Barcelona striker Ewa Pajor has been nominated for the FIFPro World 11, becoming the first Polish woman in football history to reach the final shortlist.
The nomination makes Pajor only the second Polish player to receive recognition in the global team of the year vote. Robert Lewandowski is the only other Polish footballer to be honoured, featuring in the men's World 11 in 2020 and 2021 during his time with German club Bayern Munich.
Pajor is one of 26 players named on the shortlist for the 2026 team. The FIFPro World 11 is decided entirely by the footballers themselves, with more than 6,500 professional female players casting ballots in the worldwide vote. The organisation represents professional players across the globe, giving the selection unique standing among competitors.
Ballon d'Or Voting
The global honour follows a narrow defeat in the Ballon d'Or poll organised by French magazine France Football. Pajor finished as runner-up for the award, which is widely considered the most prestigious individual accolade in world football.
Only her Barcelona teammate Alexia Putellas finished ahead of the Polish forward, winning the award by a margin of 86 votes. Twelve members of the international jury, comprising journalists from around the world, selected Pajor in first place. Putellas has also earned a place on the 26-player FIFPro shortlist.
Trophies with Barcelona
Pajor earned her shortlisting after a dominant campaign with FC Barcelona. In the previous season with the Spanish club, the forward helped the team secure a major trophy treble by winning the UEFA Women's Champions League, the Spanish league title and the Copa de la Reina, Spain's domestic cup.
She was especially prolific in European competition, scoring 11 goals during Barcelona's run to the Champions League title. Across 46 appearances in all competitions for Barcelona and the Poland national team, Pajor scored 34 goals and recorded eight assists.
The final results of the vote and the complete 2026 FIFPro World 11 lineup will be announced on Monday, November 9, when the winning players are revealed.
