Meet the BBC Women's Footballer of the Year contenders
Voting is now open for the BBC World Service Women's Footballer of the Year 2026.
Fans worldwide can vote from the five-player shortlist of Temwa Chawinga, Ewa Pajor, Alexia Putellas, Alessia Russo and Khadija 'Bunny' Shaw.
The vote closes on Wednesday, 18 November at 09:00 GMT.
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, 13 December as well as on the BBC World Service and the BBC Sport website and app.
Contenders for the award - now in its 12th year - are nominated by coaches, journalists and former professionals. It covers the period September 2025-August 2026.
Cast your vote, and read more on the five contenders.
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BBC Women's Footballer of the Year contender Temwa Chawinga
Club: Kansas City Position: Forward
Chawinga has established herself as one of the world's most prolific forwards.
Her impact on the National Women's Soccer League is clear. Her extraordinary form helped Kansas City Current clinch the NWSL Shield as the league's top team in the regular season.
Chawinga scored 15 goals in the 2025 season as she became the first player to be named NWSL MVP in back-to-back campaigns. She also won the Golden Boot for the second year in a row.
Those performances earned her a contract extension through until 2029.
Chawinga returned to international football with Malawi for the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations.
Alongside her sister Tabitha, she helped Malawi reach the country's first Wafcon final and - in doing so - qualify for the Women's World Cup for the first time.
Chawinga scored against Nigeria, Egypt, Ghana and Algeria at Wafcon, winning the tournament's Golden Boot with five goals.
BBC Women's Footballer of the Year contender Ewa Pajor
Club: Barcelona Position: Forward
Pajor is widely regarded as a world-class number nine - and it's clear why.
Instrumental as Barcelona won four trophies last season, Pajor scored their first two goals in a 4-0 Champions League final victory over Lyon.
The goals meant she finished as the competition's top scorer, while the result meant she won the Champions League for the first time after losing in five finals - four with Wolfsburg and one with Barcelona.
Pajor also enjoyed an outstanding second season with Barcelona in Liga F, scoring 16 league goals in her 23 appearances and providing five assists. She was a key player as Barca won the domestic treble.
On the international stage, Pajor captains Poland and is the team's leading goalscorer.
BBC Women's Footballer of the Year contender Alexia Putellas
Club: London City Lionesses Position: Midfielder
Putellas showed again this year why she is one of the most influential footballers in the world.
After 14 years with Barcelona, she delivered a spectacular final season with the club - helping them win four major trophies.
Her 14 goal contributions in 11 Champions League appearances helped her childhood club win the competition for the fourth time, and she remained a decisive figure bringing experience and leadership when it mattered most.
Putellas delayed announcing her move to London City Lionesses to avoid creating a distraction, but in July 2026 she completed that transfer, saying the club's "women-only identity and ambition" were important factors.
Internationally, Putellas was instrumental in Spain retaining the Women's Nations League in late 2025, scoring three goals against Sweden in the semi-finals before being named player of the finals as Spain defeated Germany 3–0.
Last month she was awarded a record-equalling third Ballon d'Or.
BBC Women's Footballer of the Year contender Alessia Russo
Club: Arsenal Position: Forward
Russo has proven to once again be a trusted and integral attacking force for Arsenal, while remaining a key player for England.
She scored 13 WSL goals last season to finish second in the league's scoring charts, and also added six assists in her 22 appearances. In total, she registered 24 goals and eight assists across all competitions.
Among the highlights of her season was winning the inaugural Women's Champions Cup with Arsenal, beating Corinthians 3- 2 after extra time.
It was the first competitive trophy Arsenal's women's team had lifted at the Emirates, though they finished runners-up to Manchester City in the WSL.
Russo remains a first-choice striker for England and in April 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.