# Women’s Ballon d’Or 2026 Power Rankings

> Will Ewa Pajor or Melchie Dumornay claim the Women’s Ballon d’Or 2026?
- Title: Women’s Ballon d’Or 2026 Power Rankings · the Guardian
- Summary: Will Ewa Pajor or Melchie Dumornay claim the Women’s Ballon d’Or 2026? Ewa Pajor and Melchie Dumornay lead the Women’s Ballon d’Or 2026 power rankings after…
- Keywords: ewa pajor, melchie dumornay, women’s ballon dor, power rankings, champions league, lions, barcelona, manchester city, nwsl, women’s football, fifa champions cup, sports
- Source: the Guardian — https://theguardian.com/football/2026/oct/01/womens-ballon-dor-2026-power-rankings-will-a-new-winner-be-crowned
- Published: 2026-10-01T10:27:48+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: ewa pajor, melchie dumornay, women’s ballon dor, power rankings, champions league, lions, barcelona, manchester city, nwsl, women’s football, fifa champions cup, sports
## 2026 Women’s Ballon d’Or
The Women’s Ballon d’Or could have a new winner for the first time since 2023 with Ewa Pajor, Khadija Shaw, Alessia Russo and Melchie Dumornay among the contenders.
## Melchie Dumornay
Dumornay scored five goals in Lyonnes’ Champions League run and was named in the team of the tournament after returning from injury.
## Ewa Pajor
Pajor scored 11 goals in European competition last season, matching Alexia Putella’s 2021-22 tally and earning her a place in the top scorers.
## Khadija Shaw
Shaw won three Women’s Super League golden boots consecutively and scored 21 goals in 22 games for Manchester City.
## Alexia Putellas
Putellas returned to form after an anterior cruciate ligament injury in 2022, scoring seven goals in the Champions League last season.
## Yui Hasegawa
Hasegawa scored 10 goals and helped Japan reach the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final after eight years.
## Alessia Russo
Russo scored a goal against Iceland in England’s World Cup qualifying campaign and was named in the PFA team of the year.
## Temwa Chawinga
Chawinga scored 15 goals to win the NWSL Shield and helped Malawi reach the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final.
## Claudia Pina
Pina scored 21 goals in Liga F and provided five assists, helping Spain qualify for the World Cup.
## Patri Guijarro
Guijarro played a key role in Barcelona’s quadruple, including keeping Lyonnes at bay in the Champions League final.
## Barbra Banda
Banda scored eight goals as Orlando Pride earned a fourth-place finish in the NWSL and helped Zambia reach the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
## Kerstin Casparij
Casparij provided seven assists in the WSL last season and captained Manchester City when Alex Greenwood was injured.
## Mariona Caldentey
Caldentey played a key role for Arsenal and Spain despite being deeper in midfield last season.
## Caroline Graham Hansen
Hansen scored 10 goals and finished as joint-highest assist provider in Liga F as Barcelona won the quadruple.
## Key takeaway

Ewa Pajor and Melchie Dumornay lead the Women’s Ballon d’Or 2026 power rankings after a competitive season with multiple contenders.