Ballon d'Or Feminin 2026 Power Rankings: Who will end Aitana Bonmati's three-year dominance of the Women's Golden Ball?

In 2025-26: 13 goals, five assists.

An unfortunate spell of injuries mean it's been a while since Vivianne Miedema was last nominated for the Ballon d'Or, with her absent from the final list since finishing 11th in 2022. But the Dutchwoman is widely regarded as one of the best players on the planet and, this season, she is reminding everyone just why she recorded back-to-back top-five finishes in the Ballon d'Or voting in the two awards that preceded 2022, by playing a key role in a campaign that looks set to deliver Manchester City's first Women's Super League title in 10 years.

Only two players have scored more goals in the English top-flight this season than Miedema, who also ranks third for assists and second for combined direct goal contributions. City's lack of European football will hurt her case for matching some of the higher-ranked finishes she's had in the Ballon d'Or before, but the forward should still earn herself a nomination in her first injury-free season for a while.

In 2025-26: 25 goals, nine assists. Won UEFA Nations League, Liga F & Supercopa de Espana.

Claudia Pina is having herself a brilliant season. She leads the race for the Golden Boot in Liga F and has been one of the most prolific forwards on the continent all season, to the benefit of both Spain, who she helped win the Nations League, and Barca, who remain in the mix for a quadruple.

However, she has endured a little dip in that productivity in recent weeks and has not taken advantage of the games on the big stage that Barca have had. No goals, no assists and no headline-grabbing moments in the Champions League quarter-finals and semi-finals, nor in the the Liga F Clasico with Real Madrid, means she drops down the this ranking.

Pina has still set herself a strong foundation when it comes to the Ballon d'Or vote, with her sure to make the longlist. How high she ranks will depend on what sort of impact she can make in the big matches that remain this season, though.

In 2025-26: Six goals, four assists. Won UEFA Nations League & FIFA Women's Champions Cup.

After finishing second in the Ballon d'Or voting last year, could Mariona Caldentey clinch the Golden Ball this time around? The Spain international certainly remains influential at Arsenal this season and she has already helped them clinch one title, at the inaugural FIFA Women's Champions Cup.

Caldentey's attacking numbers are down on last year, both domestically and in the Champions League, due to the deeper role she's been asked to play more consistently at club level, and that is likely to have an impact on her chances. That she also struggled to make her mark in the latter stages of the Gunners' European title defence, which was ended by Lyon at the semi-final stage, will hurt her. Expect last year's runner-up to still get votes, though.

In 2025-26: Six goals, four assists. Won Asian Cup.

Nominated in 2023 and 2024, Yui Hasegawa should be on the longlist again in 2026 as she has been the heartbeat of a Man City team which has taken the WSL by storm this season. Playing in a brilliant double-pivot midfield with England youngster Laura Blindkilde Brown or United States international Sam Coffey, Hasegawa has been given more license to get forward this term and that has resulted in more goal contributions, which will only aid her cause further.

That Hasegawa was a key player in Japan's Asian Cup triumph adds to her credentials in a big way, putting another trophy on her resumé alongside a WSL title that City are well on track to lift in a few weeks' time. A lack of involvement in the Champions League will hurt her case, though adding more silverware in the FA Cup would be a real boost. City face Chelsea in the semi-finals of that competition this weekend.

In 2025-26: Nine goals, three assists. Won NWSL Golden Boot.

It's always difficult to know how NWSL stars will be regarded in the Ballon d'Or voting as the league's schedule does not align with the award's own parameters in terms of dates and cut-off points. Last year, there were just three NWSL stars nominated, and the presence of both Marta and Esther Gonzalez was more down to their major tournament exploits, with Marta awarded the Golden Ball after helping Brazil win Copa America while Gonzalez top-scored at Euro 2025 as Spain reached the final.

Temwa Chawinga's nomination, however, was rooted in her outstanding NWSL form. In the 2024 season, for which the final few months were relevant for the Ballon d'Or, Chawinga won the Golden Boot and Most Valuable Player awards. In the 2025 season, she once again collected both accolades while also helping the Kansas City Current win the NWSL Shield.

As such, the forward should be respected again in the Ballon d'Or voting, and she will have further opportunity to add to her credentials in the summer, as Malawi make their debut at the Women's Africa Cup of Nations.

In 2025-26: 11 goals, eight assists. Won Coupe de la Ligue.

After emerging as a thrilling teenage talent at Hoffenheim, it's taken a little longer than some might have expected for Jule Brand to make notable progress towards fulfilling her potential. Despite promising plenty on paper, a move to Wolfsburg just didn't quite work out, leading to her departure from the club when her contract expired last summer. That Lyon, the eight-time European champions, were keen to pick up Brand, though, said everything about the ability she possesses - the kind of which she has been showcasing in her first season in France.

Despite starting just nine league games for OL, Brand has registered three goals and four assists for the reigning French champions, who are on track to retain that title. In the Champions League, meanwhile, she has grown into a key player, starting all of the last three matches to help Lyon reach the final. Brand's impact in the semi-final in particular was huge, with two goals and an assist helping OL to down Arsenal in a way that will have attracted the attention of voters.

In 2025-26: 10 goals, 21 assists. Won Bundesliga & DFB-Supercup.

Players in Germany can be overlooked in the voting for this award, but Klara Buhl's incredible numbers clearly cut through last year and she's been excellent this time around, too. The flying winger has already matched her number of goals and surpassed her assists in the Bundesliga from last year. Her Champions League numbers soared too, with a remarkable eight assists in her first six games.

Hampering Buhl's case was a muscle injury that kept her on the sidelines for two months. Fortunately, the Germany international made her comeback as Bayern beat Union Berlin to win the Bundesliga in late April, assisting the winning goal after coming off the bench. She couldn't help her side get past Barca in the European semi-finals that followed, but she played her part in them pushing the three-time winners all the way.

With another trophy still on the table for Bayern, Buhl should be respected in the Ballon d'Or voting as she nears the conclusion of another terrific season.

In 2025-26: 25 goals, seven assists. Won FIFA Women's Champions Cup.

Last year, Alessia Russo finished third in the Ballon d'Or voting. This time around, on an individual basis, she's having an even better season. Could she be the one to make the leap and win the Golden Ball?

It must be said that the role Russo played in England's successful European title defence and Arsenal's Champions League triumph both contributed to her lofty finish in the voting. As such, the Gunners' semi-final exit from the latter and their unlikely chances of lifting the WSL title will hamper the striker's Ballon d'Or bid this time around.

That said, Russo's numbers this season have been excellent and they helped Arsenal enjoy what was still a great Champions League run, with her scoring in both knockout ties. She will get well-deserved votes, just not as many as last year.

In 2025-26: Three goals, seven assists. Won Liga F & Supercopa de Espana.

After missing over two months due to a broken bone in her foot, forcing her to watch from afar as Spain won the Nations League, Patri Guijarro has been back with a bang in 2026. Her importance at Barcelona has been evident since, with the team's level undoubtedly rising upon her return to a degree that her time on the sidelines should not prevent her from receiving another inclusion on the Ballon d'Or longlist.

Previously finishing as high as sixth in the voting for this award, how high Guijarro places in 2026 will depend on how Barca end this season. That she has helped them reach the Champions League final is a big positive and an eye-catching performance in that game, a showpiece she scored twice in three years ago, would give her another serious boost.

In 2025-26: 34 goals, eight assists.

While her case for the Golden Ball will likely be limited by a lack of European football, Khadija Shaw should rack up plenty of Ballon d'Or votes later this year because of a fantastic season in front of goal that looks set to propel Man City to a first WSL title in 10 years. Shaw has 19 goals in 21 league games this term, seven more than anyone else in the division, and she's also added four assists to make her the most productive forward in the WSL by some distance.

If City see out their title bid successfully, as many expect, she will certainly be among the nominees, and if she can help fire them to further success in the FA Cup, that would likely go a long way towards moving her up these rankings. Shaw has also been on fire for Jamaica, scoring nine goals in qualifying for the CONCACAF W Championship, where there are World Cup spots up for grabs. Those contributions should also be taken into consideration.

In 2025-26: 14 goals, 16 assists. Won Liga F & Supercopa de Espana.

There are several factors at play when it comes to the Ballon d'Or Feminin. Of course, the performances and statistics of each individual are a major one, especially on the biggest stages, as is winning silverware. But it would be naive not to note the importance of name recognition when it comes to this award, too.

There have been many strange omissions over the years, with stars in the relatively lower-profile Bundesliga often overlooked, for example, while Barcelona maestro Caroline Graham Hansen had to wait until 2024 for her first nomination. However, the Norway international has broken through that glass ceiling now and should be in the mix again in 2026.

Only two players have more direct goal involvements in Liga F this season than Graham Hansen, who leads the division for assists, and with Barca in contention for another two trophies, having already won two, the flying winger has the platform to showcase her qualities and put forth her case for another lofty finish in the Ballon d'Or voting.

She has done exactly that in the big games in recent weeks, in the three clashes with Real Madrid and the Champions League semi-final tie against Bayern, providing two goals and five assists across those five matches. More of that in the Champions League final will only help.

In 2025-26: 30 goals, 13 assists. Won Bundesliga & DFB-Supercup.

After ranking second in the first-ever Ballon d'Or Feminin vote back in 2018, Pernille Harder is still going incredibly strong in 2026. The Denmark international likely would have a Golden Ball on her mantlepiece had the accolade been dished out in 2020 and she remains highly thought of by voters, ranking 20th last year despite her Denmark side crashing out in the group stages of Euro 2025 without a point to their name.

That was off the back of a terrific treble-winning campaign with Bayern Munich and the Bavarians are well on track for similar success this time around, all while Harder is producing numbers that have already eclipsed those of last year. Throw in the star role she played in Bayern's Champions League quarter-final triumph over Manchester United, how impressively she performed despite the semi-final defeat to Barcelona, plus how she has helped put an understandably unfancied Denmark in pole position to qualify automatically for next summer's World Cup, and Harder could be on for her best ranking in the Ballon d'Or for several years.

In 2025-26: 31 goals, four assists. Won Supercopa de Espana & Liga F.

Ewa Pajor continues to put up eye-watering numbers in front of goal, and her role in Barcelona's strong season on four fronts should see her return to the Ballon d'Or shortlist this year after a very successful showing in 2025. Last time around, the Poland international collected the Gerd Muller Trophy for her goal-scoring exploits and also ranked eighth in the voting for the main award. It feels very likely that she will place even higher this term.

Pajor may not have broken the 50-goal barrier she did last year, but she remains extremely prolific and has turned up in huge games, netting in all four of Barca's Champions League knockout matches as they saw off Real Madrid and then Bayern Munich. With the form she is in, it would not be a surprise if she has more decisive moments in massive games to come.

In 2025-26: 14 goals, 12 assists. Won Coupe de la Ligue.

It'd be a huge surprise if Melchie Dumornay doesn't win the Ballon d'Or at some point, she is just that good. It's a point she has proved time and time again with her performances for Lyon this season, in which she has regularly stood out as the best player on the pitch.

After scoring at a remarkable rate last year, Dumornay is assisting goals more regularly this time around, but she is still finding the back of the net in big moments - and in spectacular fashion. That was the case when Lyon met PSG in the Coupe de la Ligue final, as her wonderful hit proved to be the only goal in the game to deliver what OL will hope is the first of four pieces of silverware this season.

In the Champions League, she has also been decisive to help her side reach the final. On the scoresheet in the quarter-final win over Wolfsburg and named Player of the Match as OL knocked out Arsenal in the last four, these are the sort of performances that can deliver a Ballon d'Or.

In 2025-26: 22 goals, 11 assists. Won UEFA Women's Nations League, Liga F & Supercopa de Espana.

For many, Alexia Putellas would have been a deserving winner of the 2025 Ballon d'Or Feminin. The Barcelona star looked arguably better than ever last season, putting some tough years of injury behind her to produce an other-worldly level as the Catalans won a domestic treble and reached the Champions League final.

Putellas has only carried that into this season, where the weight of expectation has been on her shoulders even more at times, amid injuries in the midfield to Guijarro and Bonmati. The two-time Ballon d'Or winner has excelled in helping younger players around her step up to fill the absences of big names, while still producing a very impressive return of goals and assists that has helped both Spain and Barca enjoy success.

Right now, given her consistently world-class level, the track record she has in the Golden Ball voting and the role she has played in Barca reaching another Champions League final, Putellas feels like the front-runner for the 2026 Ballon d'Or Feminin.