Women's Ballon d'Or Power Rankings: Brazil legend shakes up the race, England hero Lucy Bronze in with a shout as shortlist announced

Welcome back to TNT Sports' Power Rankings for the 2025 Women's Ballon d'Or. The ceremony in Paris is a little over seven weeks away, and a bumper summer of international women's football has shaken up the race for world football's most prestigious individual honour. The 30-player shortlist was announced on Thursday, so let us dive in and take a look at how this has shaken up our rankings.

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Trying to predict just who will end up with the Women's Ballon d'Or trophy in their grasp on September 22 is a nigh-on impossible task.

The brimming women's football calendar over the past year has meant many twists and turns in the race for world football's most prestigious individual award - but there is now at least some certainty.

The 30-player shortlist for this year's award was announced on Thursday, and within, perhaps some surprises.

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Boosting their claims for the trophy were the players representing England and Nigeria this summer, who celebrated glory in the European Championship and Women's Africa Cup of Nations triumphs respectively.

As a reminder, voting is done based on the season just gone - but the stacked summer schedule of international football has provided a final chance for players to get themselves in contention - the European Championship, Women's Africa Cup of Nations and Copa America Feminina have all taken place this summer.

So let us see how the shortlists have shaken up TNT Sports' Power Rankings.

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10 - Barbra Banda (Orlando Pride)

Here is a NWSL player who could be in with a shout, and the first of two on our list playing for Orlando Pride.

Banda has been nothing short of a revelation for the American club since moving from Shanghai in 2024.

The Zambia international netted 17 goals and provided seven assists (as per Flashscore) in the 2024 campaign as her side lifted the NWSL title, and has started similarly spectacularly in the 2025 season - with eight goals in 14 appearances - with The Pride sitting second in the table.

But Banda's excellent performances were not just limited to club football.

The 25-year-old has been a leading figure in the Zambia team for some time, and that was evident in the WAFCON campaign as she netted three goals in four matches before her side crashed to a 5-0 defeat against eventual champions Nigeria in the quarter-finals.

And that is where Banda is held back in our Power Rankings - should her side have progressed much further, last year's NWSL MVP could well have been a leading contender in the race.

Barbra Banda #22 of Orlando Pride celebrates after scoring the team's first goal during the NWSL match between Bay FC and Orlando Pride

Image credit: Getty Images

9 - Lucy Bronze (Chelsea)

Bronze was typically sensational for England in their successful Euro title defence. And what is more, an unbeaten Women's Super League title-winning campaign with Chelsea, a League Cup and FA Cup to boot.

Yet, somehow, it was after Chloe Kelly netted the winning penalty in England's Euro final victory over Spain that the extent of Bronze's impressive performances in Switzerland were really put into perspective.

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The 33-year-old revealed she had played through the tournament with a fractured tibia - an injury which would typically keep a player out for months. But no, instead, Bronze played in all of England's matches, including 345 minutes of knockout football before the knee injury eventually told - scoring a crucial goal to halve the deficit when 2-0 down against Sweden in the quarter-final with 11 minutes remaining.

But again, the question arises over whether a full-back is feasibly going to win the Ballon d'Or. A defender has yet to win the Women's Ballon d'Or since its inauguration in 2018 - for now, despite Bronze's heroics, we feel the England stalwart is not going to be the player to break that trend.

Lucy Bronze of England takes a selfie as she celebrates following her team's victory in the UEFA Women's EURO 2025 Final match between England and Spain at St. Jakob-Park on July 27, 2025 in Basel, Switzerland.

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8 - Leah Williamson (Arsenal)

Williamson followed up winning the UEFA Women's Champions League by becoming the first England captain of the senior men's or women’s team to lift a trophy on foreign soil.

It is a remarkable turnaround for a player who was unable to compete at the previous World Cup after suffering an ACL injury.

She was in imperious form in the UEFA Women's Champions League final for Arsenal, and she was solid once more against Spain where her leadership, calm and poise allowed The Lionesses to shut out Spain after the first half.

Yes, she missed her penalty in the shoot-out, but she will not be too bothered about that after leading England to consecutive Euro titles. Nor should she be.

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7 - Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)

Putellas is the biggest dropper from our previous edition and this is not to reflect too badly on her own performances.

Throughout the domestic and international campaign, the two-time Ballon d'Or winner has been at the top of her game, but in the biggest moments, other players have stepped up.

Unfortunately, she was unable to replicate her terrific form in the group stages in the knockout games.

Putellas missed a penalty against Switzerland and was then substituted in the second half of the final defeat to England, and could only watch on as Spain endured shoot-out heartbreak.

BARCELONA, SPAIN - APRIL 20: Alexia Putellas of FC Barcelona celebrates with Ingrid Engen and Patri Guijarro following the team's victory during the UEFA Women's Champions League Semi-Final first leg match between FC Barcelona and Chelsea FC Women at Estadi Johan Cruyff on April 20, 2025 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Image credit: Getty Images

6 - Alessia Russo (Arsenal)

What a season it has been for the striker. The Arsenal star delivered when it mattered in the Euro final as she produced a stunning header to equalise for England against Spain.

She might have struggled to have an impact in the previous knockout games, but The Lionesses would not have come back into the match had Russo not produced the goods.

She has enjoyed a stellar campaign after finishing as the WSL’s top scorer, and can now add another Euros gold medal to her cabinet after helping Arsenal win the Champions League.

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5 - Marta (Orlando Pride)

A new addition to our list. Marta was included in the 30-player shortlist announced on Thursday, a magnificent feat for the 39-year-old playmaker.

The Ballon d'Or race for NWSL players is complicated, somewhat, by the fact their season in ongoing.

But what is undeniable is the Brazil legend's seismic role in helping her side retain the Copa America.

Marta put in a series of stunning performances en route to lifting the title yet again, and netted a brace as a substitute in her side's penalty shoot-out victory over Colombia in the final, following a pulsating 4-4 draw.

Age continues to prove just a number for Marta, whose contributions for both club and country remain hugely significant.

With the 2027 Women's World Cup heading to Brazil for the first time in the competition's history, could Marta stick around to play a part in her home tournament? At that point, she would be 41 years old, but age has really yet to hold her back.

QUITO, ECUADOR - AUGUST 2: Marta Vieira of Brazil poses with the trophy after the CONMEBOL Copa America Femenina 2025 Final match between Colombia and Brazil at Rodrigo Paz Delgado Stadium on August 2, 2025 in Quito, Ecuador. (Photo by Franklin Jacome/Getty Images)

Image credit: Getty Images

4 - Hannah Hampton (Chelsea)

England’s new No. 1 has officially become a household name.

The Chelsea shot-stopper came into Euro 2025 under a cloud not of her making, after Mary Earps announced her retirement from international football, which no doubt put more pressure on Hampton.

However, she was one of England’s best performers throughout the Euros. Hampton was as impressive with her feet as she was with her hands.

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But she will be remembered for her crucial saves in the shoot-out wins, especially in the final where she denied Mariona Caldentey and Aitana Bonmati.

Let us not forget that she also made some key saves during the quarters against Sweden, and she was part of a Chelsea side who finished the season unbeaten and claimed a historic domestic treble.

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3 - Mariona Caldentey (Arsenal)

Caldentey more than lived up to the billing in her first season in England. She finished with 16 goals and seven assists across the WSL and Champions League and was considered by many to be Arsenal's best player, particularly once Renee Slegers took over from Jonas Eidevall in the autumn.

She was a huge reason for Arsenal's Champions League success and her performance in the Euros final did not deserve to end in defeat. Caldentey put the Spaniards ahead with a bullet header in the first half, and she would go on to be one of the best players on the pitch.

However, her final ended in agonising fashion as she missed her penalty in the shoot-out. But she can hold her head up high following her dynamic display.

Mariona Caldentey (L)

Image credit: Getty Images

2 - Chloe Kelly (Arsenal)

Of course, ‘Clutch Chloe’ had to find herself on this list.

We are now talking about a player who has delivered the winning moment for England in their back-to-back Euros triumphs.

Kelly excelled in her role as the super sub for The Lionesses in this tournament and had an impact in every knockout tie leading up to the title.

The forward caused chaos with her pinpoint crosses in the quarter-final against Sweden as well as scoring a key penalty in the shoot-out.

She then followed that up by scoring the winning goal in the dying seconds against Italy in the semi-finals before hopping off the bench to set up Russo for the equalising goal in the final.

When she stepped up to take the winning penalty, there was never any doubt in any fans’ mind that she would execute the perfect spot-kick to crown The Lionesses as the Queens of Europe once again.

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1 - Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona)

Yes, Bonmati did not win the Champions League. Yes, she missed a penalty in shoot-out of the final which meant Spain were unable to follow up their World Cup triumph by winning the Euros.

But make no mistake about it, Bonmati remains the best player in the world.

The Barcelona star was struck down with viral meningitis just days before the start of the tournament, which might explain why she did not hit the heights at the start of the Euros.

However, she was key for Spain in the knockout rounds and delivered a clever and cheeky finish in the semi-finals against Germany in extra time to send her nation into the final.

Bonmati did get her hands on some silverware at the end of the match, which was the award for the best player of the Euros, and it is likely that she will lift the Ballon d’Or for the third time in a row.

Women's Ballon d'Or 30-player shortlist

Sandy Baltimore (Chelsea, France)
Barbra Banda (Orlando Pride, Zambia)
Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona, Spain)
Lucy Bronze (Chelsea, England)
Klara Buhl (Bayern Munich, Germany)
Mariona Caldentey (Arsenal, Spain)
Sofia Cantore (Washington Spirit, Italy)
Steph Catley (Arsenal, Australia)
Temwa Chawinga (Kansas City Current, Malawi)
Melchie Dumornay (Lyon, Haiti)
Emily Fox (Arsenal, USA)
Cristiana Girelli (Juventus, Italy)
Esther Gonzalez (Gotham FC, Spain)
Caroline Graham Hansen (Barcelona, Norway)
Patri Guijarro (Barcelona, Spain)
Amanda Gutierres (Palmeiras, Brazil)
Hannah Hampton (Chelsea, England)
Pernille Harder (Bayern Munich, Denmark)
Lindsey Heaps (Lyon, USA)
Chloe Kelly (Arsenal, England)
Marta (Orlando Pride, Brazil)
Frida Leonhardsen Maanum (Arsenal, Norway)
Clara Mateo (Paris FC, France)
Ewa Pajor (Barcelona, Poland)
Claudia Pina (Barcelona, Spain)
Alexia Putellas (Barcelona, Spain)
Alessia Russo (Arsenal, England)
Johanna Rytting Kaneryd (Chelsea, Sweden)
Caroline Weir (Real Madrid, Scotland)
Leah Williamson (Arsenal, England)

When and where is Ballon d'Or ceremony?

The 2025 Ballon d'Or awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on September 22 at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris.

Twelve trophies will be awarded throughout the evening, and TNT Sports will be providing live updates throughout the ceremony.

Stream the Premier League, Serie A, Men’s and Women’s FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League and more on TNT Sports and discovery+

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Thoughts?