BBC Opens Voting for 2026 Women’s Footballer of the Year With Five Finalists
Fans worldwide can now pick the BBC World Service Women's Footballer of the Year 2026 from five finalists. Voting closes at 09:00 GMT on November 18, and the winner will be named at Sports Personality of the Year on December 13 for the first time.
Voting is open for the BBC World Service Women's Footballer of the Year 2026, and fans worldwide can cast their vote on the BBC Sport website and app until 09:00 GMT on Wednesday, November 18.
Five players are on the shortlist: Temwa Chawinga, Ewa Pajor, Alexia Putellas, Alessia Russo and Khadija 'Bunny' Shaw.
For the first time in the award's history, the winner will be announced as part of the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year on Sunday, December 13. The result will also be shared on the BBC World Service and the BBC Sport website and app.
The award is in its 12th year. Coaches, journalists and former professionals nominate the contenders, and the period covered runs from September 2025 to August 2026.
The five finalists
Chawinga helped Kansas City Current clinch the NWSL Shield as the National Women's Soccer League's top regular-season team. She scored 15 goals in the 2025 season and became the first player named league MVP in back-to-back campaigns. She also won the Golden Boot for a second straight year and earned a contract extension through 2029.
With Malawi, Chawinga scored against Nigeria, Egypt, Ghana and Algeria at the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations. She won the tournament's Golden Boot with five goals. Malawi reached their first final and qualified for the Women's World Cup for the first time.
Pajor was instrumental as Barcelona won four trophies last season. She scored the first two goals in a 4-0 Champions League final victory over Lyon and finished as the competition's top scorer. It was her first Champions League title after losing in five finals.
In Liga F, Pajor scored 16 league goals in 23 appearances and provided five assists as Barcelona won the domestic treble. She captains Poland and is the team's leading goalscorer.
Putellas spent 14 years at Barcelona and helped them win four major trophies in her final season. Her 14 goal contributions in 11 Champions League appearances helped the club win the competition for the fourth time.
She completed a move to London City Lionesses in July 2026, citing the club's "women-only identity and ambition" as important factors. Last month she was awarded a record-equalling third Ballon d'Or.
Russo scored 13 Women's Super League goals for Arsenal last season, finishing second in the scoring charts. She added six assists in 22 league appearances, and registered 24 goals and eight assists across all competitions.
Arsenal won the inaugural Women's Champions Cup, beating Corinthians 3-2 after extra time. It was the first competitive trophy Arsenal's women's team had lifted at the Emirates.
