German striker considered a top favorite for the 2026 Ballon d’Or

In the lavish hall of London, next Monday, the elite of women's football will gather to award the Ballon d’Or 2026 – and the DFB‑Star ranking already lists a German striker among the top favorites.

The anniversary edition of the Ballon d’Or will be held in London and puts the new world footballer as well as the new world footballer in the spotlight. The date is set for next Monday, and the football world watches eagerly for the award ceremony.

Young German Favorite in Focus

According to Eurasia Sport, a German star striker has at least good chances to climb the coveted podium. The coverage refers to her as DFB‑Star, with her name appearing in the rankings as a potential winner.

International Candidates and Their Hurdles

Aitana Bonmatí, who after three consecutive titles must hand over the Golden Ball, is completely absent from the list of the 30 nominees for the 25/26 season due to a long injury layoff. Melchie Dumornay from Haiti would have had a real chance at the Ballon d’Or if the UWCL final had ended differently – a 0‑4 loss to Barcelona.

The teammate of DFB‑Star Jule Brand, a blend of offensive midfielder and striker, scored 21 goals and 12 assists in 36 games, including a hat‑trick in the French league final.

Another player who is active for the Haitian national team and whose side topped the first round of its CONCACAF World Cup qualifying group will probably receive little consideration from the voters.

Klara Bühl: Titles, Assists and Doubts

Klara Bühl, a 25‑year‑old winger‑striker, could theoretically win the Ballon d’Or if she played for FC Barcelona, but the current situation makes that unlikely. In 37 games for FC Bayern and the DFB women she scored ten goals and provided 23 assists before an unfortunate injury ended her season at the UWCL quarter‑finals.

Three national titles with FC Bayern apparently are not enough to lift her into the top five of the rankings, leaving her chances for the award still open.