Lavelle has enjoyed a fine season with Gotham FC and has continued to be a centerpiece of theU.S. women's national teamas it heads toward the 2027 World Cup.
Gotham FC is atop the NWSL standings as the 2026 campaign winds down, with Lavelle tallying four goals in 19 matches so far.
Lavelle has played in six matches for theUSWNTin 2026, scoring two goals. She has 122 caps in her national team career, scoring in the team's 2-0 win over theNetherlandsin the 2019 World Cup final.
Though Lavelle is the only USWNT player up for the Ballon d'Or, she wasn't the only player nominated on Tuesday.Lily Yohanneswas one of five players named finalists for the Women's Young Talent of the Year award.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
The 19-year-old midfielder helped OL Lyonnes win another French league title and reach the UEFA Champions League final this year, all while continuing to earn regular minutes with the USWNT.
The women's Ballon d'Or has been won by a Spanish player the past five years, withAlexia Putellaswinning in 2021 and 2022, thenAitana Bonmatíwinning in 2023, 2024 and 2025.There will be no four-peat for Bonmatí, however, as the midfielder wasn't nominated due to missing much of the year with injury.
Below are the 30 players named to the shortlist for the 2026 women's Ballon d'Or.
Brandi Chastain celebrates after kicking the winning game-winning penalty shot to win the 1999 Women's World Cup final against China at the Rose Bowl on July 19, 1999.
(Roberto Schmidt, AFP)
July 10, 1999: U.S. players react as Brandi Chastain takes the winning penalty kick during the Women's World Cup Final at the Rose Bowl.
(DAN MACMEDAN, USA TODAY)
July 10, 1999: Goalkeeper Briana Scurry knocks away a penalty shot by China's Liu Ying preserving helping the USWNT beat China in the Women's World Cup Final at the Rose Bowl.
(Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Sports)
June 19, 1999: A crowd of more than 78,000 watch the opening ceremonies at the opening game of the Women's World Cup Soccer at the Medowlands in New Jersey. The U.S. beat Denmark, 3-0, in the opening game of the 1999 Women's World Cup.
(DIANE WEISS, USA TODAY)
Aug. 26, 2004: U.S. players listen to their national anthem before the start of the gold medal match against Brazil at the Olympic Games.
(ODD ANDERSEN, AFP)
Aug. 26, 2004: Abby Wambach and Mia Hamm celebrate the Olympic gold medal win over Brazil in Karaiskaki Stadium in Piraeus, Greece. Wambach scored the game winning goal in overtime play to defeat Brazil, 2-1. It marked the second time that the USWNT won gold in the Olympics.
(Jack Gruber, USA TODAY)
Aug. 26, 2004: Julie Foudy, Joy Fawcett, Mia Hamm, Kristine Lilly and Brandi Chastain receiving their Olympic gold medal beating Brazil 2 -1 in overtime at Karaiskaki Stadium.
(Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY)
Aug. 29, 2004: At the Closing Ceremony for the 2004 Summer Olympics, Julie Foudy, Joy Fawcett, Mia Hamm, Kristine Lilly and Brandi Chastain -- also known as the "fab five" of the U.S. women's soccer team -- have their photo taken.
(Jack Gruber, USAT)
Aug. 21, 2008: U.S. players show off their gold medals on the the podium after winning the women's soccer gold medal game against Brazil at the Workers Stadium in Beijing, China.
(Jeff Swinger, USAT)
Aug. 9, 2012: U.S. players celebrate with their gold medals after defeating Japan in the gold medal match during the London Olympic Games at Wembley Stadium.
(Christopher Hanewinckel, USA TODA)
July 5, 2015: Carli Lloyd scores her second goal in a 5-2 win over Japan in the World Cup final at BC Place in Vancouver, Canada.
(Dennis Grombkowski, Getty Images)
July 7, 2015: U.S. coach Jill Ellis addresses the crowd at the 2015 Women's World Cup champions celebration at L.A. Live in Los Angeles.
(Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)
July 7, 2015: Abby Wambach kisses the World Cup trophy at the championship rally at L.A. LIVE in downtown Los Angeles.
(ROBYN BECK, AFP/Getty Images)
July 10, 2015: Megan Rapinoe celebrates with the Women's World Cup trophy during a ticker tape parade in New York.
(Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY Sports)
Jul 15, 2015: Members of the U.S. women's soccer team, winner of the 2015 World Cup, pose on the red carpet during the 2015 ESPY's award show at the Nokia Theater. The USWNT won the ESPY for outstanding team.
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports)
April 7, 2019: Members of the 1999 World Cup championship team pose for a photo at halftime of the USWNT vs. Belgian game at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles.
(Katharine Lotze, Getty Images)
July 2, 2019: Alex Morgan celebrates after scoring a goal against England in the semifinal of the Women's World Cup in Lyon, France. The U.S. won the game, 2-1.
(JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK, AFP/Getty Images)
July 7, 2019: Megan Rapinoe hoists the World Cup trophy and celebrates with teammates after defeating the Netherlands in the championship match of the Women's World Cup at Stade de Lyon.
(Michael Chow, USA TODAY Sports)
July 10, 2019: USWNT forward Megan Rapinoe celebrates with teammates at City Hall after the ticker-tape parade for the World Cup champions down the canyon of heroes in New York City.
(Brad Penner, USA TODAY Sports)
Feb. 24, 2021: The USWNT celebrates their SheBelieves Cup victory with a trophy presentation following a 6-0 win over Argentina at Exploria Stadium.
(Reinhold Matay, USA TODAY Sports)
Feb. 22, 2023: USWNT players celebrate after winning the 2023 SheBelieves Cup with a 2-1 defeat of Brazil at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.
(Chris Jones, USA TODAY Sports)
Aug. 6, 2023: United States players Andi Sullivan (17), Naomi Girma (4), Lynn Williams (6), Julie Ertz (8) and Crystal Dunn (19) react as Sweden wins a penalty shootout during a Round of 16 knockout game at the 2023 World Cup at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium in Australia. The loss marked the USWNT's earliest exit ever at a major tournament.
(Jenna Watson, USA TODAY Sports)
Aug. 10, 2024: Team USA celebrates winning the gold medal match against Team Brazil during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Parc des Princes.
(Yukihito Taguchi, USA TODAY Sports)
1/23
United States women's national soccer team: Highlights through the years
Brandi Chastain celebrates after kicking the winning game-winning penalty shot to win the 1999 Women's World Cup final against China at the Rose Bowl on July 19, 1999.
(Roberto Schmidt, AFP)
1/23
United States women's national soccer team: Highlights through the years
Brandi Chastain celebrates after kicking the winning game-winning penalty shot to win the 1999 Women's World Cup final against China at the Rose Bowl on July 19, 1999.
(Roberto Schmidt, AFP)
2/23
United States women's national soccer team: Highlights through the years
July 10, 1999: U.S. players react as Brandi Chastain takes the winning penalty kick during the Women's World Cup Final at the Rose Bowl.
(DAN MACMEDAN, USA TODAY)
3/23
United States women's national soccer team: Highlights through the years
July 10, 1999: Goalkeeper Briana Scurry knocks away a penalty shot by China's Liu Ying preserving helping the USWNT beat China in the Women's World Cup Final at the Rose Bowl.
(Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Sports)
4/23
United States women's national soccer team: Highlights through the years
June 19, 1999: A crowd of more than 78,000 watch the opening ceremonies at the opening game of the Women's World Cup Soccer at the Medowlands in New Jersey. The U.S. beat Denmark, 3-0, in the opening game of the 1999 Women's World Cup.
(DIANE WEISS, USA TODAY)
5/23
United States women's national soccer team: Highlights through the years
Aug. 26, 2004: U.S. players listen to their national anthem before the start of the gold medal match against Brazil at the Olympic Games.
(ODD ANDERSEN, AFP)
6/23
United States women's national soccer team: Highlights through the years
Aug. 26, 2004: Abby Wambach and Mia Hamm celebrate the Olympic gold medal win over Brazil in Karaiskaki Stadium in Piraeus, Greece. Wambach scored the game winning goal in overtime play to defeat Brazil, 2-1. It marked the second time that the USWNT won gold in the Olympics.
(Jack Gruber, USA TODAY)
7/23
United States women's national soccer team: Highlights through the years
Aug. 26, 2004: Julie Foudy, Joy Fawcett, Mia Hamm, Kristine Lilly and Brandi Chastain receiving their Olympic gold medal beating Brazil 2 -1 in overtime at Karaiskaki Stadium.
(Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY)
8/23
United States women's national soccer team: Highlights through the years
Aug. 29, 2004: At the Closing Ceremony for the 2004 Summer Olympics, Julie Foudy, Joy Fawcett, Mia Hamm, Kristine Lilly and Brandi Chastain -- also known as the "fab five" of the U.S. women's soccer team -- have their photo taken.
(Jack Gruber, USAT)
9/23
United States women's national soccer team: Highlights through the years
Aug. 21, 2008: U.S. players show off their gold medals on the the podium after winning the women's soccer gold medal game against Brazil at the Workers Stadium in Beijing, China.
(Jeff Swinger, USAT)
10/23
United States women's national soccer team: Highlights through the years
Aug. 9, 2012: U.S. players celebrate with their gold medals after defeating Japan in the gold medal match during the London Olympic Games at Wembley Stadium.
(Christopher Hanewinckel, USA TODA)
11/23
United States women's national soccer team: Highlights through the years
July 5, 2015: Carli Lloyd scores her second goal in a 5-2 win over Japan in the World Cup final at BC Place in Vancouver, Canada.
(Dennis Grombkowski, Getty Images)
12/23
United States women's national soccer team: Highlights through the years
July 7, 2015: U.S. coach Jill Ellis addresses the crowd at the 2015 Women's World Cup champions celebration at L.A. Live in Los Angeles.
(Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)
13/23
United States women's national soccer team: Highlights through the years
July 7, 2015: Abby Wambach kisses the World Cup trophy at the championship rally at L.A. LIVE in downtown Los Angeles.
(ROBYN BECK, AFP/Getty Images)
14/23
United States women's national soccer team: Highlights through the years
July 10, 2015: Megan Rapinoe celebrates with the Women's World Cup trophy during a ticker tape parade in New York.
(Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY Sports)
15/23
United States women's national soccer team: Highlights through the years
Jul 15, 2015: Members of the U.S. women's soccer team, winner of the 2015 World Cup, pose on the red carpet during the 2015 ESPY's award show at the Nokia Theater. The USWNT won the ESPY for outstanding team.
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports)
16/23
United States women's national soccer team: Highlights through the years
April 7, 2019: Members of the 1999 World Cup championship team pose for a photo at halftime of the USWNT vs. Belgian game at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles.
(Katharine Lotze, Getty Images)
17/23
United States women's national soccer team: Highlights through the years
July 2, 2019: Alex Morgan celebrates after scoring a goal against England in the semifinal of the Women's World Cup in Lyon, France. The U.S. won the game, 2-1.
(JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK, AFP/Getty Images)
18/23
United States women's national soccer team: Highlights through the years
July 7, 2019: Megan Rapinoe hoists the World Cup trophy and celebrates with teammates after defeating the Netherlands in the championship match of the Women's World Cup at Stade de Lyon.
(Michael Chow, USA TODAY Sports)
19/23
United States women's national soccer team: Highlights through the years
July 10, 2019: USWNT forward Megan Rapinoe celebrates with teammates at City Hall after the ticker-tape parade for the World Cup champions down the canyon of heroes in New York City.
(Brad Penner, USA TODAY Sports)
20/23
United States women's national soccer team: Highlights through the years
Feb. 24, 2021: The USWNT celebrates their SheBelieves Cup victory with a trophy presentation following a 6-0 win over Argentina at Exploria Stadium.
(Reinhold Matay, USA TODAY Sports)
21/23
United States women's national soccer team: Highlights through the years
Feb. 22, 2023: USWNT players celebrate after winning the 2023 SheBelieves Cup with a 2-1 defeat of Brazil at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.
(Chris Jones, USA TODAY Sports)
22/23
United States women's national soccer team: Highlights through the years
Aug. 6, 2023: United States players Andi Sullivan (17), Naomi Girma (4), Lynn Williams (6), Julie Ertz (8) and Crystal Dunn (19) react as Sweden wins a penalty shootout during a Round of 16 knockout game at the 2023 World Cup at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium in Australia. The loss marked the USWNT's earliest exit ever at a major tournament.
(Jenna Watson, USA TODAY Sports)
23/23
United States women's national soccer team: Highlights through the years
Aug. 10, 2024: Team USA celebrates winning the gold medal match against Team Brazil during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Parc des Princes.
