Olympique Lyonnais Féminin and Scorchers Striker, Tabitha Chawinga, believes her 2024 Ballon d’Or 16th place ranking means her goal of progressing further in her football career is within reach.
In the Ballon d’Or Féminin, where Chawinga and 30 other players were nominated, FCB Barcelona and Spain’s Aitana Bonmatí won the award on 28 October 2024.
The men’s category saw Manchester City and Spain’s Rodri win it for the first time.
Chawinga said her achievement came from God’s grace, focus and hard work for an African to get recognised on such a prestigious award.
“The door is now open, I look forward to a great season ahead. National team involvement on tournaments so that the Ballon d’Or should return to Africa and in Malawi more specifically,” she said.
Olympique Lyonnais Féminin’s Facebook page described the achievement as a source of pride to Malawi.
She has become the first ever Malawian Footballer to get a nomination and end on such a position.
In 2023, she was the top scorer in Serie A last season with 23 goals while on loan at Inter Milan from Chinese side Wuhan Jianghan.
Earlier this year she won France’s National Professional Footballers Player-of-the-Year Award for the women’s section after scoring 18 league goals and 10 assists for Paris Saint-Germain women’s before joining her current club on a three-year contract.