Malawi forward Temwa Chawinga has become the first African woman to finish in the top 10 of the women’s Ballon d’Or, adding another milestone to a career that has also helped put her country on the map.

The 28-year-old Kansas City Current striker achieved the feat at Monday’s 2026 awards ceremony, earning recognition among the world’s leading female footballers.

Chawinga has enjoyed an impressive run at club level, winning the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Most Valuable Player award and Golden Boot in both 2024 and 2025.

She also won four consecutive Chinese Women’s Super League titles with Wuhan Jianghan University from 2020 to 2023.

Her achievements extend to the international stage, where she and her older sister, Tabitha Chawinga, led Malawi to the final of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) on the country’s tournament debut.

Malawi announced itself with a stunning 3-2 victory over defending champion Nigeria in its opening match.

Temwa scored twice, while Tabitha added another goal.

The sisters continued their impressive form throughout the competition.

Malawi defeated Ghana 2-1 in the quarterfinals to secure its first qualification for the FIFA Women’s World Cup before beating Algeria 3-1 in the semifinals.

Tabitha scored twice against Algeria, while Temwa added a goal.

The Confederation of African Football said the sisters “once again proved decisive” as they combined for all three goals against Algeria to send Malawi into its first WAFCON final.

Speaking to BBC Sport Africa during the tournament, Temwa said, “I'm so happy because a lot of people didn't give us a chance at this level, but we showed the world that we have a good team.”

She also called for greater investment in women’s football in Malawi, saying, “If we can put money in Malawi to support girls’ football I think there can be so many like me and Tabitha.”

Temwa has credited her older sister with helping her build an international career.

“She made connections for me to leave Malawi to play abroad, but most importantly has always advised me to fight hard, to know what I want and to pursue it without listening to distracting people,” she told BBC Sport Africa.

Her Ballon d’Or recognition now adds to a growing list of achievements and highlights the increasing visibility of African women in world football.