Zambia captain Barbra Banda drops to 18th in 2026 Women’s Ballon d’Or

Zambia captain Barbra Banda has finished 18th in the 2026 Women’s Ballon d’Or rankings, marking her third consecutive nomination for the prestigious individual award.

The Zambian forward had previously featured in the rankings in 2024 and 2025, finishing 12th in her debut year before dropping to 14th last year. Her latest position represents a further four-place decline despite her impressive performances for club and country.

Banda’s nomination comes after a productive outing at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, where she emerged as one of Zambia’s standout performers despite the Copper Queens’ early elimination from the competition.

The 26-year-old striker scored five goals in just three matches, underlining her clinical finishing and attacking threat on the continental stage.

One of her most remarkable performances came against Egypt, when she netted four goals in a single match to register a historic haul and demonstrate her ability to take control of games.

Her scoring exploits provided a major highlight for Zambia during the tournament, with the forward once again demonstrating why she remains a key figure in the national team’s attacking setup.

As captain of the Copper Queens, Banda has continued to play an important role in Zambia’s development in women’s football, combining her leadership responsibilities with her contributions in front of goal.

Despite her impressive individual numbers at the continental tournament, her 18th-place finish in the Women’s Ballon d’Or rankings means she has slipped further down the standings compared with her previous two appearances.

Nevertheless, the nomination marks another appearance among the world’s recognised women footballers for the Zambian international, whose performances continue to keep her among the prominent figures in African women’s football.