Temwa Chawinga Finishes Tenth, Lorena Earns Top 30 Finish in 2026 Ballon d’Or Feminin

Kansas City Current forward Temwa Chawinga finished 10th in the 2026 Ballon d’Or Feminin rankings, while goalkeeper Lorena earned a tie for 28th, highlighting the club’s global impact and the individual excellence of two of its standout players. This is Chawinga’s second career Ballon d’Or nomination. The Current forward finished 17th in the voting in 2025. 
 
The Kansas City Current is the only club in the NWSL to boast multiple nominees among the 30-player shortlist for the award. Additionally, the Current are one of just seven clubs around the world to have multiple top 30 finalists, joining FC Barcelona, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, OL Lyonnes, Arsenal and Chelsea.  

Chawinga secured a top ten finish among the world’s elite players after another remarkable year for both club and country. The Malawian international has established herself as one of the most prolific forwards in the game, becoming the first player in National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) history to win the league’s Most Valuable Player and Golden Boot awards in consecutive seasons in 2024 and 2025. Last year, Chawinga became the first NWSL player to score 20 goals in a single regular season. 

Since joining Kansas City in 2024, Chawinga has rewritten the NWSL record book with her scoring ability and relentless attacking presence. Her continued recognition on the global stage further underscores her status among the world’s best players. 

Lorena finished tied for 28th in the Ballon d’Or Féminin voting, earning recognition among the 30 nominees for the prestigious award. The Brazilian international goalkeeper has been a cornerstone of the Current’s success, delivering record-setting performances since joining the club.  

Lorena was named the 2025 NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year after recording a league-record 14 clean sheets and 690 consecutive minutes without conceding a goal during the regular season. She also helped Brazil win the 2025 Copa América Femenina. Lorena was also a finalist for the 2026 Yashin Trophy — awarded to the world’s best goalkeeper. 

The Ballon d’Or Féminin, presented annually by France Football, recognizes the best players in women’s soccer based on individual performance, team achievements and overall impact during the evaluation period. 

The Current officially punched its ticket to the 2026 NWSL Playoffs, presented by Google Pixel, on Friday night, and the NWSL postseason begins with the quarterfinal round Nov. 6-8. More information about the NWSL postseason can be found HERE.