Temwa Chawinga Becomes First African Woman in Ballon d'Or Top 10

Temwa Chawinga, a Malawi international and forward for Kansas City Current in the United States' National Women’s Soccer League, has made history by becoming the first African woman to secure a place in the top 10 of the women’s Ballon d’Or rankings. This milestone was announced on October 26, 2026, during the Ballon d’Or ceremony held at the London Palladium in England.

Born on September 20, 1998, in Rumphi District, Malawi, Chawinga has established herself as a prolific goalscorer, previously winning four consecutive Chinese Women’s Super League titles from 2020 to 2023 while playing for Wuhan Jianghan University. Since joining Kansas City Current, she has added the 2024 NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup and the 2025 NWSL Shield to her accolades.

Her individual achievements include back-to-back NWSL Most Valuable Player awards and Golden Boot titles in 2024 and 2025, as well as the Chinese Women’s Super League Golden Boot in 2022 and 2023. Chawinga's historic placement in the Ballon d'Or top 10 underscores Africa's growing presence in women's football.