The last three Golden Ball winners have represented Barcelona and Spain, and it looks likely that at least one of those themes will continue

It took until early August, but we know the players who are truly in contention for this year's Ballon d'Or Femenin. The women's football tournament at the 2024 Olympic Games was the final chance for stars to throw their hats in the ring and several did, while others strengthened their already strong cases. Now, all there is left to do is wait for the final ranking of this year's contenders, after and new co-organisers, UEFA, announced the nominees on Wednesday, September 4.

Historically, players from the United States have struggled to really make their mark in the race for the Ballon d'Or, with the NWSL season always midway through when the window being judged closes. That was different in 2019, when the U.S. won the World Cup and Megan Rapinoe claimed the Golden Ball as a result, and it is again this year, after Emma Hayes' side triumphed at Paris 2024.

But there is also a whole European season that will be factored in as well, in which players from Barcelona in particular shone as the Catalans won another Champions League title. The last three winners of the Golden Ball have come from Barca – and the names of Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas are on the shortlist again this time around.

So, who are the contenders for the 2024 Ballon d’Or Feminin ahead of the ceremony on Monday, October 28? GOAL takes a look at the front-runners…

Getty15Lea Schuller (Bayern Munich)

Players representing Germany or playing in its domestic league can often be overlooked when it comes to the Ballon d'Or, but Lea Schuller's efforts in helping her country win an Olympic bronze medal this summer earned her a well-deserved nomination for 2024.

It isn't just her three goals at the Games, or her strike that secured Germany's place there, that means she is worth her place on this list, either. Schuller also had a terrific 2023-24 season with Bayern Munich, ending it as her club's top goal-scorer as they won the Frauen Bundesliga again.

AdvertisementGetty Images14Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit)

When Canada won Olympic Gold back in 2021, three of their star players secured a spot on the Ballon d'Or shortlist, and the USWNT's triumph at Paris 2024 had a similar effect this time around. It was their 'triple espresso' attack that shone in France and it wasn't a surprise, then, to see all three members of that trident nominated – starting with Trinity Rodman.

The 22-year-old scored a superb goal in the quarter-finals to allow the U.S. to beat Japan 1-0 in extra-time, continuing the brilliant form she had shown in the group stages. Strengthening her case for a place on this list was a return of five goals and four assists in 15 NWSL games, which helped the Washington Spirit sit in third place before she flew off to help the USWNT win gold.

USA TODAY Sports13Barbra Banda (Orlando Pride)

NWSL stars can struggle for Ballon d'Or recognition because its league does not run in tandem with the awards like the European season does. However, Barbra Banda's goal-scoring certainly hasn't gone under the radar in the last few months, for club or country.

Going into the Olympics, she was joint-top of the NWSL scoring charts with 12 goals in 12 games, helping the Orlando Pride to remain unbeaten through the first half of the season. Despite Zambia's group-stage exit, she continued that form at the 2024 Games, too, finding the back of the net four times in three outings. She isn't going to make the Ballon d'Or podium, but she deserves her spot on the longlist.

Getty12Tabitha Chawinga (Lyon)

Paris Saint-Germain might have fallen short again in their bid to dethrone Lyon in the French league, but they did win just the fifth major honour in the women's team's history when they beat Fleury in the Coupe de France final, a triumph Tabitha Chawinga was key to. The Malawi international, who has since signed for Lyon, scored two vital goals in the narrow semi-final win over Paris FC and shone in all competitions to rack up some insane numbers across the board.

A Champions League semi-final exit hurt her chances of being near the top of the Ballon d'Or rankings, but she helped her team get over the line in the chase for silverware and was the best player in France last season.