Ewa Pajor a step away from the Ballon d'Or? Polish player among the favorites of the prestigious poll

In 2026, Polish footballer Ewa Pajor achieved remarkable success with FC Barcelona, winning four major trophies. She played 46 matches, scoring 34 goals and providing 8 assists, notably becoming the top scorer in the Champions League. Pajor is among the 30 nominees for the Ballon d'Or, with experts considering her a strong contender. Her main rivals include Alexia Putellas and Claudia Pina from Spain, while last year's winner Aitana Bonmati is sidelined due to injury. The men's Ballon d'Or competition features Ousmane Dembele and Kylian Mbappe, but Robert Lewandowski is notably absent from the nominees. This year's ceremony will take place in London, celebrating the 70th anniversary of Stanley Matthews' win.