FC Barcelona forward Ewa Pajor secured second place in the 2026 Ballon d’Or voting during Monday’s ceremony in London, matching the highest individual finish in the history of Polish football, reported in the sources. The Poland representative finished behind only her former club teammate, Alexia Putellas, who claimed the prestigious trophy for the third time in her career.

Social Media Tributes Highlight Barcelona Success

Following the ceremony, Pajor used her Instagram account to acknowledge the winners from her club, sharing a photograph of Putellas holding the golden statuette with the Spanish caption “Enhorabuena! La Reina” (“Congratulations! Queen”), as reported by the sources. The Polish striker also posted graphics celebrating her Barcelona teammates and coaching staff, congratulating goalkeeper Cata Coll (“La mejor”), teenage midfielder Vicky Lopez (“Una vez mas!”), and head coach Pere Romeu.

Record-Breaking Season Precedes Historic Finish

Pajor’s runner-up finish equals the benchmark set by Robert Lewandowski five years prior. The milestone follows a prolific campaign in Catalonia where the 29-year-old forward captured four trophies—including the UEFA Women’s Champions League, Liga F, the Copa de la Reina, and the Supercopa de España. Pajor finished the Champions League season as the competition’s top scorer with 11 goals, netting a decisive double in the final.

Pajor Earns 500,000 Euros Annually at Barcelona

While establishing herself at the pinnacle of the sport, Pajor’s compensation places her among the upper tier of global women’s football earners, reported in the sources. Upon transferring from German side VfL Wolfsburg to Barcelona in 2024 on a contract running through June 2027, the forward secured a reported annual salary of 500,000 euros. Triumphant Ballon d’Or winner Putellas commands a reported 1.7 million euros annually following her summer transfer to London City Lionesses, while Washington Spirit forward Trinity Rodman pulls in comparable figures, placing Pajor just outside the absolute apex of player compensation.

Global Popularity Influences Ballon d'Or Voting Margins

Roman Jaszczak, president of Medyk Konin and one of Pajor’s early talent scouts, pointed to off-pitch visibility and structural disparities between Poland and Western European powerhouses as deciding factors in the voting margins, noting in an interview with Polskie Radio 24 that global popularity heavily influences the final Ballon d’Or tallies. Jaszczak emphasized that Pajor delivered on the pitch by capturing the Champions League MVP award and the tournament golden boot, but argued that the lack of comparable international success with the Polish national team creates a deficit compared to players representing established traditional powers like Spain.

Players Wear High Fashion at London Ceremony

The London ceremony gathered top international talent outside of traditional sporting attire, noting that Pajor attended the event in a long black gown featuring sleeves and a neckline cutout, seated near Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe. Men’s Ballon d’Or winner Harry Kane drew attention with a rare Rolex Cosmograph Daytona “Blue Sapphire” watch valued at one million pounds, while Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal collected the young player award for the third time while wearing a silk-and-feather Chanel brooch.