Alexia Putellas on Monday, October 26, won the 2026 Women’s Ballon d’Or at the London Palladium, claiming the award for a third time and drawing level with Spain teammate Aitana Bonmatí. She finished ahead of Ewa Pajor and Khadija Shaw after being named 2025-26 UEFA Women’s Champions League Player of the Season, a campaign of seven goals and seven assists as Barcelona lifted the title.The Ballon d’Or rewards the players who decide the biggest nights.
Cricket‘s equivalent stage is the World Cup, and the 2025-26 season produced two of them: India’s maiden ODI World Cup triumph in Navi Mumbai in November 2025, and Australia’s T20 World Cup win at Lord’s in July 2026.With World Cup weightings applied, here is a hypothetical cricket Ballon d’Or top 5 for the season.5. Smriti Mandhana (India)India’s vice-captain set the platform for the title that ended a 52-year wait, scoring 434 runs at 54.25, including an elegant 109 in a do-or-die encounter against New Zealand.
Her tally was the most by an Indian batter in a single Women’s World Cup. The 30-year-old made 45 in the final as India posted 298 for 7 against South Africa and was named in the ICC Team of the Tournament. A home World Cup, a national record and a winners’ medal: a strong case for fifth.4. Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa)The South Africa captain finished the 2025 ODI World Cup with 571 runs in nine innings, the most by any player in a single edition of the tournament.
Her 101 off 98 balls in the final
Her 101 off 98 balls in the final kept the chase alive before India bowled the Proteas out for 246 in 45.3 overs. She did not lift the trophy, but no batter in the 50-over game matched that output in the 2025-26 window.3. Nat Sciver-Brunt (England)The England skipper delivered in both knockout games of the 2026 T20 World Cup: a blistering 75 off 47 deliveries in the semi-final win over South Africa, then a composed 58 not out off 53 balls in the final at Lord’s, making her the first England player with fifties in both knockouts of a Women’s T20 World Cup.
But it wasn’t enough as Australia chased down 151 in 17.1 overs to win by seven wickets.2. Beth Mooney (Australia)Beth Mooney was named Player of the Tournament and Player of the Match in the final of the 2026 T20 World Cup, only the second player after Amelia Kerr in 2024 to complete that double in the same edition. Her 64 off 49 balls, with 10 boundaries, anchored Australia’s chase of 151 at Lord’s as they sealed a record-extending seventh T20 title.
Australia’s all-time leading run-scorer in T20Is, Mooney once again delivered on the biggest stage.1. Deepti Sharma (India)Deepti Sharma is our winner. She was named Player of the Tournament at the 2025 ODI World Cup as India claimed their maiden title, finishing with 215 runs at 30.71 and 22 wickets at 20.40. Notably, she became first player to pass 200 runs and 20 wickets in a single Women’s World Cup.
In the final, she made 58 and took a sensational 5 for 39, dismissing Nadine de Klerk for the last wicket as South Africa were bowled out for 246. A World Cup winner, the tournament’s leading wicket-taker and a final that swung on her spell: the closest cricket has to a Champions League winner taking the individual prize.Honourable mentions: Shafali Verma, Player of the Match in the 2025 ODI World Cup final with 87 runs; Jemimah Rodrigues, who made 292 runs at 58.4 with 127 not out in the semi-final against Australia; Phoebe Litchfield, whose 48 helped Australia home at Lord’s.
Source: www.sportskeeda.com
