Copper Queens captain Barbra Banda has been nominated for the 2026 Women’s Ballon d’Or, earning her third nomination for the prestigious individual award.
The Orlando Pride striker has been included in the 30-player shortlist after a strong run of form that has seen her score 14 goals in 21 matches and provide one assist. Banda will now look to improve on her previous rankings as she targets a place among the top 10 players in the world.
Banda is one of two African players nominated for the award, alongside Malawian striker Temwa Chawinga, who has scored 15 goals in 22 matches and provided three assists. Their nominations provide further recognition for the quality of African women’s football on the global stage.
The 26-year-old first received a Women’s Ballon d’Or nomination in 2024, when she finished 12th in the final rankings. That result saw Banda become the highest-ranked African female player in the history of the award.
Her latest nomination comes after another productive spell with Orlando Pride, where she has continued to establish herself as one of the leading attacking players in women’s football.
Banda will now wait to discover where she finishes among the world’s elite when the final rankings are announced, with the Zambia captain aiming to break into the top 10 after previously making history with her 12th-place finish.
