Arsenal forward Alessia Russo and Manchester City captain Alex Greenwood have both been nominated for the 2026 women's Ballon d'Or, France Football confirmed, making them the only England internationals on a 30-player shortlist that spans clubs across Europe and North America.

A strong individual year for both Lionesses

Russo arrives at this nomination in fine fettle. The Arsenal striker scored 24 goals in 40 club appearances last season, building on a third-place finish in last year's voting to cement her status as one of the best forwards in the world game. Her consistency at club level has made her a credible dark horse in a wide-open field.

Greenwood, meanwhile, had a trophy-laden campaign. The Manchester City centre-back lifted both the Women's Super League title and the FA Cup last season, her leadership at the back a cornerstone of City's domestic dominance. She joins club-mate Khadija Shaw on the shortlist — the Jamaican striker was in devastating form, netting 21 goals in just 22 league games.

Who else is in the running?

The headline story surrounding the award is the absence of Aitana Bonmatí. The Barcelona midfielder has won the women's Ballon d'Or for the past three consecutive years, but a serious broken leg that kept her sidelined for a substantial portion of the season has ruled her out of contention this time around.

That absence opens the door for a new champion, and two-time winner Alexia Putellas — now at London City Lionesses — is widely considered among the favourites after helping Barcelona win the Champions League. Caroline Weir, who joined Olympique Lyonnais in June after her spell with Real Madrid, also earned her place on the list following a 20-goal haul in all competitions for the Spanish club. The Scotland international continues to be one of the most accomplished players the British game has produced.

The full shortlist features players from a broad range of nations and clubs, reflecting the genuinely global spread of the women's game. Barcelona and Manchester City are the best-represented clubs, with the latter's Kerstin Casparij, Vivianne Miedema, and Yui Hasegawa also named alongside Shaw and Greenwood.

A ceremony with historical resonance

This year's Ballon d'Or holds additional significance: the award is marking its 70th anniversary, having been created by France Football in 1956. The ceremony will take place in London on 26 October — described as a symbolic choice of venue in honour of Sir Stanley Matthews, the former England forward who became the inaugural recipient of the prize.

For the women's game specifically, the London setting carries its own weight. The Lionesses' Euro 2022 triumph at Wembley arguably did more than any single event to broaden the audience for women's football in this country, and staging one of the sport's most prestigious individual awards here underlines how far that momentum has carried.

Other award categories

Beyond the main prize, several more British connections feature across the supporting categories. Chelsea goalkeeper Hannah Hampton is nominated for women's goalkeeper of the year, while Manchester City's head coach Andree Jeglertz is among the women's coach of the year nominees — a recognition of City's trophy haul. Manchester City also appear on the women's club of the year shortlist alongside Barcelona, Lyon, Bayern Munich, and Club América.

The full ceremony takes place on 26 October in London. With Bonmatí absent and the field more competitive than it has been in years, this is genuinely the most unpredictable women's Ballon d'Or race in recent memory.

Frequently asked

When is the women's Ballon d'Or 2026 announced?
The winner of the 2026 women's Ballon d'Or will be announced at a ceremony in London on 26 October.
Why isn't Aitana Bonmatí nominated for the Ballon d'Or this year?
Three-time winner Aitana Bonmatí is absent from the 2026 shortlist because she missed a large part of the season after suffering a broken leg.
Which English players are nominated for the women's Ballon d'Or?
Arsenal forward Alessia Russo and Manchester City captain Alex Greenwood are the two England internationals on the 30-player women's Ballon d'Or shortlist.