Russo and Greenwood nominated for Ballon d'Or

A split image of Arsenal's Alessia Russo (left) and Manchester City's Alex Greenwood (right)Getty Images

Alessia Russo (left) and Alex Greenwood (right) are both regulars for England

England stars Alessia Russo and Alex Greenwood are among 30 players nominated for the women's Ballon d'Or.

They are the only Lionesses to make the shortlist, with Barcelona's Aitana Bonmati, who has won the award for the past three years, absent after missing a large chunk of the season with a broken leg.

Arsenal forward Russo finished third in last year's voting and enjoyed another successful individual campaign, scoring 24 goals in 40 club appearances.

Man City captain Greenwood lifted the Women's Super League and FA Cup last season.

Scotland's Caroline Weir, who joined Lyon in June from Real Madrid, also made the shortlist after scoring 20 goals in all competitions for the Spanish side.

The award is celebrating its 70th anniversary, having been created by France Football in 1956, and the winner will be announced at an ceremony in London on 26 October.

The "symbolic choice of venue" is in tribute to former England player Sir Stanley Matthews, who won the first Ballon d'Or.

Who are the 2026 Ballon d'Or Féminin contenders?

  • Selma Bacha (Lyon/France)

  • Barbra Banda (Orlando Pride/Zambia)

  • Klara Buhl (Bayern Munich/Germany)

  • Esmee Brugts (Barcelona/Netherlands)

  • Mariona Caldentey (Arsenal/Spain)

  • Scarlett Camberos (Club America/Mexico)

  • Kerstin Casparij (Manchester City/Netherlands)

  • Temwa Chawinga (Kansas City/Malawi)

  • Cata Coll (Barcelona/Spain)

  • Melchie Dumornay (Lyon/Haiti)

  • Caroline Graham Hansen (Barcelona/Norway)

  • Alex Greenwood (Manchester City/England)

  • Patri Guijarro (Barcelona/Spain)

  • Pernille Harder (Bayern Munich/Denmark)

  • Yui Hasegawa (Manchester City/Japan)

  • Rose Lavelle (Gotham FC/United States)

  • Mapi Leon (London City Lionesses/Spain)

  • Lorena (Kansas City Current/Brazil)

  • Melvine Malard (Chelsea/France)

  • Manaka Matsukubo (Chelsea/Japan)

  • Vivianne Miedema (Manchester City/Netherlands)

  • Ewa Pajor (Barcelona/Poland)

  • Claudia Pina (Barcelona/Spain)

  • Alexia Putellas (London City Lionesses/Spain)

  • Wendie Renard (Lyon/France)

  • Alessia Russo (Arsenal/England)

  • Khadija Shaw (Manchester City/Jamaica)

  • Momoko Tanikawa (Bayern Munich/Japan)

  • Caroline Weir (Lyon/Scotland)

  • Tessa Wullaert (Como/Belgium)

The Ballon d'Or voting criteria explained

Women's young talent of the year

  • Veerle Buurman (Chelsea/Netherlands)

  • Vicky Lopez (Barcelona/Spain)

  • Felicia Schroder (Real Madrid/Sweden)

  • Clara Serrajordi (Barcelona/Spain)

  • Lily Yohannes (OL Lyonnes/United States)

Women's goalkeeper of the year nominations

  • Ann-Katrin Berger (Gotham FC/Germany)

  • Cata Coll (Barcelona/Spain)

  • Hannah Hampton (Chelsea/England)

  • Lorena (Kansas City/Brazil)

  • Ayaka Yamashita (Manchester City/Japan)

Women's coach of the year nominations

  • Jonatan Giraldez (OL Lyonnes)

  • Andree Jeglertz (Manchester City)

  • Nils Nielsen (Japan)

  • Pere Romeu (Barcelona)

  • Elena Sadiku (Celtic/BK Hacken)

Women's club of the year nominations

  • Barcelona (Spain)

  • Bayern Munich (Germany)

  • Club America (Mexico)

  • Lyon (France)

  • Manchester City (England)

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