Malard & Manaka flying Chelsea flag at Ballon d’Or

Chelsea have written a new chapter in their history with the Ballon d’Or after Melvine Malard and Manaka Matsukubo were nominated for the 2026 award, which will be presented to the best player in the world on Monday.

They are the latest Blues players to be shortlisted for the prestigious prize, following in the footsteps of 14 other stars including Fran Kirby, Pernille Harder, Magdalena Eriksson, Hannah Hampton, Lucy Bronze, Millie Bright and Sam Kerr, who finished in the top three in three successive years between 2021 and 2023.

As Malard and Matsukubo prepare to make the short trip across London for the star-studded ceremony, we take a look at why both forwards are in the running for the biggest individual honour in football.

Malard nominated for impressive BWSL & France efforts

One of 11 representatives from the Barclays Women’s Super League on the 30-player shortlist, Malard is in contention for the Ballon d’Or after helping her former paymasters Manchester United make history in 2025-26.

The 26-year-old recorded 20 goal contributions (10 goals, 10 assists) last season and nine of them (four goals, five assists) came in the Champions League as the Red Devils reached the main stage of Europe’s premier club competition for the first time.

After scoring against Paris Saint-Germain and Wolfsburg in the league phase, Malard almost single-handedly dragged United past Atletico Madrid and into the quarter-finals, registering a goal and two assists in their last-16 tie.

Capable of playing right across the front line, the versatile Malard also helped United reach their maiden League Cup final, teeing up Fridolina Rolfo as her side came from behind to beat Tottenham Hotspur in the last eight of the tournament.

And Malard was also strong in the BWSL, posting six goals and three assists as United – in their final season under Marc Skinner - finished fourth, meaning they have finished in the top four in six of their seven seasons in the division.

A bundle of energy on and off the pitch, the lively Malard predominately played on the left last season, boasting a successful dribbles per 90 minutes statistic of 2.0 – which was only bettered by three other wingers in the BWSL.

Playing her part in a United side that kept the fourth most clean sheets (7) in the BWSL last term, Malard also recorded 3.3 defensive contributions per 90 minutes, placing her inside the top 12 wingers in the league.

And owing to incredible fitness levels which saw her miss just one game in the BWSL last season – against London City Lionesses in February due to illness – Malard came third in the voting for United Fans’ Player of the Year.

In addition to her sparkling form for United, Malard has been recognised by the Ballon d’Or organisers after playing her part in France finishing third and winning the bronze medal at the 2025 Nations League.

After topping Group 2 with six wins from six, Laurent Bonadei’s side were beaten 3-2 by Germany in the semi-finals, though Malard initially gave her country hope of reaching the final by breaking the deadlock in the second leg in Caen.

Operating as a striker in the first leg of their tussle with Sweden in the third-place match, Malard recorded the most touches in the opposition box (7) as France won 2-1 in Reims before earning a 2-2 draw in the reverse leg in Solna.

Malard has picked up from where she left off in the Nations League by helping France secure automatic qualification for the 2027 World Cup as well, scoring four goals across clashes with the Republic of Ireland and Poland in Group A2.

And so when Chelsea were looking to strengthen their forward line in the summer, with club legends Kerr and Guro Reiten having departed, the eight-time BWSL champions made their move for Malard.

Reuniting with her former Lyon manager Sonia Bompastor at Stamford Bridge, Malard has made a great start to her Chelsea career, scoring twice to help her new side qualify for the Champions League proper ahead of Real Sociedad.

And Malard has continued to shine in the lead up to the Ballon d’Or ceremony, netting against Birmingham City and West Ham United while her pressing from the front led to Alyssa Thompson’s winner against Arsenal.

Matsukubo recognised for remarkable NWSL & Japan heroics

One of the best young players in the world, Matsukubo has been rewarded for her magnificent form in the National Women’s Soccer League with North Carolina Courage by receiving her first nomination for the Ballon d’Or.

Easily the Courage’s best player in 2025, the 22-year-old registered 15 goal contributions (11 goals, four assists) in 26 regular season appearances, which was only bettered by Kansas City Current star Temwa Chawinga (18).

The standout performance in a glittering highlight reel, Matsukubo – then aged 21 – became the youngest player in NWSL history to score a hat-trick when she plundered three goals against Bay FC in October last year.

And it was milestones like that which led to her winning the NWSL Midfielder of the Year award, as well as a nomination for the NWSL MVP gong, despite the Courage missing out on the playoffs by a point to eventual champions Gotham FC.

Comfortable operating as an attacking midfielder or as a striker, Matsukubo deserved to reach the playoffs given her form for the Courage, creating the joint-most big chances (10) in 2025 thanks to her quick feet and low centre of gravity.

However, she did not let her playoff heartache get the better of her, flying out of the traps in the 2026 regular season with nine goal contributions (five goals, four assists) in as many games for the Courage, the two-time NWSL Championship winners.

Keen to drift from central areas into wide positions, the two-footed Matsukubo collected two goals and as many assists when leading the Courage to impressive victories over Chicago Stars and Angel City in the spring.

Credit: National Women’s Soccer League

Before lighting up the early stages of this year's NWSL regular season, Matsukubo had a hand in Japan winning the 2026 Asian Cup – another deciding factor in why she is one of three players from her country to be nominated for the next edition of the Ballon d'Or.

The latest gem to emerge from the conveyor belt of talent that is Japan, Matsukubo did not feature in the group phase as Nadeshiko beat Chinese Taipei, Vietnam and India to progress to the quarter-finals.

But Matsukubo showed no rustiness as she came off the bench to score in a 33-minute cameo against the Philippines, who were put to the sword by a Japan side who bagged seven goals in total in Sydney, Australia.

As Japan edged closer to a third Asian Cup and their first since 2018, Matsukubo remained ice cool under pressure, recording an assist for Remina Chiba in the 4-1 victory over South Korea in the semi-finals.

And Matsukubo came off the bench once again as Japan defeated hosts Australia in the showpiece, with the forward adding another international medal to her growing collection, having also helped her nation win the SheBelieves Cup in 2025.

Her performances for club and country soon caught the attention of Chelsea, who – 17 days before signing Malard on 20 July – extracted the Kagoshima-born forward from the Courage, who – without their taliswoman – missed out on the 2026 playoffs by a single point once again.

Swapping the blue of the Courage for the blue of Chelsea, Matsukubo is yet to pull on her new jersey due to injury, though Bompastor revealed in September that the attacker is back on the grass and slowly building up her fitness.

It is a thrilling prospect for Chelsea fans, the knowledge that a Ballon d’Or nominee is not too far away from aiding a team that has already scored 25 goals in 10 games this season, including the two-legged Champions League qualifier against Sociedad.

And they, like the rest of us, will be keeping a close eye on the London Palladium on Monday as Matsukubo and Malard look to finish as high as possible in the rankings for the 2026 Ballon d’Or.