Rose Lavelle Stands Out as Lone American Nominee for 2026 Women’s Ballon d’Or
American women’s soccer has long been a powerhouse on the global stage, with players frequently recognised among the world’s best. However, recent years have seen a decline in the presence of United States Women’s National Team (USWNT) players in the spotlight for the Women’s Ballon d’Or, football’s prestigious individual award. The 2026 nominations highlight this shift, with Rose Lavelle emerging as the sole American contender.
The Women’s Ballon d’Or ceremony for 2026 took place on 26 October at London’s Palladium Theatre, marking the first time the event was held in the English capital. Since 2024, the award has been jointly organised by France Football’s Groupe Amaury and UEFA, enhancing its global prestige. This year’s shortlist featured 30 nominees, with Lavelle the only player from the United States included among the senior contenders.
Lavelle’s nomination is her second, having previously been shortlisted in 2019, the year Megan Rapinoe won the award. Rapinoe’s 2019 victory followed the USWNT’s triumphant FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign in France, where Lavelle also played a crucial role, scoring the winning goal in the final against the Netherlands. That year, teammate Alex Morgan also finished third in the Ballon d’Or rankings.
Since 2019, no American woman has won the Ballon d’Or, and US players have gradually become less prominent among the nominees. The 2026 list includes no other USWNT senior players, signalling a notable shift in the award’s landscape. However, two other players competing in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) were nominated: Barbra Banda of Zambia, playing for Orlando Pride, and Temwa Chawinga of Malawi, representing Kansas City Current. Both were born outside the United States. Additionally, young American talent Lily Yohannes received a nomination in the Women’s Young Talent of the Year category, separate from the main Ballon d’Or shortlist.
Lavelle’s club achievements in recent seasons have been significant. She currently plays for Gotham FC and was named U.S. Soccer’s Female Player of the Year in 2025. That same year, she scored the decisive goal in Gotham FC’s NWSL Championship final victory, earning the championship’s Most Valuable Player honours. Her performances at both club and international levels underscore her continued relevance in the sport despite the broader trend of fewer American nominees.
The dominance of European players in recent editions of the Women’s Ballon d’Or is evident. Spanish stars have led the award’s recent history, with Alexia Putellas winning in 2021 and 2022, followed by Aitana Bonmatí, who secured three consecutive titles from 2023 through 2025. This European ascendancy reflects the growing strength and global visibility of women’s football leagues across the continent, which often attract more international media attention than the American leagues.
Meanwhile, the USWNT continues to achieve success on the international stage. In 2024, the team claimed their fifth Olympic gold medal with a narrow 1-0 victory over Brazil. Despite such team achievements, individual recognition at the Ballon d’Or level has become more elusive for American players. Factors contributing to this include intensified competition in Europe’s top leagues and comparatively less media coverage of American women’s soccer abroad.
Rose Lavelle’s presence among the 2026 nominees serves as a reminder of enduring American talent in women’s soccer. While the era of US players regularly winning the sport’s highest individual accolades appears to have paused, Lavelle’s nomination keeps alive the possibility of a return to prominence. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if she can break through and bring the Women’s Ballon d’Or back to the United States.