Barcelona have emerged as the leading candidate for the women's club of the year award at the 2026 Ballon d'Or, after France Football published its list of nominees on Tuesday. The winners across all categories will be announced on October 26 at a ceremony in London, England.
Barcelona's nomination follows what the club has called a near-perfect 2025-26 campaign, in which the Catalan side won all four major trophies they contested: the Women's Champions League, the Spanish league, the Copa de la Reina and the Spanish Super Cup.
Barcelona previously won the Ballon d'Or women's club prize in 2023 and 2024, before losing out to Arsenal in 2025. This year's nomination marks their bid to reclaim the award.
Rivals aiming to end Barcelona's dominance
Lyon are also among the nominees, despite ending the season on the losing side of the Champions League final against Barcelona, who beat the French club 4-0. Lyon remain one of the most successful sides in European women's football and have long been Barcelona's closest rivals for continental supremacy.
Bayern Munich and Manchester City complete the list of European contenders. Manchester City secured their nomination after winning the Premier League and the FA Cup, known in the original report as the Women's FA Cup, during the 2025-26 season.
Club América make history
Club América, representing Mexican football, also feature among the nominees. The club had a standout campaign domestically and achieved an unprecedented feat by winning their first continental title, eliminating three teams from the United States along the way.
The Ballon d'Or, first awarded by France Football in 1956, is one of football's most prestigious individual and club honors. The women's club of the year prize recognizes the top-performing team across the season, taking into account major domestic and continental competitions.
Full list of nominees
- Barcelona
- Bayern Munich
- Club América
- Manchester City
- Lyon
The winner will be revealed at the Ballon d'Or ceremony in London on October 26, alongside honors in the men's and women's individual categories.
