Voting is now open for the BBC Women's Footballer of the Year 2026. BBC World Service has revealed a five-player shortlist featuring Temwa Chawinga, Ewa Pajor, Alexia Putellas, Alessia Russo, and Khadija 'Bunny' Shaw. Fans worldwide can vote until Wednesday, 18 November at 09:00 GMT. For the first time in the award's 12-year history, the winner will be announced as part of the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year on Sunday, 13 December, across BBC World Service and the BBC Sport platform.
Contenders are nominated by coaches, journalists, and former professionals, covering performances from September 2025 to August 2026. The award celebrates excellence in women's football, with the shortlist representing the best talent across Europe and beyond.
Temwa Chawinga has established herself as one of the world's most prolific forwards. Her impact on the National Women's Soccer League is clear, helping Kansas City Current clinch the NWSL Shield as the league's top team. Chawinga scored 15 goals in the 2025 season, becoming the first player named NWSL MVP in back-to-back campaigns and winning the Golden Boot for the second year in a row. She earned a contract extension through 2029. With Malawi, she helped qualify for the Women's World Cup for the first time, scoring five goals at the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations to win the Golden Boot.
Ewa Pajor is widely regarded as a world-class number nine. Instrumental in Barcelona winning four trophies last season, she scored their first two goals in a 4-0 Champions League final victory over Lyon. In Liga F, she scored 16 league goals with five assists, contributing to a domestic treble. Pajor captains Poland and is the team's leading goalscorer internationally.
Source: BBC Sport Football · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing