Russo and Greenwood's Ballon d'Or nods shine as Aitana sits out

England’s Alessia Russo and Alex Greenwood have both been placed on the 30‑strong shortlist for the women’s Ballon d’Or, the prestigious award whose 70th anniversary ceremony will be held in London on 26 October, according to a Getty Images caption that identifies the two Lionesses.

The shortlist features thirty players but only the two Lionesses represent England, while Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati, a three‑time winner, is missing after a broken leg sidelined her for much of the campaign. Scotland’s Caroline Weir joins the list after netting twenty goals for Lyon. Who are the 2026 Ballon d’Or Féminin contenders? The list includes players from Lyon, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and others.

Russo's goal‑rich season

Arsenal forward Alessia Russo finished third in last year’s Ballon d’Or voting and added another impressive haul, scoring twenty‑four goals in forty club appearances. Her consistency underlines why she remains a key figure for England.

The Image caption from Getty Images identifies Russo on the left, reinforcing her status as a regular for England. Her club form complements her international role, keeping her in the conversation for the award.

Greenwood's trophy haul

Manchester City captain Alex Greenwood lifted both the Women’s Super League and the FA Cup last season, cementing her reputation as a winner. Her leadership on the pitch contributed to City’s domestic dominance.

Manchester City also supplies several other nominees – Kerstin Casparij, Yui Hasegawa and Vivianne Miedema – highlighting the Club’s influence on the women’s game. The Club’s success continues to be reflected in individual accolades.

The Ballon d’Or celebrates its seventieth anniversary, with the winner to be announced at a ceremony in London on 26 October. The venue choice pays tribute to Sir Stanley Matthews, the first male recipient of the award.

The contrast between Russo’s striking numbers and Greenwood’s collection of trophies illustrates the dual paths to Ballon d’Or recognition, and the upcoming ceremony will reveal which English narrative prevails.