Gotham FC will have two of its biggest stars represented among the nominees for this year’s Ballon d’Or awards, with Rose Lavelle returning to the ballot for the first time in seven years and Ann-Katrin Berger earning her second consecutive Women’s Yashin Trophy nomination.
Lavelle is among the nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or Féminin, marking her second career nomination after she was recognized in 2019. Berger, meanwhile, is one of five nominees for the Women’s Yashin Trophy, which honors the world’s top goalkeeper.
For Berger, the nomination carries added significance. The Women’s Yashin Trophy was introduced in 2025, making her one of just a small group of players to have been nominated in both editions of the award.
Berger finished second in last year’s voting behind Chelsea goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, who won the inaugural award. Berger now has another opportunity to claim the honor after another strong season with Gotham.
The German goalkeeper has recorded 12 clean sheets in 24 appearances across all competitions this season, while her 10 regular-season clean sheets have tied Gotham’s single-season club record. She currently leads the NWSL in shutouts.
Berger has also helped Gotham add another trophy to its collection in 2026, recording a clean sheet during the club’s run to its first NWSL Challenge Cup title. She also posted a shutout in the FIFA Champions Cup earlier this year.
Her latest nomination comes after a 2025 campaign that brought several individual honors. Berger was named German Female Player of the Year and finished as the runner-up for the inaugural Yashin Trophy following a season in which she helped Gotham win its second NWSL Championship.
Lavelle also enters the latest Ballon d’Or cycle following a championship-winning 2025 season.
The midfielder scored the only goal in Gotham’s 1-0 victory over the Washington Spirit in the NWSL Championship, earning MVP honors as Gotham captured its second league title in three seasons. She was later named the 2025 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year.
Lavelle has remained a key figure in Gotham’s midfield this season, appearing in 22 matches across all competitions with 19 starts and four goals. She has also been named to the NWSL Best XI of the Month twice in 2026.
Her latest Ballon d’Or nomination comes seven years after her first. Lavelle was among the nominees for the 2019 Ballon d’Or Féminin after helping the United States win the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Now, after a return to the top of the domestic game with Gotham, Lavelle is back among the players being considered for the sport’s most prominent individual honor.
The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled for Oct. 26 in London, where the winners of the Ballon d’Or Féminin and Women’s Yashin Trophy will be announced.
