Ewa Pajor secured a second-place finish in the 2026 Ballon d’Or gala in London, finishing behind three-time winner Alexia Putellas following a standout campaign with FC Barcelona that featured a Champions League title and 34 goals across all competitions.
Pajor Becomes Top Contender for Ballon d'Or
- Ballon d’Or Futures: Pajor’s elevated stock cements her status as a top contender following her second-place finish for the individual honors.
The Voting Divide and Reactions Across Polish Media
The outcome in London sparked an immediate split among observers back in Poland, with sport.interia.pl noting that public and journalistic reactions ranged from celebration to sharp disappointment. While some analysts viewed the runner-up finish as a milestone for Polish women’s football, others argued that her silverware and goalscoring output warranted the top prize.
Mateusz Ligęza of Radio Zet dismissed the final tally with a sharp social media critique, writing Le cabaret
as the results were finalized. Tomasz Hatta of igol.pl similarly voiced a sense of mild frustration over the voting outcome. Meanwhile, Szymon Janczyk of meczyki.pl emphasized the magnitude of the achievement for Pajor and her supporters, pointing out the immense prestige of breaking into the absolute upper echelon of the global vote.
Other commentators sought tactical and narrative explanations for why the Polish forward ultimately missed out on the top spot. Tomasz Włodarczyk of meczyki.pl noted on the platform X that Ewa Pajor druga w Plebiscycie Złotej Piłki i ewidentnie przegrała popularnością z Alexią Putellas.
Paula Duda of the Ministry of Sport and Tourism similarly pointed toward the global reach of her Spanish rival.
Trophy-Laden Resumes and Statistical Comparisons
SportoweFakty highlighted the sheer volume of silverware and offensive production that powered Pajor’s candidacy. During the 2026 campaign with FC Barcelona, the Polish striker collected four major trophies: the UEFA Women’s Champions League, the Spanish league title, the Copa de la Reina, and the Spanish Supercopa. Across 46 club and international fixtures, she netted 34 goals and provided eight assists.
Her 11 goals in the Champions League, including two in the final, proved her dominance in Europe. Despite these staggering metrics, the award went to Putellas. Eurosport Polska noted that Putellas registered 26 goals and 15 assists across 53 appearances for Barcelona before transferring to London City Lionesses, earning her third career Ballon d’Or.
A Star-Studded Night in London and Financial Context
Eurosport Polska captured the atmosphere inside the Palladium Theatre, where Pajor occupied a prominent seat in the front row directly alongside Kylian Mbappé. The glamorous setting reflected her standing in the global game, following a trajectory that took her from the small village of Pęgów through Medyk Konin and VfL Wolfsburg before her high-profile move to Catalonia.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2026/10/27/image-5972df12-fc9c-4d63-99f8-4ddfac7488db-85-2560-1440.jpeg "Photo: Eurosport Polska")
Przegląd Sportowy detailed the commercial and financial dimensions of her current standing, reporting an annual salary at Barcelona estimated at approximately 500,000 euros, placing her among the highest earners in the history of women’s football. Her market appeal has attracted many major sponsors, including Orlen, Visa, Volkswagen Financial Services, and DrWitt. On the international stage, she remains the focal point of the Polish national team, boasting 71 goals in 109 appearances as the squad targets qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
