LONDON, England, Oct 27, CMC — Jamaican superstar Khadija “Bunny” Shaw has spent her career defying expectations, and on Monday night, she scaled yet another peak by being recognised as the third-best player in women’s football globally.
At the prestigious awards ceremony held in London, Shaw was confirmed as the third-place finisher in the Women’s Ballon d’Or rankings.
While Spain’s Alexia Putellas took home the top prize following a quadruple-winning season with FC Barcelona, Shaw’s podium finish represents a seismic moment for Jamaican and Caribbean football.
The Reggae Girlz captain, who was tipped as one of the favourites heading into the event, has etched her name into the history books.
She is the only Jamaican, male or female, to have ever been nominated for the Ballon d’Or. Furthermore, she is just the fourth player from outside Europe to finish in the top three and only the third North American to achieve the feat, joining USA stars Megan Rapinoe (winner in 2019) and Alex Morgan (third in 2019).
Shaw’s ascent to the world’s elite follows a remarkable domestic campaign in England, where she guided Manchester City to a historic double. She was instrumental in ending the club’s four-year title drought, securing both the Women’s Super League (WSL) and the FA Cup.
Individually, the striker was unstoppable. She claimed the WSL Golden Boot for a third straight season with 21 goals and was named WSL Player of the Season, Professional Footballers Association (PFA) Player of the Year, and Football Writers Association (FWA) Footballer of the Year. Her third-place finish is a massive leap from her previous rankings, having placed 24th in 2023 and 15th in 2024.
Despite narrowly missing out on the overall award, Shaw expressed profound gratitude for the recognition.
“To be named as the third-best player by those who voted is a huge honour for me, and I’m extremely grateful for the recognition,” Shaw said. “City are a special club, and for them to trust me with leading our front line week in, week out, is something I take immense pride in.
“I would like to thank my teammates and the staff for supporting me, on and off the pitch, so I can perform at my best. Recording a historic double last season was a campaign that will always hold a special place in my heart. This recognition would not be possible without them.”
The achievement has sparked an outpouring of pride back home. Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) President Michael Ricketts said that Shaw’s journey from local parish football to the global stage is a testament to her greatness.
“Bunny has been on the world stage for several years, and we’re just super excited and happy that she would have achieved so much during her footballing career,” Ricketts said. “It gives us more reason to be delighted and proud of the achievements of a local superstar. It has reached the level now that nothing that Bunny achieves is surprising because she seems to be head and shoulders above [other players].”
Reggae Girlz Head Coach Hubert Busby echoed those sentiments, highlighting Shaw’s role as a cultural icon.
“I think it’s well documented what an impact, not just her but the women’s team, has had on young girls in Jamaica and in the Diaspora. “To see one of our own highlighted when you’re watching these awards with the best of the best players, it is remarkable just to know how far she’s come. Let’s not forget, she definitely is a national treasure, for sure.”
Shaw’s podium finish places her in rarefied air, joining Manchester City counterparts Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne as the only players in the club’s history to finish in the top three of the Ballon d’Or.
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