Malawi national women’s football team vice-captain Temwa Chawinga has finished 10th in the 2026 Women’s Ballon d’Or rankings, becoming the first African woman to secure a place in the award’s top 10.
The Kansas City Current forward was recognised at the Ballon d’Or ceremony held in London, United Kingdom, on Monday, 26 October 2026. The award recognises outstanding individual performances in women’s football.
Chawinga’s achievement follows her impressive performances for club and country, including her contribution to Malawi’s historic run to the final of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, where she finished as the tournament’s leading scorer with five goals.
Zambia captain Barbra Banda was another African player recognised in the rankings, finishing 18th. The Orlando Pride forward earned her third Women’s Ballon d’Or nomination after previously finishing 12th in 2024 and 14th in 2025.
Chawinga’s 10th-place finish marks the highest position achieved by an African woman in the history of the Women’s Ballon d’Or rankings, placing the Malawian forward among the world’s leading women footballers.
