United States-based Malawi Women’s National Football Team striker Temwa Chawinga has made ESPN’s list of the world’s top five female players.
This follows her impressive performance with National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) side Kansas City Current last season. ESPN released its annual rankings of the top 50 women’s footballers in the world this week.
The Malawian solidified her status as one of the best players in the world after she was also ranked sixth by influential United Kingdom publication The Guardian early last month.
Temwa improved her ranking after placing 19th in 2024. This is her first time making ESPN’s world top five.
“Back-to-back MVP honours for the first time in NWSL history and back-to-back Golden Boots rightfully land Chawinga among the top five players globally. No player in the NWSL, o r arguably the world, changes games the way that Chawinga does,” ESPN reported.
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Temwa made history as the first female player in NWSL history to retain the Most Valuable Player award.
In addition, she also retained the Golden Boot award after scoring 15 goals in three years. She was excited by her exploits.
“It was a good year but the best is yet to come,” she said.
The Scorchers vice-captain smashed several records in the NWSL for two consecutive years.
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In her debut season in 2024, Temwa became the first player to win the NWSL Golden Boot with 20 goals. She finished 17th in the 2025 Ballon d’Or rankings. Spain and Barcelona FC forward Aitana Bonmati was named the best player in the world for the third consecutive year.
Bonmati also recently won the 2025 Fifa Women’s Player of the Year award for the third straight year. Alexia Putellas of Barcelona, Spain, Mariona Caldentey of Arsenal, Spain and Alessia Russo of Arsenal, England came second, third and fourth, respectively.
