* As the Malawi international becomes first African woman football player to finish in Ballon d’Or top 10
* Her second career Ballon d’Or nomination as the Kansas City (KC) Current forward finished 17th in the voting in 2025
* Since joining KC Current in 2024, Chawinga has rewritten the National Women Soccer League (NWSL) record book with her scoring ability and relentless attacking presence
By Duncan Mlanjira
Temwa Chawinga — Malawi Scorchers and US National Women Soccer League (NWSL) club Kansas City (KC) Current forward — has made history by becoming the first African woman football player to finish in the top 10 of the Ballon d’OrFeminin 2026 rankings.
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This is her second career Ballon d’Or nomination as the forward finished 17th in the voting in 2025.
On its media platform, her USA club says: “Since joining Kansas City Current 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.
“The Malawian international has established herself as one of the most prolific forwards in the game, becoming the first player in NWSL history to win the league’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) 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,” says the club, adding that the Scorchers international has enjoyed “a remarkable year for both club and country”.
The Ballon d’Or Féminin is presented annually by France Football recognising the best players in women’s soccer based on individual performance, team achievements and overall impact during the evaluation period.
KC Current takes cognizance that the NSWL is one of just seven clubs around the world to have contributed multiple top 30 finalists, joining women football giants FC Barcelona, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Chelsea — and Temwa’s sister Tabitha’s French side, OL Lyonnes.
KC Current’s goalkeeper Lorena earned a tie for 28th playing, “highlighting the club’s global impact and the individual excellence of two of its standout players,” says the club. “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.”
Temwa was joined in the Ballon d’Or top 10 by Haiti’s Melchie Dumornay, Norway’s Caroline Graham Hansen, Spain’s Patri Guijarro, Denmark’s Pernille Harder, Poland’s Ewa Pajor, Spain’s Clàudia Pina and Alexia Putellas, England’s Alessia Russo, and Jamaica’s Khadija Shaw.
The list features players from Europe, Africa and the Caribbean, reflecting the growing global reach of women’s football.
Thus her historic finish represents a breakthrough for African representation in the prestigious individual award and further highlights her rise as one of the leading figures in the women’s game.
At the Women’s African Nations Cup (WAfCON) Morocco 2026, Temwa shared five goals apiece with Zambia’s Barbra Banda and Cameroon’s Marie Ngah Manga but the Malawian won the Golden Boot following a seven direct goal assists.
It was standout individual campaign for her, who scored twice in the Scorchers’ opening 3-2 victory over Nigeria before adding goals against Egypt, Ghana and Algeria.
Along with her sister, she was also nominated for the CAF African Player of the Year and her recent achievement marks a significant milestone for African women’s football, placing the Malawi international among the world’s leading female players.
Born on September 20, 1998, in Rumphi District, Malawi, Temwa has enjoyed considerable success at club level, as before joining KC Current, she played for Wuhan Jianghan University with which she won four Chinese Women’s Super League titles in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Chawinga also claimed the Chinese Women’s Super League Golden Boot in 2022 and 2023 before winning the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) World’s Best Top Goal Scorer award in 2023.
With KC Current, she also won the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup in 2024 and the NWSL Shield in 2025.
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