Zambia’s Barbra Banda Named BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year
Barbra Banda, the talented forward from Zambia and Orlando Pride, has been crowned the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year. The prestigious award comes after she received the highest number of votes from BBC Sport website readers, surpassing a competitive five-player shortlist that showcased outstanding performances from September 2023 to August 2024.
The selection process involved a diverse panel of global football experts, including coaches, players, administrators, and journalists not affiliated with the BBC, who carefully curated the shortlist.
Expressing her gratitude, Banda said, “I would like to thank the people who voted and everyone who has played a part in my life and my career – my family, my national team in Zambia, and especially the Pride team. It is for everyone.”
During the Paris Olympics earlier this year, Banda made headlines by scoring four goals for Zambia, including a remarkable first-half hat-trick against Australia. With a total of 10 goals, she holds the record for being the leading African goalscorer in Olympic history.
In the 2024 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) season, Banda showcased her exceptional skills by netting 13 goals for Pride, despite joining the team in March. She continued her stellar performance in the playoffs, scoring four more goals, including the crucial goal in the championship final, securing Orlando Pride’s first title victory.
Not only did Banda excel on the field, but she was also recognized as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the NWSL.
In the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year rankings, Spanish midfielder Aitana Bonmati from Barcelona secured the second spot, while American forward Sophia Smith from the Portland Thorns claimed the third position. The shortlist also featured Caroline Graham Hansen from Norway and Barcelona, as well as Naomi Girma, a defender for the USA and San Diego Wave.
Banda made headlines earlier this year when she transferred to Orlando Pride from Chinese club Shanghai Shengli for a staggering $740,000 (£581,000), becoming the second most expensive signing in women’s football history, following her Zambian teammate Racheal Kundananji.
Aside from her football prowess, Banda’s journey is even more remarkable as she is a former professional boxer, boasting an undefeated record of five wins before transitioning her focus to football.
