# Charlyn Corral Wins Women's Striker of the Year Award at Ballon d'Or Ceremony

The Pachuca forward became the first Mexican to win an award at the global ceremony, capping a prolific scoring season and celebrating the growth of women's soccer in her home country.

By The Signal Edition | Sports / Soccer
Published: 2026-10-27T06:40:00Z
Updated: 2026-10-27T06:40:00Z
Canonical: https://www.thesignaledition.com/article/charlyn-corral-womens-striker-award-1eywnf7
Image: https://www.thesignaledition.com/media/0188e2d7128b4190be88987822252a0e.webp (The golden Ballon d'Or trophy displayed against a blurred stadium background; credit: Victor Blanco / Presse Sports / Ballon d'Or)

## Summary
- Pachuca and Mexico forward Charlyn Corral received the women's striker of the year award at the Ballon d'Or ceremony in London.
- El País reported that Corral became the first Mexican to win a trophy at the global awards ceremony.
- Corral scored 49 goals in 49 games in the footballing year, according to El País.

## A landmark award for Corral

Charlyn Corral, the Pachuca and Mexico forward, won the women's striker of the year award at Monday's Ballon d'Or ceremony in London, adding an international honor to a career defined by scoring goals. El País reported that she became the first Mexican to win a trophy at the global awards ceremony. [1](https://elpais.com/mexico/2026-10-26/charlyn-corral-escribe-historia-para-mexico-con-el-premio-a-mejor-goleadora-en-el-balon-de-oro.html) [2](https://www.foxsports.com.mx/2026/10/26/charlyn-corral-es-premiada-en-el-balon-de-oro-como-mejor-delantera-del-2026-junto-a-harry-kane/)

The award recognized Corral's scoring output, not the main women's Ballon d'Or, which went to Spain midfielder Alexia Putellas. England and Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane received the corresponding men's striker award and also won the men's Ballon d'Or, Reuters reported. [2](https://www.foxsports.com.mx/2026/10/26/charlyn-corral-es-premiada-en-el-balon-de-oro-como-mejor-delantera-del-2026-junto-a-harry-kane/) [3](https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/england-bayern-forward-kane-crowned-2026-ballon-dor-winner-2026-10-26/)

Corral, 35, scored 49 goals in 49 games in the footballing year, according to El País. The distinction brings attention to a player whose club career has taken her from Europe back to Mexico and to a league where she has been a prolific scorer. [1](https://elpais.com/mexico/2026-10-26/charlyn-corral-escribe-historia-para-mexico-con-el-premio-a-mejor-goleadora-en-el-balon-de-oro.html)

## A speech about teammates and Mexican soccer

Speaking in Spanish on stage, Corral said she was proud to represent Mexico and pointed to progress in women's soccer in her country. She singled out compatriot Scarlett Camberos, who was nominated for the main women's award, and asked the audience to applaud her, according to El País and La Jornada. [1](https://elpais.com/mexico/2026-10-26/charlyn-corral-escribe-historia-para-mexico-con-el-premio-a-mejor-goleadora-en-el-balon-de-oro.html) [4](https://www.jornada.com.mx/noticia/2026/10/26/deportes/charlyn-corral-gana-el-balon-de-oro-como-delantera-del-ano-2026)

Corral also reflected on more than two decades in the game and thanked Pachuca's leadership, coaches, staff and her teammates. La Jornada reported that she dedicated the recognition to those teammates and thanked her family for supporting her career. [4](https://www.jornada.com.mx/noticia/2026/10/26/deportes/charlyn-corral-gana-el-balon-de-oro-como-delantera-del-ano-2026)

Camberos, an América forward, placed 21st in the women's Ballon d'Or ranking, while Julián Quiñones finished 28th in the men's ranking, El País reported. The newspaper described Camberos as the first Mexican woman to enter the main ranking. [1](https://elpais.com/mexico/2026-10-26/charlyn-corral-escribe-historia-para-mexico-con-el-premio-a-mejor-goleadora-en-el-balon-de-oro.html)

## A scoring record across competitions

Corral joined Pachuca after playing in Europe, including a spell at Spain's Levante, El País reported. La Jornada credited her with 39 regular-season goals for Pachuca in the 2024–25 Liga MX Femenil season, illustrating the scoring form that preceded Monday's international recognition. [1](https://elpais.com/mexico/2026-10-26/charlyn-corral-escribe-historia-para-mexico-con-el-premio-a-mejor-goleadora-en-el-balon-de-oro.html) [4](https://www.jornada.com.mx/noticia/2026/10/26/deportes/charlyn-corral-gana-el-balon-de-oro-como-delantera-del-ano-2026)

Separately, the International Federation of Football History and Statistics named Corral its women's world best goalscorer for 2025, according to Sports Illustrated México. That publication reported 57 goals for club and country in the calendar year: 50 for Pachuca and seven for Mexico. Those figures cover a different period from the footballing-year tally cited for the ceremony. [5](https://www.si.com/mx/futbol/charlyn-corral-repite-como-la-mejor-goleadora-del-mundo-por-segundo-ano-consecutivo) [1](https://elpais.com/mexico/2026-10-26/charlyn-corral-escribe-historia-para-mexico-con-el-premio-a-mejor-goleadora-en-el-balon-de-oro.html)

Corral's 2025 total included an Apertura league record of 22 goals in one half-season, Sports Illustrated México reported. Her London honor now places that domestic scoring record alongside a prize presented on one of soccer's most visible individual-awards stages. [5](https://www.si.com/mx/futbol/charlyn-corral-repite-como-la-mejor-goleadora-del-mundo-por-segundo-ano-consecutivo) [2](https://www.foxsports.com.mx/2026/10/26/charlyn-corral-es-premiada-en-el-balon-de-oro-como-mejor-delantera-del-2026-junto-a-harry-kane/)

## Reporting sources
1. [El País: Charlyn Corral escribe historia para México con el premio a mejor delantera en el Balón de Oro](https://elpais.com/mexico/2026-10-26/charlyn-corral-escribe-historia-para-mexico-con-el-premio-a-mejor-goleadora-en-el-balon-de-oro.html) (2026-10-26)
2. [Fox Sports México: Charlyn Corral es premiada en el Balón de Oro como Mejor Delantera del 2026](https://www.foxsports.com.mx/2026/10/26/charlyn-corral-es-premiada-en-el-balon-de-oro-como-mejor-delantera-del-2026-junto-a-harry-kane/) (2026-10-26)
3. [Reuters: England forward Kane crowned Ballon d'Or winner, Putellas wins women's award](https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/england-bayern-forward-kane-crowned-2026-ballon-dor-winner-2026-10-26/) (2026-10-26)
4. [La Jornada: Charlyn Corral gana el premio a Delantera del Año en la gala del Balón de Oro 2026](https://www.jornada.com.mx/noticia/2026/10/26/deportes/charlyn-corral-gana-el-balon-de-oro-como-delantera-del-ano-2026) (2026-10-26)
5. [Sports Illustrated México: Charlyn Corral repite como la mejor goleadora del mundo por segundo año consecutivo](https://www.si.com/mx/futbol/charlyn-corral-repite-como-la-mejor-goleadora-del-mundo-por-segundo-ano-consecutivo) (2026-01-06)