BARBRA MISSES OUT AGAIN
…Copper Queens captain finishes 18th in London, while Malawi’s Temwa Chawinga secures 10th place in the Ballon d’Or awards
By Cecilia Nayame
COPPER Queens captain Barbara Banda has finished 18th in the 2026 Women’s Ballon d’Or awards, missing out on the top honours at a ceremony held in London on Monday night.
The awards, which featured Malawian star Temwa Chawinga among the 30 nominees from across the world, were won by Spain’s Alexia Putellas.
Putellas, 32, who plays for London City Lionesses, claimed the prestigious award for the third time in her career.
Chawinga, who has been instrumental for both the Malawi women’s national team and her club Kansas City Current , finished 10th in this year’s rankings.
Banda and Chawinga were the only women footballers from Southern African Development Community (SADC) member countries to make the 30-player shortlist for this year’s awards, which marked the Ballon d’Or’s 70th anniversary.
Banda, 26, who plays for Orlando Pride in the United States, received her third consecutive nomination, having also been recognised in 2024 and 2025.
She has been an influential figure for both the Copper Queens and Orlando Pride, competing in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).
ENDS
