Barbra Banda Makes History with Third FIFPRO World 11 Selection

Zambia captain Barbra Banda has continued to rewrite the history books in African women’s football after earning a place in the 2026 FIFPRO Women’s World 11, becoming the first African woman to secure selection in the prestigious team for three consecutive years.

The Orlando Pride forward is the only African representative in this year’s team, which was selected through votes cast by 6,511 professional women footballers from 64 countries worldwide.

Banda’s latest recognition extends an impressive individual run that began with her maiden selection in 2024, followed by another appearance in 2025 and now a third consecutive inclusion in 2026. Her achievement further extends her record as the African woman with the most FIFPRO Women’s World 11 selections.

She is also the only player in this year’s team representing a club outside England and Spain, making her inclusion particularly significant for Orlando Pride, Zambian football and the wider African game.

The milestone comes after another outstanding campaign for both club and country, with Banda continuing to establish herself among the leading forwards in women’s football.

A record-breaking season for Banda

At Orlando Pride, the Zambian striker enjoyed a remarkable 2026 campaign, scoring 16 goals to break the club’s single-season scoring record.

Banda surpassed the previous record of 13 goals, which was held by Brazilian football legend Marta and had been set during the 2017 season. She also contributed three assists across competitions, further demonstrating her attacking influence and importance to the American club.

Her performances were equally impressive on the international stage, where she captained Zambia at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).

Banda finished the tournament as the Copper Queens’ leading scorer, registering five goals and an assist in three matches.

One of her most memorable performances came during Zambia’s emphatic 6-0 victory over Egypt, where she produced a historic display by scoring four goals, providing an assist and winning a penalty.

In doing so, she became the first player in WAFCON history to be directly involved in six goals in a single match, underlining her remarkable attacking contribution and influence on the continental stage.

Her performances for club and country have continued to strengthen her reputation as one of the most dangerous forwards in the women’s game, with her latest FIFPRO recognition providing further evidence of her standing among the world’s elite.

Meet the other members of the 2026 FIFPRO Women’s World 11

Banda headlines a star-studded selection featuring some of the biggest names in women’s football. Barcelona and England players dominate the team, with five representatives each, while the Zambian captain stands as the sole African inclusion.

1. Hannah Hampton (Chelsea and England) – Goalkeeper

Hannah Hampton takes the goalkeeping position following another impressive campaign between the posts for Chelsea.

The England international kept eight clean sheets in 18 Women’s Super League appearances during the 2025/26 season, earning the league’s Golden Glove award for the second consecutive campaign.

Her achievement made her the first goalkeeper to win the award in successive seasons, highlighting her consistency and importance to Chelsea.

Hampton’s performances have established her as one of the leading goalkeepers in the women’s game, and her inclusion in the FIFPRO Women’s World 11 adds another significant individual recognition to her career.

2. Lucy Bronze (Chelsea and England) – Defender

Lucy Bronze continues to add to her extraordinary individual legacy after securing a record-extending ninth FIFPRO Women’s World 11 selection.

The experienced England international has been one of the most decorated defenders of her generation, bringing versatility, leadership and considerable experience at the highest level of women’s football.

Her ability to operate in different defensive positions, contribute to attacking movements and deliver consistently at the highest level has made her an influential figure for both club and country.

With her latest inclusion, Bronze further strengthens her position as the most frequently selected player in the history of the women’s World 11.

3. Alex Greenwood (Manchester City and England) – Defender

Alex Greenwood earns her place following another influential campaign at the heart of Manchester City’s defence.

The England international was part of the City side that ended Chelsea’s six-year dominance of the Women’s Super League, winning the 2025/26 league title.

Greenwood’s defensive quality, composure in possession and ability to contribute to her team’s build-up play have made her an important figure for both club and country.

Her performances throughout the campaign earned her recognition among the world’s best players in her position.

4. Mapi León (Barcelona and Spain) – Defender

Mapi León is recognised for her continued excellence at the heart of Barcelona’s defence.

The Spanish centre-back was part of the defensive unit that helped Barcelona reclaim the UEFA Women’s Champions League title in 2026, defeating OL Lyonnes 4-0 in the final in Oslo.

Known for her ability to read the game, distribute the ball from the back and defend effectively in one-on-one situations, León has remained a key component of Barcelona’s defensive structure.

Her latest selection reflects another successful campaign with the Catalan giants.

5. Irene Paredes (Barcelona and Spain) – Defender

Irene Paredes returns to the FIFPRO Women’s World 11 for the first time since her initial selection in 2017.

The experienced centre-back played a significant role in Barcelona’s successful European campaign, featuring alongside Mapi León in a defensive partnership that helped the Catalan giants secure their fourth Champions League crown.

Her return to the prestigious team, nine years after her first appearance, is a testament to her longevity, consistency and continued contribution at the highest level of women’s football.

6. Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona and Spain) – Midfielder

Aitana Bonmatí remains one of the outstanding midfielders of her generation, earning another place in the global selection.

Although an injury kept her out of action for approximately five months during the 2025/26 campaign, the Barcelona midfielder returned towards the end of the season and was part of the squad that lifted the Champions League trophy.

Bonmatí’s technical quality, intelligence in possession and ability to dictate the tempo of matches continue to distinguish her as one of the world’s elite midfielders.

Despite her lengthy spell on the sidelines, her quality and influence remained evident, earning her another place among the best players in the world.

7. Alexia Putellas (Barcelona and Spain) – Midfielder

Alexia Putellas enjoyed another exceptional campaign, playing a central role in Barcelona’s successful European run.

The Spanish midfielder was named the 2025/26 UEFA Women’s Champions League Player of the Season after registering seven goals and seven assists in 11 appearances.

Her 14 goal contributions were the highest by any player in the competition, underlining her importance to Barcelona’s attacking play and overall success.

The two-time Ballon d’Or winner once again demonstrated her ability to influence matches at the highest level, helping Barcelona defeat OL Lyonnes 4-0 in the final to claim the Champions League title.

8. Ella Toone (Manchester United and England) – Midfielder

Ella Toone earns recognition after another influential period for Manchester United and England.

The attacking midfielder recorded 11 direct goal involvements for United during the FIFPRO eligibility period, despite missing four months of action with a hip injury.

She also reached an important personal milestone in October 2025, making her 200th appearance for Manchester United and becoming the first player in the club’s women’s team to achieve the feat.

Toone’s creativity, movement and ability to influence attacking play have made her an important figure for United, while her latest selection recognises her contribution during the eligibility period.

9. Claudia Pina (Barcelona and Spain) – Forward

Claudia Pina’s selection follows an outstanding goal-scoring campaign for Barcelona.

The Spanish forward scored 24 goals in 45 official appearances during the 2025/26 season, establishing herself as one of the most productive attacking players in European women’s football.

Her ability to operate across the forward line, combine effectively with teammates and deliver in front of goal made her an important part of Barcelona’s attacking set-up.

Pina also formed part of the Barcelona side that won the UEFA Women’s Champions League, adding European success to an impressive individual campaign.

Her inclusion in the FIFPRO Women’s World 11 recognises her impact as one of the standout forwards in the game.

10. Alessia Russo (Arsenal and England) – Forward

Alessia Russo earns her place after another productive campaign leading Arsenal’s attack.

The England international scored 13 goals and provided six assists in 22 Women’s Super League appearances during the 2025/26 campaign.

She also registered nine goals in the UEFA Women’s Champions League, finishing as the competition’s second-highest scorer behind Barcelona’s Ewa Pajor, who netted 11 goals.

Russo’s movement, physical presence and ability to bring teammates into play have made her one of the leading forwards in the English game.

Her performances for Arsenal and England continue to underline her importance as a modern centre-forward, capable of scoring goals while also creating opportunities for those around her.

11. Barbra Banda (Orlando Pride and Zambia) – Forward

Barbra Banda completes the attacking line after another remarkable year in which she delivered outstanding performances for both Orlando Pride and the Copper Queens.

Her club-record scoring campaign, five-goal WAFCON performance and historic individual achievements underline her importance to Zambian football.

At Orlando Pride, she broke Marta’s single-season scoring record with 16 goals, while her contribution to Zambia’s campaign at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations further demonstrated her ability to perform on the international stage.

Her four-goal display against Egypt, alongside an assist and a won penalty, remains one of the defining individual performances of the tournament.

More significantly, her third consecutive selection makes her the only African representative in the 2026 FIFPRO Women’s World 11 and further strengthens her position among the continent’s leading women footballers.

Barcelona and England dominate the selection

The composition of the 2026 FIFPRO Women’s World 11 highlights the influence of Barcelona and English football, with both contributing five players to the final selection.

Barcelona’s representatives are Claudia Pina, Alexia Putellas, Aitana Bonmatí, Mapi León and Irene Paredes. Their inclusion reflects the club’s continued success in European women’s football, particularly following its Champions League triumph.

England is equally well represented through Chelsea goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, defender Lucy Bronze, Manchester City’s Alex Greenwood, Manchester United midfielder Ella Toone and Arsenal forward Alessia Russo.

The team also features players from different clubs and leagues, with Banda representing Orlando Pride in the United States and standing as the sole African representative.

The 2026 FIFPRO Women’s World 11 is particularly significant because it is determined through votes cast by professional footballers themselves. A total of 6,511 players from 64 countries participated in the selection, making it a recognition based on the opinions of fellow professionals.

For Zambia, however, the spotlight belongs firmly to one woman.

Barbra Banda has achieved what no other African woman has managed, securing three consecutive appearances in the FIFPRO Women’s World 11.

From breaking records at Orlando Pride to producing historic performances for the Copper Queens, the Zambian captain continues to raise the profile of African women’s football on the global stage.

Her latest achievement is not only a personal milestone but also a significant moment for Zambian football and the African game as a whole.