Precisely, the midfielder is the major absentee from the list because of a serious injury that kept her out for most of the season. After eight seasons at Barcelona, during which she won 27 titles in the 314 matches she played, Mapi León moved to London City Lionesses alongside Alexia Putellas in search of a new adventure in her career.
Nominated for the 2026 Women’s Ballon d’Or ??@MapiLeon16@FCBfemeni@LC_Lionesses@SEFutbolFem#ballondor pic.twitter.com/2coujpYpaG — Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) September 8, 2026
At 31, the Aragonese player is one of the best centre-backs in the world. It all began in Zaragoza, where she moved from Transportes Alcaine to Prainsa Zaragoza before joining Atlético de Madrid in 2013. The rest is history, particularly after her 2017 move to Barcelona. Mapi is nominated alongside fellow Spaniards Claudia Pina, Mariona Caldentey, Cata Coll, Patri Guijarro and Alexia Putellas.
SURPRISES IN THE MEN’S BALLON D’OR
Spanish players stand out on this list of 30 nominees after becoming world champions, with as many as six candidates for the award: Cubarsí, Cucurella, Lamine Yamal, Rodri, Fabián Ruiz and Ferran Torres. It is particularly striking that Pedri is not included, given that he is undoubtedly one of the best players both in his position and in world football.
The other Ballon d’Or nominees are: Bellingham, Dembélé, Luis Díaz, Bruno Fernandes, Gabriel Magalhães, Haaland, Hakimi, Kane, Kvaratskhelia, Mané, Marquinhos, Lautaro, Mbappé, Nuno Mendes, Leo Messi, João Neves, Olise, Pacho, Quiñones, Rice, Saliba, Upamecano, Vinicius and Vitinha.
