Monday was a huge day in the soccer world, with the 2026 Ballon d'Or and Ballon d'Or Féminin awards being announced. There were 30 total candidates announced for each award, but only one American among those 60 players. Rose Lavelle of the USWNT was the sole American nominated, with the Gotham FC star hoping to become just the second USWNT player to win the Ballon d'Or Féminin.
Where did Rose Lavelle place in Ballon d'Or Féminin voting?
Unfortunately, Lavelle didn't win the award, not even coming close. Lavelle was 27th in the final voting, a long way away from being the Ballon d'Or Féminin winner. Of course, Lavelle was always going to be a long shot. Nevertheless, having just one player from the reigning Olympic champions and one of the best national teams in the world is both odd and disappointing.
The case for Rose Lavelle
Lavelle's nomination for the Ballon d'Or Féminin was largely because of her contributions to Gotham FC at club level. After recovering from an ankle injury, she didn't make her debut during the 2025 season until June. However, she soon hit her stride and was a key factor in Gotham reaching the championship game. In the title game, Lavelle scored the only goal of the game in Gotham's 1-0 win over the Washington Spirit, earning game MVP honors.
Rose Lavelle finishes in 27th place in the 2026 Women's Ballon d'Or rankings 👏🇺🇸
— The Women's Game (@WomensGameMIB) October 26, 2026
📸: @GothamFC pic.twitter.com/M1HDzqwj6G
USWNT history with the Ballon d'Or Féminin
The history of the Ballon d'Or Féminin is a brief one. On the women's side, the award only dates back to 2018. During that time, Megan Rapinoe in 2019 is the only American to win the award. Alex Morgan finished third that same year, and to date, those are the only USWNT players to finish in the top three of Ballon d'Or Féminin voting. The award has been dominated by Spanish players, with both Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmatí winning multiple times.
Who won the Ballon d'Or Féminin in 2026?
On Monday, the Ballon d'Or Féminin was won by Spain and London City Lionesses midfielder Alexia Putellas. It was her third time winning the award and her first since 2022.
ALEXIA PUTELLAS! SHE DID IT! She is our 2026 Ballon d'Or winner!#ballondor pic.twitter.com/hctM4DvwuB
— Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) October 26, 2026
Could a USWNT player win the Ballon d'Or Féminin in the future?
In a way, it feels inevitable that somebody will follow in Rapinoe's footsteps as the second American to win the Ballon d'Or Féminin. The USWNT has young stars like Trinity Rodman, Sophia Wilson, and Lily Yohannes who could all have their best days ahead of them. It doesn't hurt that the USWNT is consistently among the best in the world.
On the other hand, there is more competition than ever, and not all of it comes from countries that are traditional soccer powerhouses. That will make it difficult for an American to win the award. With Lavelle being the only nominee in 2026 and finishing a modest 27th in the voting, a USWNT player winning the Ballon d'Or Féminin might not be as close as one might think.
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