City have five players in the running, while the three capital sides have two apiece. And you best believe that the two London City Lionesses stars in the running for the award are Spanish pair Alexia Putellas and Mapi Leon.
The duo departed Barcelona for LCL over the summer, with Putellas in particular arriving to great fanfare. To most, the midfielder is the best player in world football, and has been for some time now.
The case for Alexia Putellas
The 32-year-old has won the Ballon d’Or Feminin twice in her illustrious career, doing so in 2021 and 2022, so she’s looking to land the individual gong for the third time. It would be a richly-deserved achievement for Putellas, who has made a solid start to life in London having scored three times and registered one assist for Eder Maestre’s side in her brief BWSL career to date.
However, it will have been her performances for both Barcelona and Spain that should convince judges she warrants the Ballon d’Or Feminin. Indeed, she ended her final season in Spain with another Primera Division and Women’s Champions League winners medal around her neck.
In the latter competition, she was key as Barcelona overcame Lyon in Oslo earlier this year. Unsurprisingly, she was named the tournament’s best player, and for good reason. After all, Putellas finished top for assists (6) and chances created (35). The Spaniard was directly involved in five quarter-final goals against rivals Real Madrid, providing three assists.
What’s more, Putellas struck twice in the semi-final success over Bayern Munich. The seamlessness with which she has adjusted to the rigours of BWSL football further accentuates her quality.
Whereas some may struggle outside of home comforts, Putellas has made the transition with absolute ease. LCL sit third in the BWSL having collect 15 points from the opening six games. They remain on the coattails of defending champions and league leaders Manchester City having won five of their six games following a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Everton last time out.
17 league goals scored is the fourth most, with Putellas doing everything in her power to carve apart backlines. She ranks top for both total through balls (5) and accurate through balls (3) in the 2026/27 BWSL campaign.
On the international stage, she was again central to Spain’s efforts in progression to the 2027 World Cup as La Roja won five of six matches, recovering from an away defeat to England to book their trip to Brazil.
The case for Mapi Leon
And Putellas wasn’t the only BWSL representative to play a key role in Spain’s successful World Cup qualification campaign. Leon only returned to the national team for the UEFA Nations League last year, but was instrumental for Sonia Bermudez’s side to secure a 2027 spot, starting four of six qualification matches.
It’s par for course for Leon, who, like Putellas, played a vital role in a hugely successful final season with Barcelona. Likewise, the defender has taken to the BWSL like a duck to water.
Only Chelsea (3) have conceded fewer goals than London City Lionesses (6) in England’s top tier this term. It’s Leon’s distribution, though, that is having the biggest impact in their fine start to the season. While there are move "active" defenders than the Spain international, the 31-year-old instead relies on his distribution to limit the opportunities her team faces.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that she ranks among the top 10 player for passes (420) in the BWSL this season. An 88.8% pass success rate is also a commendable haul. Impressively yet, she has created 11 chances in the 2026/27 campaign, which ranks 12th. Four big chances created, incidentally level with Putellas, is the joint-fourth most. 188 forward passes ranks third.
Leon’s got the eye for a defence-splitting pass, and then some. It shouldn't come as a shock that London City Lionesses have had more shots following a counter attack (9) than any other team in the division. No team has scored more counter-attacking goals (2).
When needed, however, she’s more than willing to put her body on the line for the good of the team. This is evidenced by solid hauls of 3.6 clearances, two interceptions, 1.6 blocks and 1.4 tackles per 90. For good measure, Leon boasts a 100% tackle success rate.
They say the best defence is a good offence. With Leon, that couldn’t be further from the truth. She provides the perfect foundation to both build attacks from the back and set the tempo from defence. Any qualms over whether should would adjust her game have been immediately quashed, and that in itself should boost her Ballon d’Or Feminin chances.
London City Lionesses pair deserve to be shorlisted
Of course, Leon is behind Putellas in the running for the award. Perhaps undeservingly so, defenders often rank below midfielders and forwards for these accolades. The former position ensures teams don’t lose. The latter roles are there to provide the ammunition or score goals to win matches and, subsequently, silverware.
That shouldn’t take anything away from both Putellas and Leon. Both thoroughly deserve to be in contention for the Ballon d’Or Feminin, even if only one can emerge victorious next week.
