Malawi international Temwa Chawinga has made history by becoming the first African woman to finish in the top 10 of the Women’s Ballon d’Or rankings.
The Kansas City Current forward secured 10th place at the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony held in London on Monday, October 26, marking a significant milestone for African women’s football.
Chawinga’s achievement follows several successful seasons in which she established herself as one of the most prolific forwards in women’s football.
The 28-year-old won the National Women’s Soccer League Most Valuable Player award and Golden Boot in both 2024 and 2025, becoming the first player to claim both honours in consecutive seasons in the league.
Before moving to the United States, she won four consecutive Chinese Women’s Super League titles with Wuhan Jianghan University between 2020 and 2023.
Her historic ranking places her among the world’s leading female footballers and increases Malawi’s visibility on the international sporting stage.
Spain’s Alexia Putellas won the 2026 Women’s Ballon d’Or, with Poland’s Ewa Pajor finishing second and Jamaica’s Khadija Shaw taking third place.
Chawinga’s achievement is a landmark moment for African football, highlighting the growing recognition of the continent’s talent in the global women’s game
