The BBC has revealed the five-player shortlist for the BBC Women's Footballer of the Year 2026, with voting now open to fans around the world. The announcement was made on the BBC World Service on Tuesday, 10 November 2026.

England and Arsenal striker Alessia Russo is among the nominees, alongside two-time Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas of Spain, Poland and Barcelona forward Ewa Pajor, Malawi and Kansas City Current striker Temwa Chawinga, and Jamaica and Manchester City forward Khadija 'Bunny' Shaw.

The five nominees

• Temwa Chawinga - Malawi and Kansas City Current
• Ewa Pajor - Poland and Barcelona
• Alexia Putellas - Spain and London City Lionesses
• Alessia Russo - England and Arsenal
• Khadija 'Bunny' Shaw - Jamaica and Manchester City

The award, now in its 12th year, recognises the world's leading female footballers. The contenders were nominated by coaches, journalists and former professionals, and the shortlist covers performances between September 2025 and September 2026.

How voting works

Voting is free and open to fans worldwide on the BBC's website at bbc.com/womensfootball. The public vote closes at 09:00 GMT on Wednesday, 18 November 2026.

Arsenal confirmed Russo's place on the shortlist on Tuesday, pointing to her goalscoring exploits for club and country during the 2025-26 campaign. The 27-year-old is the only English player among the five nominees.

A first for the award

For the first time in the award's history, the winner will be announced live as part of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony on Sunday, 13 December 2026, on BBC One and iPlayer. The result will also be announced on the BBC World Service's Sportsworld programme.

The move gives the women's award a far bigger stage than in previous years, when it was announced as a BBC World Service honour. The Sports Personality of the Year ceremony takes place in Salford, with five of the nine trophies on the night decided by public vote.

Fans have just over a week to make their choice before voting closes on 18 November. The five nominees were announced on Newsday on the BBC World Service, with the shortlist also confirmed by the players' clubs on Tuesday morning.

The list spans four continents. Chawinga, the Malawi captain, plays her club football in the United States with Kansas City Current, while Pajor represents Barcelona and Putellas now plays in England with London City Lionesses. Shaw, known to Manchester City supporters as Bunny, completes the shortlist.

The award is decided by a public vote, and this year's contest is expected to be closely fought, with all five nominees leading the line for club and country. The winner will be crowned at the Sports Personality of the Year ceremony in Salford on 13 December, when five of the nine trophies on the night will be decided by the public.