Did the shortlist raise eyebrows on Monday? Big names vanished from the FifPro Women’s World XI.
The 26-player list was chosen by peers worldwide, the only award decided solely by fellow footballers.
Prestige runs deep, yet five of the top‑ten Ballon d’Or finishers were absent, igniting a fresh uproar.
Manchester City’s record scorer Khadija Shaw, third in the Ballon d’Or, was notably missing.
Malawi’s Temwa Chawinga, Haiti’s Melchie Dumornay, Barcelona’s Caroline Graham Hansen and Denmark captain Pernille Harder also shocked fans with their exclusion.
England’s Ella Toone, Chloe Kelly and newcomer Aggie Beever‑Jones landed as unexpected picks.
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How does the voting work?
Six‑thousand five‑hundred eleven women footballers from 64 nations cast votes through FifPro’s online system.
Finalists are those with the most votes earned between 4 August 2025 and 16 August 2026.
Eligibility required at least 20 appearances in that window; winners will be announced Monday, 9 November at 13:00 GMT.
The World XI will feature one goalkeeper, three defenders, three midfielders and three forwards with the highest tallies in their roles.
The extra outfield slot goes to the player, regardless of position, with the next‑highest vote total.
Votes earned in multiple positions—for example midfielder and forward—are combined.
Which nominations sparked controversy?
Controversy isn’t new for these shortlists.
Last season Arsenal and Spain midfielder Mariona Caldentey missed out despite finishing runner‑up in the Ballon d’Or.
In 2024, four of the top five Ballon d’Or contenders were omitted, including the often‑overlooked Graham Hansen, after 7,000 peers voted.
Yet five Lionesses secured spots even though they hadn’t lifted a major trophy or placed in the Ballon d’Or top ten.
This year the WSL Player of the Year, Shaw, was left out after powering Manchester City to a league and FA Cup double with 21 goals in 22 matches.
The controversy deepens with England’s trio Toone, Kelly and Beever‑Jones, all of whom missed the latest Lionesses squad. For my money, the selectors favored familiarity over form.
Beever‑Jones netted only seven goals across club and country, while Toone and Kelly struggled with form and fitness throughout the voting period.
Meanwhile, teammates Lauren Hemp and Lauren James dazzled for Manchester City and Chelsea, yet their names never appeared.
Conversely, Lyon’s Ada Hegerberg made the cut despite a barren Champions League knockout run and an uncertain starting role during a sub‑par season.
Goalkeepers: Ann‑Katrin Berger (Gotham, Germany), Catalina Coll (Barcelona, Spain), Hannah Hampton (Chelsea, England).
Defenders: Ona Batlle (Barcelona/Arsenal, Spain), Lucy Bronze (Chelsea, England), Ellie Carpenter (Chelsea, Australia), Emily Fox (Arsenal, USA), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City, England), Mapi León (Barcelona/London City Lionesses, Spain), Katie McCabe (Arsenal/Chelsea, Republic of Ireland), Irene Paredes (Barcelona, Spain).
Midfielders: Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona, Spain), Ghizlane Chebbak (Al‑Hilal/Free Agent, Morocco), Patri Guijarro (Barcelona, Spain), Anaele Le Moguedec (Paris FC, France), Vicky López (Barcelona, Spain), Alexia Putellas (Barcelona/London City Lionesses, Spain), Ella Toone (Manchester United, England).
Forwards: Barbra Banda (Orlando Pride, Zambia), Aggie Beever‑Jones (Chelsea, England), Athenea del Castillo (Real Madrid, Spain), Ada Hegerberg (OL Lyonnes, Norway), Chloe Kelly (Arsenal, England), Ewa Pajor (Barcelona, Poland), Claudia Pina (Barcelona, Spain), Alessia Russo (Arsenal, England).