Voting Opens for BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year 2026
Voting for the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year 2026 is officially underway, allowing fans from around the world to participate. Supporters can choose from a shortlist of five talented players: Temwa Chawinga, Ewa Pajor, Alexia Putellas, Alessia Russo, and Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw.
Voting will remain open until Wednesday, 18 November at 09:00 GMT. This year marks a significant milestone, as the winner will be revealed during the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year program, which will also be broadcast on the BBC World Service, along with the BBC Sport website and app.
The prestigious award, now in its 12th year, involves nominations from coaches, journalists, and former professionals, covering performances from September 2025 to September 2026.
Fans are encouraged to cast their votes and learn more about the five outstanding contenders.
Temwa Chawinga
Age: 28 Country: Malawi
Club: Kansas City Position: Forward
Chawinga has made her mark as one of the most prolific forwards in the game. Her outstanding performance was crucial to Kansas City Current securing the NWSL Shield as the league’s top team this season.
She netted 15 goals in 2025, achieving the distinction of being named NWSL MVP for the second consecutive year, along with winning the Golden Boot for the second time. Her excellence on the field has led to a contract extension through 2029.
Chawinga made a return to international play with Malawi in the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, where she and her sister Tabitha helped Malawi reach their first Wafcon final. This achievement also secured the nation’s spot in the Women’s World Cup for the first time. At Wafcon, she scored against Nigeria, Egypt, Ghana, and Algeria, winning the tournament’s Golden Boot with five goals.
Ewa Pajor
Age: 29 Country: Poland
Club: Barcelona Position: Forward
Pajor is recognized as a world-class striker, playing a key role as Barcelona celebrated four trophies last season. She scored twice in a decisive 4-0 Champions League final victory over Lyon, becoming the top scorer in the tournament.
After enduring five previous final defeats—four with Wolfsburg and one with Barcelona—this victory marked her first Champions League triumph. Pajor’s exceptional form in Liga F saw her score 16 goals in 23 appearances, contributing to Barcelona’s domestic treble.
As captain of the national team, she leads Poland’s scoring charts on the international stage.
Alexia Putellas
Age: 32 Country: Spain
Club: London City Lionesses Position: Midfielder
Putellas has reaffirmed her status as one of football’s most influential players. In her final season with Barcelona, she contributed to the club’s success with four major trophies, thanks to 14 goal contributions in 11 Champions League matches.
After 14 years with Barcelona, she transferred to London City Lionesses in July 2026, highlighting the club’s “women-only identity and ambition” as key reasons for her decision. Internationally, she played a crucial role in Spain’s victory in the Women’s Nations League, scoring three goals against Sweden in the semi-finals and earning player of the finals recognition in their 3-0 win over Germany.
Recently, she matched a record with her third Ballon d’Or award.
Alessia Russo
Age: 27 Country: England
Club: Arsenal Position: Forward
Russo has emerged as a vital player for both Arsenal and the England national team. Last season, she tallied 13 goals in the WSL, finishing second in the league’s scoring charts, along with six assists across 22 matches. Overall, she achieved 24 goals and eight assists in all competitions.
A highlight of her season included winning the inaugural Women’s Champions Cup with Arsenal, where they triumphed over Corinthians 3-2 after extra time. Despite Arsenal finishing runners-up to Manchester City in the WSL, Russo remains a pivotal figure for England, having scored her 30th senior international goal last April, placing her among the top 10 all-time goalscorers for the Lionesses.
Additionally, she received a nomination for the PFA Player of the Year award.
Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw
Age: 29 Country: Jamaica
Club: Manchester City Position: Forward
Shaw has solidified her position as one of the top forwards globally, playing a pivotal role in Manchester City’s Women Super League title win this year. She scored an impressive 21 goals in 22 league matches, winning the WSL Golden Boot for a record third consecutive time while also being named WSL Player of the Season.
Her contributions were key to City ending a decade-long wait for the league title. Shaw’s impressive goal-scoring continued in the FA Cup final, where she netted the opening goal in a 2-0 victory over Brighton, wrapping up the season with 26 goals across all competitions.
In a significant personal achievement, Shaw became the first player in Manchester City’s professional women’s team history to score 100 goals and, at the recent end-of-season celebration, announced she had signed a new four-year contract that extends until 2030.
