By Burnett Munthali
Malawi football star Temwa Chawinga has earned international recognition after securing a place among the top 10 players in the 2026 Women’s Ballon d’Or rankings, marking a significant milestone for Malawi and African women’s football.
According to a report published by Nigeria’s MobilePunch on October 26, 2026, Chawinga’s ranking at the prestigious awards ceremony held at the London Palladium in England represents a major achievement for African representation in the sport.
Temwa Chawinga
The Malawian forward has built a reputation as one of the game’s prolific goal scorers through her performances in Asia and North America, earning recognition for her consistency and attacking ability.
Chawinga currently plays for Kansas City Current in the United States’ National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), where she continues to showcase her talent against top-level opposition.
Her rise to prominence includes an impressive spell with Wuhan Jianghan University in China, where she helped the club win four consecutive Chinese Women’s Super League titles from 2020 to 2023.
She also won the Chinese Women’s Super League Golden Boot in 2022 and 2023, further strengthening her reputation as a leading forward.
Chawinga’s inclusion among the world’s top 10 women footballers highlights Malawi’s growing presence in international sport and demonstrates the potential of African talent to gain recognition on the global stage.
Her achievement is also a source of inspiration for young girls in Malawi and across Africa who aspire to pursue professional football.
The recognition further highlights the growing influence of African players in women’s football and places Malawi among the countries represented at the highest levels of the game.
