Temwa Chawinga makes history as first African in Women’s Ballon d’Or top 10

Malawi’s goal machine Temwa Chawinga has become the first African woman to finish in the top 10 of the Women’s Ballon d’Or after placing 10th in the 2026 rankings.

The Kansas City Current striker’s historic achievement marks a major milestone for Malawi and African football, reports Malawi 24 News.

Spain’s Alexia Putellas claimed the prestigious 2026 award, but Chawinga had her own reason to celebrate after rubbing shoulders with some of the biggest names in women’s football.

Chawinga finished alongside Haiti’s Melchie Dumornay, Norway’s Caroline Graham Hansen, Spain’s Patri Guijarro and Clàudia Pina, Denmark’s Pernille Harder, Poland’s Ewa Pajor, England’s Alessia Russo, Jamaica’s Khadija Shaw and eventual winner Putellas.

The Scorchers vice-captain has built her reputation on goals, with defenders from China to the United States struggling to contain her scoring touch.

Her rise began at Wuhan Jianghan University, where she won four consecutive Chinese Women’s Super League titles between 2020 and 2023 and finished as the league’s top scorer in 2022 and 2023.

She carried that form to the United States, helping Kansas City Current win the 2024 NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup and the 2025 NWSL Shield.

Individually, Chawinga scooped consecutive NWSL Most Valuable Player and Golden Boot awards in 2024 and 2025, adding to her 2023 World’s Best Top Goal Scorer award from the International Federation of Football History and Statistics.

Her influence has also been felt on the international stage, where she played a key role in Malawi’s historic run at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

The Scorchers finished runners-up at WAFCON 2024 and secured qualification for their maiden FIFA Women’s World Cup appearance in 2027.

Chawinga also featured prominently in Malawi’s Olympic qualification campaign, helping the Scorchers demolish Zimbabwe 7-0 after an earlier 2-0 victory to advance to the next round.

The achievements underline her importance not only as a prolific club striker but as one of the driving forces behind Malawi’s rise in women’s football.

Zambia’s Captain Barbara Banda came out number 18th this year.

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