A-Leagues legend & Matildas captain nominated for Ballon d’Or

CommBank Matildas captain and Ninja A-League great Steph Catley has been nominated for the 2025 Women’s Ballon d’Or award.

Catley has been shortlisted for the biggest individual honour in women’s football after she was a key figure in Arsenal’s first UEFA Champions League title in 18 years alongside fellow Australian stars Caitlin Foord and Kyra Cooney-Cross.

The 31-year-old former Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory star – who starred as a centre-back in 2024-25 – is among 30 players nominated for the top gong alongside the likes of 2024 winner Aitana Bonmati, though she is the only Australian to feature this year.

Five-time A-Leagues champion Catley is the third Australian woman to be shortlisted since the Ballon d’Or Feminin was first introduced in 2018 – Matildas superstar Sam Kerr has five nominations, finishing second in 2023 and third the previous two years while Hayley Raso was nominated in 2023.

The winner will be announced at the annual award ceremony in Paris on September 22.

Women’s Ballon d’Or nominees

Sandy Baltimore, Barbra Banda, Aitana Bonmati, Lucy Bronze, Klara Buhl, Mariona Caldentey, Sofia Cantore, Steph Catley, Temwa Chawinga, Melchie Dumornay, Emily Fox, Cristiana Girelli, Esther Gonzalez, Caroline Graham Hansen, Hannah Hampton, Pernille Harder, Patri Guijarro, Amanda Gutierres, Lindsey Heaps, Chloe Kelly, Frida Leonhardsen-Maanum, Marta, Clara Mateo, Ewa Pajor, Claudia Pina, Alexia Putellas, Alessia Russo, Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, Caroline Weir, Leah Williamson.