Malawi international Temwa Chawinga has made history by becoming the first African woman to finish in the top 10 of the women’s Ballon d’Or rankings.

The milestone was announced on Monday during the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony at the London Palladium in England, marking a significant moment for African women’s football.

Chawinga’s inclusion places her among the world’s most outstanding female footballers and highlights her impressive performances at the highest level of the game.

Born on September 20, 1998, in Rumphi District, Malawi, the prolific forward currently plays for Kansas City Current in the United States’ National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and represents the Malawi national team.

She established herself as one of the most effective goalscorers during her spell with Wuhan Jianghan University in China, helping the club secure four consecutive Chinese Women’s Super League titles between 2020 and 2023.

Following her move to Kansas City Current, Chawinga continued to add to her trophy collection, winning the 2024 NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup and the 2025 NWSL Shield.

Her individual accolades include consecutive NWSL Most Valuable Player awards and Golden Boot honours in 2024 and 2025.

She had previously won the Chinese Women’s Super League Golden Boot in 2022 and 2023 before being named the International Federation of Football History and Statistics’ World’s Best Top Goal Scorer in 2023.

Other players who secured places in the women’s Ballon d’Or top 10 included Haiti’s Melchie Dumornay, Norway’s Caroline Graham Hansen, Spain’s Patri Guijarro, Denmark’s Pernille Harder, Poland’s Ewa Pajor, Spain’s Clàudia Pina and Alexia Putellas, England’s Alessia Russo, and Jamaica’s Khadija Shaw.

The final selection featured players from Europe, Africa and the Caribbean, reflecting the growing international depth of talent in women’s football.

Chawinga’s historic achievement represents a landmark moment for Malawi and the African continent, further cementing her status as one of the leading forwards in the women’s game.