The FIFPRO Women's World XI shortlist has been announced and has sparked confusion, with several high-profile players missing despite having considerably better seasons. FIFPRO is the football version of a union, so it represents players, and this award is unique because fellow players vote on it exclusively.
Its shortlist contradicts the Ballon d’Or, where five of the top-10 finishers are absent.
Among them is Bunny Shaw, who finished third in the Ballon d’Or, won last season's Golden Boot, and helped Manchester City win the domestic double in the WSL and the FA Cup. She scored 21 goals in 22 league appearances and was also named WSL player of the Year and City's leading scorer.
Others include Malawi international Temwa Chawinga, Haiti’s Melchie Dumornay, Barcelona’s Caroline Graham Hansen and Denmark captain Pernille Harder.
The absence of Lauren Hemp and Lauren James also attracted attention. Both England internationals had impressed for their clubs, but neither was selected.
These omissions raised questions about how the voting process translates individual performances into recognition, particularly when several highly regarded players are left out.
Other notable players included are England stars Ella Toone, Chloe Kelly and Aggie Beever-Jones, all of whom had a relatively quiet season, with the Chelsea star scoring only in the WSL in September, scoring only seven goals in all competitions for club and country during the period and was injured for a significant period of the season, while Toone and Kelly experienced difficulties with form and fitness.
However, the shortlist reflects the votes cast by players worldwide, rather than a selection made by journalists, coaches or an independent judging panel. So, their status as household names and major international stars for a dominant nation in England may have pushed them more than Shaw, who doesn't get as much spotlight and media attention.
Another somewhat shocking inclusion is Aitana Bonmatí, who had a fibula fracture that took her out of the game from December to May, and she wasn't fully fit for most of the season. Still, as a household name and three-time Ballon d’Or winner, that could have influenced her inclusion. Last season she had seven goals and three assists, but the season before, in 2024/25, she had 12 goals and six assists.
The shortlist is formed through an online voting process involving 6,511 women's footballers from 64 countries. The judging period ran from 4th August, after the Euros, to 16 August 2026, and, unlike the Ballon d’Or, included the Women's AFCON, which finished on 16th August 2026. Each nominee must have made at least 20 appearances during that period.
The final XI consist of:
- One goalkeeper.
- Three defenders.
- Three midfielders.
- Three forwards.
- One additional outfield player, selected from any position, who receives the next-highest number of votes.
Votes for players nominated in multiple positions are combined. The winners are scheduled to be announced on 9 November at 13:00 GMT.
The repeated differences between Ballon d’Or results and FIFPRO nominations have raised broader questions about how players assess performances and which achievements carry the most weight in peer voting.
6. The 26-Player Shortlist
Goalkeepers
- Ann-Katrin Berger – Gotham, Germany
- Catalina Coll – Barcelona, Spain
- Hannah Hampton – Chelsea, England
Defenders
- Ona Batlle – Barcelona/Arsenal, Spain
- Lucy Bronze – Chelsea, England
- Ellie Carpenter – Chelsea, Australia
- Emily Fox – Arsenal, USA
- Alex Greenwood – Manchester City, England
- Mapi León – Barcelona/London City Lionesses, Spain
- Katie McCabe – Arsenal/Chelsea, Republic of Ireland
- Irene Paredes – Barcelona, Spain
Midfielders
- Aitana Bonmatí – Barcelona, Spain
- Ghizlane Chebbak – Al-Hilal/Free Agent, Morocco
- Patri Guijarro – Barcelona, Spain
- Anaële Le Moguédec – Paris FC, France
- Vicky López – Barcelona, Spain
- Alexia Putellas – Barcelona/London City Lionesses, Spain
- Ella Toone – Manchester United, England
Forwards
- Barbra Banda – Orlando Pride, Zambia
- Aggie Beever-Jones – Chelsea, England
- Athenea del Castillo – Real Madrid, Spain
- Ada Hegerberg – OL Lyonnes, Norway
- Chloe Kelly – Arsenal, England
- Ewa Pajor – Barcelona, Poland
- Claudia Pina – Barcelona, Spain
- Alessia Russo – Arsenal, England
The FIFPRO Women's World XI is distinctive because it lets footballers recognise their peers. However, the latest shortlist has once again highlighted the debate surrounding individual recognition in women's football. The inclusion of players whose form has been questioned has raised questions about the voting process and how performances are judged. Although the shortlist is decided by players themselves, its selections demonstrate that peer recognition does not always align with individual awards, statistics or public expectations. The final World XI announcement will reveal which players ultimately receive their fellow professionals' recognition.
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