood defends for Manchester City. Russo scored twice against Ukraine in March 2026. Then she added two more against Greece on 13 October.
Greenwood, meanwhile, has 111 England caps and seven goals as of September 2026. Captain Leah Williamson was nominated in 2025 but missed this year’s list. Her story is told in this Leah Williamson biography. For England fans, the contrast shows how tight the competition has become.
Hampton and the goalkeeper prize
Hannah Hampton won the inaugural Women’s Goalkeeper award at the 2025 ceremony in Paris. This year she was nominated again, but Barcelona’s Cata Coll took the prize. Still, Hampton has 29 caps for England. By April 2026, she had become Sarina Wiegman’s first-choice goalkeeper.
The Other Winners From the London Ceremony
The night belonged to Spain and its clubs. Harry Kane won the men’s award, yet the women’s categories were where Barcelona shone. Here’s who collected hardware:
- Women’s Young Talent: Vicky López of Barcelona, for a second straight year
- Women’s Striker: Charlyn Corral of CF Pachuca
- Women’s Goalkeeper: Cata Coll of Barcelona
- Women’s Club: Barcelona
- Women’s Coach: Pere Romeu of Barcelona Femeni
Spanish dominance was a major talking point afterwards. Because Barcelona took four of the five extra honours, the club’s grip on the women’s game looked firm. At the same time, the English game had plenty to celebrate. Putellas now plays in England, so the WSL holds the reigning winner.
What the Result Means for the WSL and the Lionesses
Putellas’s new club, London City Lionesses, sit third in the table on 16 points. They lost 2-1 to Manchester City on 1 November. Chelsea and City share the top spot on 22 points after eight games. Because of that, the league now has a winner of the Women’s Ballon d’Or in a real title chase.
Next up for England is a World Cup play-off against Ukraine. The first leg is on 1 December in Murcia, Spain. After that, the second leg follows at Wembley on 5 December. The winner earns a place at the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.
How the Voting Worked and Why the Margin Mattered
Fifty voting journalists decided the result. Putellas finished on 618 points, Pajor on 532 and Shaw on 344. In other words, the winner’s lead was clear but not a landslide. Meanwhile, the gap between Pajor and Shaw was 188 points, so second place was far from close. Melchie Dumornay of OL Lyonnes also finished among the leading names.
Pajor’s second place was the best ranking of her career. That says plenty about her season at Barcelona. Putellas, however, had the edge on big-stage numbers. She won the league and the Champions League with Barcelona before leaving. Her record of seven goals and seven assists in Europe made her case hard to ignore.
The Global Field Beyond England
England wasn’t the only country with a strong hand. The list ran well beyond the WSL, and the NWSL had four nominees. Temwa Chawinga, Lorena, Rose Lavelle and Barbra Banda all made the cut. OL Lyonnes had three names in Selma Bacha, Melchie Dumornay and Wendie Renard. Bayern Munich added Klara Bühl, Pernille Harder and Momoko Tanikawa.
Barcelona, of course, supplied the deepest group. Ewa Pajor, Clàudia Pina, Patri Guijarro, Caroline Graham Hansen, Esmee Brugts and Cata Coll all featured. Alexia Putellas and Mapi León were listed with both Barcelona and London City Lionesses. Aitana Bonmatí, who won the previous three editions, wasn’t nominated this time. Her injury opened the door, according to DAZN.
A Ceremony That Finally Fits the Calendar
The Women’s Ballon d’Or started in 2018. For years, the ceremony clashed with international breaks. In 2023, only seven of the 30 nominees could attend. A year later, just six made it. Because of that, Lionesses midfielder Georgia Stanway called for better scheduling.
Things changed in 2025. For the first time, the ceremony fell outside a women’s international break. Then in 2026, London hosted the 70th edition on Monday 26 October at the Palladium. Traffic delayed the start by 45 minutes, according to ESPN. Even so, the move meant more of the shortlisted players could be there to see it.
What the 2027 Outlook Looks Like
Here’s an opinion: next year’s race will lean on the World Cup. The 2027 tournament takes place in Brazil next summer, and England still need to beat Ukraine in a play-off first. Players such as Russo, Greenwood and Hampton will want to peak in time. Spain, the 2023 champions, will have the same idea.
At club level, the WSL now has the reigning winner. Putellas plays for London City Lionesses, who sit third in the table. Alessia Russo and Mariona Caldentey play for Arsenal, who’ve had a slow start. Meanwhile, Shaw and Hasegawa are at the top with Manchester City. The 2027 Women’s Ballon d’Or race could be won or lost in England.
Key Takeaways
- Winner: Alexia Putellas won her third Women’s Ballon d’Or with 618 points.
- Runners-up: Ewa Pajor finished second on 532 points, and Khadija Shaw took third on 344.
- WSL presence: Eleven WSL players made the shortlist, led by Manchester City.
- Lionesses: Alessia Russo and Alex Greenwood were England’s two nominees.
- Date and venue: The ceremony took place at the London Palladium on 26 October 2026.
FAQs
Who won the 2026 Women’s Ballon d’Or?
Alexia Putellas won the award at the London Palladium on 26 October 2026.
How many points did Putellas get?
She finished with 618 points, ahead of Ewa Pajor on 532.
Which Lionesses were nominated?
Alessia Russo of Arsenal and Alex Greenwood of Manchester City made the women’s list.
Was Aitana Bonmatí nominated this year?
No, the three-time defending winner wasn’t on the 30-player shortlist.
Who won the women’s goalkeeper award?
Barcelona’s Cata Coll took the 2026 Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year prize.
Conclusion
The Women’s Ballon d’Or race ended with Putellas on top, but the wider story belongs to England too. Russo and Greenwood carried the Lionesses’ flag, and eleven WSL players made the list. With the World Cup play-off against Ukraine ahead, English football has plenty to watch. In short, this year’s Women’s Ballon d’Or proved the WSL is now home to the game’s biggest names.
