Africa will be represented by three of its leading figures in the race for the prestigious 2026 Ballon d’Or awards. In the men’s category, Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi and Senegal’s Sadio Mané are among the 30 nominated players, while Malawi’s Temwa Chawinga is in contention for the Women’s Ballon d’Or.
The list of nominees, published on Tuesday, September 8, by France Football magazine, which created the trophy in 1956, confirms the presence of two of African football’s biggest stars.
At 27, Achraf Hakimi, captain of the Atlas Lions and Paris Saint-Germain defender, is coming off a particularly prolific season. The right-back played 49 matches during the 2025-2026 season, scoring four goals and providing 17 assists. He had already made an impression in the 2025 edition by finishing sixth.
For his part, Sadio Mané, 34, continues to establish himself as one of the leading figures in African football. The Al Nassr forward played 55 matches during the 2025-2026 season, scoring 24 goals and providing 13 assists. He also contributed to his club’s triumph in the Saudi Arabian league.
With 130 caps for Senegal, Mané already has extensive experience at the highest level and, like Hakimi, is among the African players who have already reached the top six in the Ballon d’Or rankings.
Temwa Chawinga, Africa’s Other Hope
In the women’s category, Africa will be represented by Malawi’s Temwa Chawinga. Born on September 20, 1998, in Rumphi District, the forward plays for Kansas City Current in the United States, while also representing the Malawi national team.
During the 2025-2026 season, Chawinga played 22 matches, scoring 15 goals and providing three assists. She also contributed to Kansas City Current’s triumph as winners of the NWSL Shield.
The Malawian has already built an impressive list of individual achievements. She was named NWSL MVP in 2024 and 2025 and won the competition’s Golden Boot in both seasons. She also finished as the top scorer in the Chinese Women’s Super League in 2022 and 2023.
Weah, Still Africa’s Only Ballon d’Or Winner
Despite the performances of its representatives, Africa is still seeking a second men’s Ballon d’Or, 31 years after Liberian George Weah’s historic triumph in 1995.
The former striker, who notably shone for Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan, remains to this day the only African player to have won the trophy. Since that historic triumph, the continent has seen several remarkable campaigns.
In 2007, six African players were among the nominees, with Ivorian Didier Drogba finishing fourth, making him the highest-ranked African player since Weah at the time.