Copper Queens skipper Barbra Banda was on Monday evening voted as the 12th best female football player in the world according to the Ballon D’or.
The Zambian international finished 12th on her first nomination for the prestigious award.
Banda scored 31 goals and provided six assists in 28 games.
England’s Lucy Bronze finished 20th with Malawi’s Tabitha Chawinga finishing 16th while Khadija Bunny Shaw of Manchester City finished at number 15. Chelsea’s Lauren James was voted as the 13th best player in the world.
Banda became the highest ever ranked African female footballer in the Ballon d’Or feminin after finishing 12th. No African female footballer has ever been ranked higher than the Copper Queen.
Nigeria’s Assisat Oshaola finished 16th in 2022 and 20th in 2023 and missed out this year.
Meanwhile, Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati was named as the winner of the 2024 Women’s Golden Ball.
Bonmati was the standout performer for Barcelona, who won all four trophies available to them, including the Champions League after the Spanish side defeated Lyon in the final, with Bonmati opening the scoring in Bilbao.
She also played a key role in Spain winning the inaugural Women’s Nations League, though La Roja couldn’t repeat their World Cup success from 2023 at the Olympics as they finished fourth in Paris, with the resurgent United States instead taking gold.
Regardless, Bonmati did enough to secure a second-successive Golden Ball, beating off competition from her Barca team-mates Caroline Graham Hansen and Salma Paralluelo, who finished second and third, respectively.
Conga Barbra for breaking the African record and conga Bonmati for defending the World’s Position 1!
Congratulations to B.B
Zambians flag bearer still shines even in the thick of forest. Kudos to her and Zambia kuchalo Barbra
Congratulations barbra banda،we are so proud of you.all the best in your football career
congraturations barabra god bless you my daughter
Congratulations BB 🎊 👏 💐
Congrats BB we are proud of you. Zambia kuchalo.
Congratulations Barbra Banda
We very much proud of you on your achievements and for putting mother Zambia on the world map go go go go more awards for you
Congratulations!Go Babara Go!
Congratulations Barbra. You have made us proud. We celebrate with you. The sky is the limit girl.
I think ballon d’Or is not for blacks, worst still, this one was made special for Spanish. Both men and women. Racism at its best. All in all congratulations BB. But it’s high time they stop including the blacks on list of nominees, because no matter what, the blacks will never win.