Barbara Banda has won the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year award. The Zambian striker had to deal with some pretty big gender eligibility issues. Her amazing performances have really helped both her club and country do well.
- Barbara Banda got 16 goals for Orlando Pride in the NWSL.
- She scored three goals in one game against Australia in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
- When Banda moved teams in March 2024 she became the second most expensive women’s football player ever.
Barbara Banda’s Remarkable Year
Barbara Banda’s 2024 has been amazing like really amazing. Playing for Orlando Pride in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), Banda scored like 16 goals which shows how good she is at scoring. Her goals really helped her team do well. When she played for her country in the 2024 Paris Olympics, she was incredible and got four goals including three in one game against Australia. She helped Zambia do really well in the tournament and everyone could see she was one of the best players in women’s football.
Barbra Banda has been named as the BBC’s women’s footballer of the year, two years after the striker was banned in a gender controversy
Read more ⬇️
https://t.co/eIuhcFq9DQ
— Times Sport (@TimesSport)
November 26, 2024
Overcoming Challenges
Getting named BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year wasn’t easy for Banda. She couldn’t play in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations because her testosterone levels were too high according to the rules which was a big problem for her. But she didn’t let that stop her or affect her playing. She kept going and worked really hard, and now she’s got this big award. It just shows how strong she is and how much she loves football.
Impact and Recognition
Winning BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year shows just how talented Banda is and how hard she works. She dealt with all those gender eligibility problems and still became one of the best players in women’s football which is pretty amazing. When she changed teams in March 2024, she became the second most expensive women’s football player ever which shows how good she really is. Lots of people look up to her because of everything she’s done and how good she is at football.
For more about women’s football and player profiles, check out:
