Manchester City Women enjoyed a memorable night in London as Bunny Shaw finished third in the Women’s Ballon d’Or, while five players, head coach Andrée Jeglertz and the club itself received recognition after a historic season.
Manchester City Women had plenty to celebrate at the 2026 Ballon d’Or awards, with Bunny Shaw leading the club’s contingent through a landmark individual achievement.
The Jamaican striker finished third in the Women’s Ballon d’Or rankings at Monday’s ceremony at the London Palladium, becoming the highest-ranked female player in Manchester City’s history at the prestigious awards.
Her achievement capped a remarkable campaign in which City secured a Women’s Super League and FA Cup double, returning the league title to the club after a decade.
Shaw was not the only City representative to receive recognition. Four of her teammates also featured among the leading nominees, while goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita, head coach Andrée Jeglertz and Manchester City Women were shortlisted in their respective categories.
It was a night that reflected the strength of a team whose collective success has been matched by individual excellence.
Bunny Shaw Leads City’s Historic Night
Shaw’s third-place finish was the standout result for the City contingent and another milestone in an already outstanding career.
The forward scored 21 goals in the Women’s Super League during the 2025/26 campaign, earning the Golden Boot for a third consecutive season. Across all competitions, she registered 35 goal involvements in 32 appearances, underlining her importance to City’s attacking play.
Her goals were central to the club’s league triumph, with her ability to lead the line, dominate defenders and deliver in decisive moments making her one of the most influential players in English women’s football.
The Ballon d’Or recognition places Shaw among the leading players in the global game and establishes a new benchmark for City Women at the awards.
She also made history as the highest-ranked Afro-Caribbean player in the award’s history, adding further significance to an achievement that extends beyond Manchester.
For City, Shaw’s finish represents recognition not only of her individual quality but also of the consistency and ambition that have shaped the team’s recent progress.
Five City Stars Make the Women’s Ballon d’Or Shortlist
City had five players nominated for the Women’s Ballon d’Or, reflecting the depth of talent within Jeglertz’s squad.
Their final positions demonstrated the range of contributions that helped the club deliver a memorable season.
- 3rd — Bunny Shaw: City’s highest-ever ranked female player at the Ballon d’Or, following another prolific campaign in front of goal.
- 11th — Yui Hasegawa: The Japanese midfielder achieved the highest finish of her career at the awards after another influential season in City’s engine room.
- 24th — Kerstin Casparij: The Dutch defender impressed with her versatility and attacking contribution, recording seven WSL assists during the campaign.
- 26th — Alex Greenwood: The City captain continued to provide leadership and defensive quality, while contributing significantly from set pieces.
- Joint 28th — Vivianne Miedema: The Netherlands international earned her first Ballon d’Or nomination as a City player after contributing 15 WSL goal involvements in 19 appearances.
Hasegawa’s 11th-place finish was another notable achievement. Her ability to progress possession, create openings and protect the defence made her a crucial part of City’s midfield throughout the season.
Casparij also enjoyed a productive campaign, offering an additional attacking outlet from full-back and finishing among the league’s leading providers of assists.
Greenwood’s influence extended beyond her defensive responsibilities. Her delivery from set pieces created 15 chances in the WSL, while she also scored at Wembley during City’s FA Cup final victory over Brighton.
Miedema, meanwhile, adapted to a deeper role while continuing to contribute in the final third. Her experience and leadership proved valuable during a campaign in which City ultimately secured two major domestic trophies.
Together, the five nominations highlighted the individual quality behind the club’s collective achievements.
Jeglertz and Yamashita Receive Recognition
The celebrations extended beyond the players, with City head coach Andrée Jeglertz shortlisted for Women’s Coach of the Year and goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita nominated for Goalkeeper of the Year.
Jeglertz’s nomination followed a highly successful first season in charge, as he guided City to their first WSL title in ten years and lifted the FA Cup.
The double represented a significant achievement for the Swedish coach and his squad, demonstrating their ability to compete consistently across domestic competitions.
Yamashita’s nomination provided further recognition of City’s strength throughout the team. The Japanese international played an important role between the posts, helping the side maintain its defensive standards during the title-winning campaign.
Neither took home the award on the night, with the coaching prize going to Barcelona’s Pere Romeu and the goalkeeper honour awarded to Cata Coll.
Nevertheless, both nominations underlined the contribution of the wider City squad and coaching staff to a season that restored the club to the top of English women’s football.
Manchester City Women Recognised Among Europe’s Elite
City’s achievements were also acknowledged at club level, with Manchester City Women shortlisted for Women’s Club of the Year for the first time in their history.
The nomination reflected a campaign in which the team combined domestic success with a series of outstanding individual performances.
However, Barcelona Women claimed the award after another successful season, meaning City’s night ended without a trophy in the club category.
The recognition still marked an important step for City Women, whose performances have strengthened their standing among the leading teams in the women’s game.
Their presence across multiple award categories demonstrated that the club’s progress is not dependent on one player alone. Shaw’s goals, Hasegawa’s midfield influence, Greenwood’s leadership, Casparij’s creativity, Miedema’s experience and Yamashita’s goalkeeping all contributed to the broader picture.
Barcelona’s Putellas Claims the Top Prize
The Women’s Ballon d’Or ultimately went to Alexia Putellas, who secured the award for a third time after previously winning in 2021 and 2022.
The Barcelona star’s latest triumph added another chapter to her distinguished career and placed her among the most decorated winners in the award’s history.
For Shaw, finishing third behind Putellas and the other leading contenders remains a major achievement and a sign of how highly her performances are regarded internationally.
City may not have left London with the main trophy, but their representation across the awards demonstrated the growing influence of the team.
A Night to Celebrate City Women’s Progress
The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony offered Manchester City Women an opportunity to celebrate a season defined by silverware, consistency and individual brilliance.
Shaw’s historic third-place finish was the headline achievement, while the nominations and rankings of her teammates reflected the quality that helped City win the WSL and FA Cup double.
Jeglertz and Yamashita also received recognition for their roles in the team’s success, and the club’s nomination for Women’s Club of the Year represented another milestone.
The awards may have gone elsewhere in several categories, but City’s presence throughout the evening sent a clear message about the progress made by the club.
For Bunny Shaw and Manchester City Women, the Ballon d’Or was more than a night of individual honours. It was recognition of a team that turned an exceptional season into a historic one.
