Matildas captain Steph Catley and five of England’s Euro 2025-winning squad were nominated for the women’s Ballon d’Or award on Thursday.
Catley, the 138-cap Australian international, earned a nod after her club side Arsenal triumphed in the UEFA Women’s Champions League this season. The Aussie, who plays left fullback for the Matildas, was a rock after moving into central defence for the Gunners during the campaign and helped keep Barcelona scoreless in the final.
She is one of just two centre backs nominated (with Leah Williamson) and becomes the third Aussie woman nominated for football’s highest individual honour (first awarded in 2018). Sam Kerr has been nominated five times and Hayley Raso in 2023.
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Matildas Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord and Kyra Cooney-Cross celebrate with the UEFA Women’s Champions League trophy after Arsenal’s victory over Barcelona in May.Source: Getty Images
Lionesses captain Williamson, Lucy Bronze, Alessia Russo, Chloe Kelly and Hannah Hampton all made the 30-player list after England successfully defended their title in Switzerland.
England beat world champions Spain on penalties in the final last month and both countries have five players on the list.
Chelsea full-back Bronze, 33, was a Ballon d’Or runner-up in 2019. Arsenal Michelle Agyemang, 19, has been nominated for the Women’s Kopa Trophy, awarded to the best women’s footballer under 21 after she was named the young player of the tournament at Euro 2025.
England goalkeeper Hampton, 24, played a key role in her country’s win and in Chelsea’s domestic treble-winning season.
Spain’s two-time Ballon d’Or winners Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas have also been nominated.
Midfielder Bonmati, 27, won the Spanish league title with Barcelona and was named the Best Player of the Tournament at the Women’s Euro 2025. Bonmati won the last two Ballon d’Ors.
Barcelona captain Putellas, a winner in 2021 and 2022, has also been short-listed.
England’s Chloe Kelly celebrates with the Euro 2025 trophy.Source: AP
Arsenal, the English Women’s Super League runners-up aside from the Champions League triumph, are the club with the most nominees, with seven in total.
The evergreen Brazilian Marta, 39, has been nominated after her latest Copa America title. The Orlando Pride forward is the oldest nominee.
Chelsea’s French international winger Sandy Baltimore, 25, also made the list for the first time.
The winner will be announced at a ceremony in Paris on September 22.
Steph Catley in action for Arsenal.Source: Getty Images
NOMINEES
Lucy Bronze (ENG/Chelsea), Barbra Banda (ZAM/Orlando Pride), Aitana Bonmati (ESP/ Barcelona), Sandy Baltimore (FRA/Chelsea), Mariona Caldentey (ESP/Arsenal), Klara Buehl (GER/Bayern), Sofia Cantore (ITA/Juventus), Steph Catley (AUS/Arsenal), Melchie Dumornay (HAI/Lyon), Temwa Chawinga (MWI/Kansas City), Emily Fox (USA/Arsenal), Cristiana Girelli (ITA/Juventus), Esther Gonzalez (ESP/Gotham FC), Caroline Graham Hansen (NOR/Barcelona), Patri Guijarro (ESP/ Barcelona), Amanda Gutierres (BRA/Palmeiras), Hannah Hampton (ENG/Chelsea), Pernille Harder (DEN/Bayern), Lindsey Heaps (USA/Lyon), Chloe Kelly (ENG/Arsenal), Marta (BRA/Orlando Pride), Frida Leonhardsen Maanum (NOR/Arsenal), Ewa Pajor (POL/Barcelona), Clara Mateo (FRA/Paris FC), Alessia Russo (ENG/Arsenal), Claudia Pina (ESP/Barcelona), Alexia Putellas (ESP/Barcelona), Johanna Rytting Kaneryd (SWE/Chelsea), Caroline Weir (SCO/Real Madrid), Leah Williamson (ENG/Arsenal)