For the first time, three African players have been nominated for the Kopa Trophy: Yan Diomandé (Real Madrid, Ivory Coast) 5th, Ayyoub Bouaddi (Manchester City, Morocco) 6th and Ibrahim Maza (Bayer Leverkusen, Algeria) 9th.
The 2026 Ballon d’Or, unveiled this Monday, crowned Harry Kane (Bayern Munich, 33) ahead of Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal, according to Afrique-sur7. Among the Africans, Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain, Morocco) ranks 13th, down seven places from his 6th position in 2025, according to Africa Top Sports. Sadio Mané (Al-Nassr, Senegal) finishes 29th, level with William Saliba, reports Fratmat.
The most notable African results come in the youth categories and the Women’s Ballon d’Or. Three Africans have been nominated for the Kopa Trophy for the first time, and Temwa Chawinga (Malawi) becomes the first African woman to finish in the top 10 of the Women’s Ballon d’Or, in 10th place, according to APA News.
Diomandé leads the African wave
Yan Diomandé, 19, takes 5th place in the Kopa Trophy, the best African ranking in the category, according to Ghanasoccernet. He finishes ahead of Ayyoub Bouaddi, the 19-year-old Morocco international at Manchester City, 6th in the standings, up three places from 2025, according to Foot-africa.
Ibrahim Maza, a 20-year-old Algerian at Bayer Leverkusen, completes the trio in 9th place. A ranking the Algerian observers found surprising, according to Ghanasoccernet. The Kopa Trophy goes to Lamine Yamal, for the third year running, according to Fratmat.
Chawinga leads the way
In the women’s game, Temwa Chawinga, 28, of Kansas City Current, takes 10th place in the Women’s Ballon d’Or, a first for an African woman, according to APA News. Zambia’s Barbra Banda (Orlando Pride) ranks 18th, while the trophy was won by Alexia Putellas, according to Pan Africa Football.
The performance comes ahead of the CAF Awards ceremony, where Chawinga is billed as the favourite for African Women’s Player of the Year by Pan Africa Football. A position still to be confirmed, as the vote has not yet taken place.
Hakimi, a landmark for defenders
With his 13th place, Achraf Hakimi becomes the first African defender to appear twice in the Ballon d’Or top 15, Africa Top Sports points out.
The picture is different among the goalkeepers. Unai Simón (Athletic Bilbao) wins the Yashin Trophy, followed by Vozinha (6th), Bounou (8th) and Mendy (9th), according to Foot-africa. No African goalkeeper makes the podium. Bounou recorded 30 clean sheets in 58 matches with Al Hilal, and Mendy 28 in 56 with Al Ahli, the same source specifies.