Orlando Pride Makes History: Three Ballon d'Or Nominations Celebrate Our City's Soccer Excellence

Orlando soccer fans, we are witnessing something truly special. For the first time in history, a team outside of Europe has earned three Ballon d'Or nominations in a single year – and that team plays right here at Inter&Co Stadium. The Orlando Pride earned one nomination for Women's Club of the Year after their fabulous 2024 season, while superstars Marta and Barbra Banda each received individual nominations for the Women's Ballon d'Or, giving our city three chances at soccer's most prestigious awards.

Having two players from the same team nominated for the Women's Ballon d'Or is extraordinarily rare, making this triple nomination even more remarkable for our community. Marta, the Brazilian legend who has called Orlando home, continues to prove why she's considered one of the greatest to ever play the game. Just this week, she demonstrated her enduring brilliance against Colombia in the Copa América final, scoring twice at 90'+6' and 105' – and after that second crucial goal, she kissed her foot in celebration, a moment that captured the passion she brings to every match. Marta, whose infectious smile captures fans worldwide and who is loved by everyone in the soccer community, embodies the joy and excellence of the beautiful game. At 39, this third Ballon d'Or nomination (the most by any NWSL player in history) reflects her incredible 2024 season where she captained the Pride to their first-ever NWSL Shield and Championship double.

Barbra Banda's second consecutive nomination tells another compelling story. The 25-year-old Zambian striker has become the highest-ranked African female footballer in Ballon d'Or history after finishing 12th last year. Her debut NWSL season was nothing short of spectacular – 13 regular season goals, crucial strikes in every playoff match, and the winning goal in the Championship final that brought Orlando its first title. She's not just making history for Orlando; she's blazing a trail for African women's football on the world stage.

The Pride's nomination for Women's Club of the Year – alongside European giants like Barcelona, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Lyon – recognizes their record-breaking 2024 season. The team set NWSL records for points (60), wins (18), clean sheets (13), and achieved a 24-game unbeaten streak that may never be matched. This club nomination validates what we've been watching unfold at Inter&Co Stadium: the transformation of Orlando Pride into a global powerhouse.

For our community, these three nominations mean we get to watch world-class football every weekend. When the Pride takes the field against Racing Louisville this Saturday, fans will be watching two of the 30 best players on the planet – players who chose to make Orlando their home and help build something historic here. What a year for these two players who make Orlando their home – from the 2024 Orlando Pride season that brought us both the NWSL Championship and the Supporters' Shield to now competing for the world's highest individual and team honors.

The Ballon d'Or ceremony on September 22 in Paris will be a celebration not just of Marta and Banda's individual brilliance, but of what Orlando has become in the soccer world. We're no longer just aspiring to greatness – we're achieving it, and the whole world is taking notice. Whether they bring home the trophies or not, these three nominations confirm what Pride fans already know: we're watching history being made every time these remarkable players step onto our pitch.