Zambia's Barbra Banda named BBC Women's Footballer of the Year 2023-2024
The award, voted for by fans online, recognises Banda's performances in women's competitions for the 12-months to August 2024, including a hat-trick of goals against Australia at the Paris Olympics.
Football
Zambia's Barbra Banda has been voted BBC Women's Footballer of the Year 2024.
The Orlando Pride striker took home the British media company's prize, which covers performances from September 2023 to August 2024 in top level women's competitions, after receiving the highest number of votes from readers of the BBC Sport website. Banda was one of five players initially shortlisted for the award.
It's been a productive year for the 24-year-old.
Banda scored four goals for the African nation in the women's football tournament at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, including a first-half hat-trick against Australia, to become the leading African goalscorer in Olympic history (10).
In the 2024 National Women's Soccer League, Banda scored 13 goals for the Pride during the regular season and the goalscoring form continued deep into the playoffs. The Zambian netted four more goals including the winner in the championship final on Saturday, helping to lift Orlando Pride to their first-ever NWSL title.
Banda was also named Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the North American league, and is now only the second African footballer to win the BBC's prize after Asisat Oshooala in 2015.
Previous winners include Mary Earps in 2023, Vivianne Miedema (2021) and Ada Hegerberg (2019).