ARTICLE: BALLON D'OR 2026: SPAIN REIGN BUT QUESTIONS REMAIN ABOUT WOMEN'S LEAGUE RECOGNITION
Updated: 1 day ago
Spanish dominance continued at the 2026 Ballon D'Or awards, the country claiming more than half of the awards at the event, held at the Palladium Theatre in London to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the ceremony.
The Ballon d’Or, originally created by magazine French Football in 1956, celebrates the world’s top players’ performances over the domestic and international season, with legends from over the years being honoured for their achievements.
Excited attendees gathered at the theatre to see who would reclaim their crowns at this year's awards, which were won by Ousmane Dembélé and Aitana Bonmatí in 2025. Last season delivered shocks, surprises, and plenty of drama, with the ceremony promising more memorable moments.
Spain reigned supreme for much of the night, claiming several awards across the men’s and women’s categories.
These included the Men’s and Women’s Young Player of the Year awards, both Goalkeepers of the Year, Men's Coach of the Year, Women’s Club of the Year and Women's Coach of the Year for Barcelona.
Alexia Putellas also completed a hat-trick of Ballon d’Ors by claiming the top prize alongside Harry Kane. Paris Saint-Germain won the Men's Club of the Year.
Kane claimed his second award of the night for Striker of the Year, with Mexico's Charlyn Corral. Bukayo Saka was also honoured for his humanitarian and social work with the charity BigShoe by receiving the Socrates Award.
While the night provided an opportunity to celebrate some of the world's best footballers, the ceremony also told a different story.
There was speculation surrounding the women’s nominee shortlist, with several star names and clubs nominated for their impressive seasons last term, including Arsenal's Champions League triumph, Manchester City's strong Women's Super League campaign and Barcelona's seventh consecutive Liga F title, securing the quadruple.
While the WSL, National Women’s Soccer League, Liga F and other leagues around the world are widely regarded for attracting some of the best talent in women’s football, they also play an important role in raising the profile of the women’s game.
The WSL and NWSL, in particular, are known to be one of the strongest and most competitive leagues in domestic football, so why was it overlooked at the Ballon d’Or?
With 30 elite names shortlisted for the final entry, including Rose Lavelle, Klara Bühl and Yui Hasegawa, the ceremony looked certain to feature talent from all leagues following their respective seasons. However, when the winners were announced, several notable players and clubs were left without major honours despite their achievements.
This is not to suggest Barcelona were undeserving of their success, but their dominance raises questions about the range of clubs and players celebrated on the biggest stage.
Many players enjoyed stellar seasons for club and country, Khadija Shaw continuing to be a key figure for Manchester City, Melchie Dumornay impressing for Lyon, Alessia Russo contributing to Arsenal's European success and Tabitha Chawinga making her mark in the NWSL. Despite their impressive campaigns, several nominees went without an individual award.
Team success and the attention of clubs that regularly compete for major trophies may also influence how individual performances are viewed.
Ayaka Yamashita, Hannah Hampton and Ann-Katrin Berger were expected to be frontrunners for the Yashin Trophy after strong performances between the sticks, demonstrating the amount of quality and talent across the women's game.
But it was not just the Ballon D'Or awards that were causing a buzz.
Throughout the ceremony, several controversies sparked debate about the representation of women’s football, from the presentation of player awards and interviews to the respect and recognition given to players and clubs.
A significant portion of the main women's prize was dedicated to Michael Owen's achievements (who was presenting the award) rather than the nominees themselves, while Barcelona club president Joan Laporta devoted much of his speech to congratulating the men's team on their domestic ambitions, including the Champions League, largely ignoring most of the female presence at the event.
Media coverage was another concern, following reports that female reporters were excluded from interviewing male players, with access reportedly reserved for male journalists. All journalists had the opportunity to interview Alexia Putellas at the event.
The official Ballon D'Or website also misidentified nominees, with a now-deleted post congratulating 'Alexia Bonmati' for their honours and reporters calling Putellas 'Alessia' or 'Alexis' on the red carpet.
The awards are an opportunity not only to celebrate the winners but to showcase the talent shaping the sport. Ensuring that women players are recognised for their achievements and that journalists receive fair access at major events would largely help reflect the progress and growing profile of the women’s game.
But as Barcelona remain dominant in major competitions and ceremonies, do players and clubs ned to do more to prove that they belong among the world's best to attract the same attention?
Or will future ceremonies offer a more balanced and nuanced reflection of the talent across women’s football? Only time will tell.
Nerea Fernandes
Writer
Her Football Sphere
October 2026
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