Putellas clear favourite for 2026 Ballon d'Or Feminin

Alexia Putellas is the clear favourite to be named winner of the 2026 Ballon d'Or Feminin when star players and coaches gather in London for the Ballon d'Or gala on Monday, October 26.

The London City Lionesses star currently has a 94 per cent chance of winning the award, according to prediction market Polymarket. Putellas previously won the Ballon d'Or Feminin in 2021 and 2022, becoming the first female player to win the award in consecutive years.

Record-breaking season

Last season Putellas scored 22 goals in 45 appearances for Barcelona, helping her side win the quadruple, as well as grabbing five goals in eight games as Spain lifted the Nations League.

The women's football world was shocked this summer when Putellas signed a three-year deal with WSL outfit London City Lionesses, leaving the most successful women's side in Europe on a free transfer.

Challengers and other nominees

Her nearest challenger, and the only option on Polymarket with an above 1 per cent chance, is former Barcelona teammate Ewa Pajor. Pajor is backed by 4.6 per cent of the market after scoring 31 goals in 40 games for Barcelona last season, providing 12 assists to teammates. The Poland national team captain was the leading scorer in the Women's Champions League with 11 goals in 10 matches, helping Barcelona to their fourth title. Despite Pajor's goals, Putellas was named player of the competition, a further argument for the Spaniard to win the Ballon d'Or.

Another Barcelona player is third favourite, albeit with less than 1 per cent of shares on the market backing her. Aitana Bonmati broke her teammate Putellas' record of consecutive Ballon d'Or Feminin wins, receiving the trophy in 2023, 2024, and 2025. As such, Bonmati is the only woman to have won the award three times. Other nominees include Barcelona winger Caroline Graham Hansen, as well as England duo Alex Greenwood and Alessia Russo.