Ewa Pajor finishes second in women's Ballon d'Or behind Alexia Putellas

Putellas wins for a third time

Alexia Putellas won the women's Ballon d'Or at the France Football gala in London on Monday, 26 October, for the third time, after her earlier wins in 2021 and 2022. Ewa Pajor finished second, her best result in four nominations and the highest placing of her career. Pajor's season with Barcelona brought the Champions League, Spain's Liga F and the Queen's Cup, which made her one of the favourites. Her second place matches Robert Lewandowski's 2021 finish, the best result in Polish football history. Pajor sat in the front row at the gala beside Kylian Mbappe and Michael Olise, and the announcement of the runner-up left Polish fans waiting until the end of the evening.

Pajor thanks the winners

Pajor posted on social media in the night from Tuesday to Wednesday, a day after the ceremony. She congratulated Putellas on the award, Vicky Lopez and Caty Coll on their prizes, and the coach of the national team, and she thanked the Polish label The Odderside for the fitted, open-back dress she wore to the gala. Her message read:

“Beautiful night at the Ballon d'Or! I am grateful and honoured to be part of such an evening!”

Before the post, Agata Tarczyńska, a retired Poland international with 58 caps and a friend since their days at Medyk Konin, shared photos of the two at the London Palladium Theatre and praised Pajor's professionalism. Pajor answered with a red heart emoji. The two later played together for VfL Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga and now serve as ambassadors for a Polish sports promotion foundation.

Manager and pundits weigh in

Jakub Witek, Pajor's manager for marketing and sponsorship, spoke to the WP Sportowe Fakty portal. He acknowledged how strong the top of the women's game has become and praised the placing:

“We are aware of how strong the top of women's football is, and we appreciate Ewa's second place.”

Witek said the camp was not thinking about next year's vote, calling it a distant question, and was focused on Pajor's matches for Barcelona and Poland. He added that he had expected Pajor to finish in the top three before the result was announced.

On the Polsat Futbol Cast programme, former Poland international Joanna Tokarska, who sits on the France Football jury, explained how the votes are shaped. Marcin Lepa and Tomasz Hajto discussed the result with her. Tokarska said:

“It is these players who make a difference in the biggest matches who gain the most in such votes.”

Hajto said he did not want to diminish Putellas's achievements, but noted that in the men's vote, attackers who score and produce statistics are the most rewarded, while defenders find it hardest to win. He called the result a huge success for Pajor and Polish football, pointing to Poland's growing national team and to Polish players in the Bundesliga and in the English and French leagues.

Season numbers and the 2027 outlook

Super Express reported Pajor's league goals for the season at 16, against nine for Putellas, with only Claudia Pina ahead on 21.

Claudia Pina21

Ewa Pajor16

Alexia Putellas9

Claudia Pina

21 goals

Ewa Pajor

16 goals

Alexia Putellas

9 goals

Data from the article text

Rzeczpospolita noted that Putellas scored seven Champions League goals in the 2025/26 season, including decisive strikes in the quarter-final and semi-final, and captained her club to the Champions League title. She also scored a double in a 4-0 win over England that helped Spain qualify directly for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil. Pajor was the Champions League top scorer that season.

Tom Garry of The Guardian suggested that Pajor may again fall short next year, arguing that her nationality could hold her back even after a strong season. He said the 2027 women's World Cup in Brazil could shape the debate, and that players from teams outside the top tier, Jamaica's Khadija Shaw and Haiti's Melchie Dumornay, face the same problem, although both also finished high in this year's vote.