Vote opens for BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year 2026

Voting has opened for the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year 2026, with fans worldwide able to choose between five players. The vote closes at 09:00 GMT on Wednesday 18 November.

The shortlist is Temwa Chawinga of Malawi, Barcelona forward Ewa Pajor, Spain midfielder Alexia Putellas, England and Arsenal striker Alessia Russo, and Jamaica and Manchester City forward Khadija “Bunny” Shaw.

For the first time, the winner will be announced at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony, as well as on the BBC World Service and BBC Sport’s website and app. The award, now in its 12th year, recognises performances from September 2025 to September 2026. Candidates are nominated by coaches, journalists and former professionals.

The contenders arrive with a range of achievements. Chawinga won the NWSL Golden Boot and helped Malawi reach its first Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final, securing the country’s first Women’s World Cup qualification. Pajor scored twice in Barcelona’s Champions League final win over Lyon and finished as the competition’s leading scorer.

Putellas helped Barcelona win four major trophies before joining London City Lionesses in July. Russo scored 13 Women’s Super League goals for Arsenal last season, while Shaw scored 21 league goals as Manchester City won the title and claimed a third consecutive WSL Golden Boot.

The public will also choose the BBC World Service Women’s Footballer of the Year at the Sports Personality ceremony in Salford on 13 December, alongside four other awards. The BBC’s announcement of the ceremony said the women’s football award, presented by the World Service since 2015, would join the televised event this year.