Barbra Banda Makes Ballon d’Or Nominees List for Third Straight Year

Zambia international and Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda has been nominated for the 2026 Women’s Ballon d’Or, earning her third consecutive nomination for one of football’s most prestigious individual honours.

France Football announced the shortlist today, with Banda among four active NWSL players nominated for this year’s award. Orlando Pride are also one of just three NWSL clubs with a current player included on the shortlist.

Banda’s nomination follows another impressive campaign for both club and country. The forward has enjoyed a record-setting 2026 season with Orlando Pride, scoring a club-record 14 goals and providing three assists across all competitions. Her tally surpassed the previous single-season club record of 13 goals, set by Marta in 2017 and matched by Banda during Orlando’s 2024 championship-winning campaign.

On the international stage, Banda captained Zambia at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, finishing as the Copper Queens’ leading scorer with five goals and one assist in three matches.

Her standout performance came in Zambia’s 6-0 victory over Egypt, where she scored four goals, provided an assist and won a penalty that resulted in another goal. The performance made her the first player in WAFCON history to be directly involved in six goals in a single match.

Banda first received Ballon d’Or recognition in 2024 following her historic debut season with Orlando, before earning another nomination in 2025.

The 2026 Women’s Ballon d’Or winner will be announced at the ceremony in London on October 26.