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

Malawian striker Temwa Chawinga has become the first African woman to finish in the top 10 of the Women’s Ballon d’Or rankings, securing 10th place at the ceremony held in London.

Her achievement follows a strong season, including retaining the Golden Boot and Most Valuable Player awards in the US National Women’s Soccer League. Chawinga also played a pivotal role in leading the Malawi national team, the Scorchers, to a silver medal at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco, where she recorded five goals and two assists.

Due to the Ballon d’Or assessment period ending on July 19, her performances at WAFCON, which concluded on August 16, were not included in the final rankings. Despite this, her sister and Scorchers captain, Tabitha Chawinga, and football analysts suggest her recent milestones make her a leading candidate for the 2026 CAF Women’s Footballer-of-the-Year Award.