Cast your vote for BBC Women's Footballer of the Year 2026
Fans worldwide can now vote from a five-player shortlist for the BBC Women's Footballer of the Year 2026, with nominees Temwa Chawinga, Ewa Pajor, Alexia Putellas, Alessia Russo and Khadija 'Bunny' Shaw on the ballot. Voting closes on Wednesday, 18 November at 09:00 GMT.
The award, in its 12th year, covers performances from September 2025 to September 2026 and the shortlist was drawn up by coaches, journalists and former professionals. For the first time the winner will be revealed as part of the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year, and the announcement will also be carried on the BBC World Service and the BBC Sport website and app.
Temwa Chawinga has been nominated on the back of a prolific spell in the National Women's Soccer League with Kansas City, where she helped Kansas City Current secure the NWSL Shield. She scored 15 goals in the 2025 season, became the first player to be named NWSL MVP in back-to-back campaigns and won the Golden Boot for a second successive year. Those club performances were followed by a contract extension through until 2029.
Chawinga also returned to international duty for Malawi at the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations alongside her sister Tabitha, helping Malawi reach the country's first WAFCON final and secure qualification for the Women's World Cup for the first time. She scored against Nigeria, Egypt, Ghana and Algeria during the tournament and finished as WAFCON's Golden Boot winner with five goals.
Ewa Pajor played a central role as Barcelona claimed four trophies last season, including scoring the first two goals in a 4-0 Champions League final win over Lyon that made her the competition's top scorer. That Champions League success was her first after having lost in five previous finals — four with Wolfsburg and one with Barcelona. In Liga F she registered 16 goals in 23 appearances and provided five assists, and on the international stage she captains Poland and is the team's leading goalscorer.
Alexia Putellas completed a 14-year spell at Barcelona with a final season that contributed to four major trophies, supplying 14 goal contributions in 11 Champions League appearances as the club won the competition for a fourth time. She delayed announcing her transfer to London City Lionesses and completed the move in July 2026, saying the club's "women-only identity and ambition" were important factors. Putellas was instrumental in Spain retaining the Women's Nations League in late 2025, scoring three goals against Sweden in the semi-finals and being named player of the finals as Spain defeated Germany 3–0; last month she was awarded a record-equalling third Ballon d'Or.
Alessia Russo remained a key attacking presence for Arsenal and for England, scoring 13 WSL goals last season and providing six assists in 22 league appearances. Across all competitions she registered 24 goals and eight assists and helped Arsenal win the inaugural Women's Champions Cup, beating Corinthians 3-2 after extra time. Arsenal finished runners-up to Manchester City in the WSL, and in April Russo scored her 30th senior international goal to move into the top 10 of Lionesses goalscorers; she was also nominated for the PFA Player of the Year award.
Khadija Shaw was Manchester City's defining striker as they won the Women’s Super League title, scoring 21 goals in 22 league appearances and claiming a record third consecutive WSL Golden Boot while being named WSL Player of the Season. Her goals helped City end a 10-year wait for the league title and they completed the Double after Shaw opened the scoring in the FA Cup final victory over Brighton at Wembley, finishing the season with 26 goals in all competitions. In December 2025 she became the first player in the history of City's professional women's team to reach 100 goals, and she announced at City's end-of-season celebrations that she had signed a new four-year contract through to 2030.
Voting remains open until Wednesday, 18 November at 09:00 GMT, and the winner will be announced as part of the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year and on the BBC World Service and the BBC Sport website and app. Read full terms and conditions and the privacy notice here, and find interviews and extra content on the BBC Women's Football Weekly feed.
