The Ballon d’Or (French for “Golden Ball") is the most prestigious award a footballer could ever hope to earn, and this year, five NWSL players received nominations.
Orlando Pride’s Marta and Barbra Banda, Gotham FC’s Esther González, Kansas City Current’s Temwa Chawinga, and Washington Spirit’s Sofia Cantore all are among the footballers nominated for Ballon d’Or Féminin.
The reigning Ballon d’Or Féminin winner is Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmatí, who won the award in both 2023 and 2024. The first Ballon d’Or was given out in 1956, but women weren’t included until 2018. Megan Rapinoe is the first – to date, only – NWSL player to win the Ballon d’Or Féminin (2019).
NWSL: Home to 5️⃣ Ballon d'Or nominees! 🏆 https://t.co/FxiIfADhrh
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) August 7, 2025
In addition to the Ballon d’Or Féminin nominations, Gotham FC’s Ann‑Katrin Berger is nominated for the 2025 Yashin Trophy for Best Goalkeeper, and the reigning NWSL Champions earned a nomination for Best Club. The Pride are nominated against FC Barcelona, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Lyon.
Nominations are determined by France Football magazine’s editorial team, and then a panel of journalists from the top FIFA-ranked countries vote for a winner. The 2025 Ballon d’Or Féminin will be awarded on September 22 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris.
Fans can read the full list of nominees here.