Charlyn Corral wins women's Gerd Müller Trophy at Ballon d'Or, a first for a Mexican player

Pachuca striker Charlyn Corral made history on Monday, Oct. 26. At the Ballon d’Or ceremony at the London Palladium, she won the women’s Gerd Müller Trophy, the award for the season’s top scorer. BBC Sport and MARCA reported that she is the first Mexican to receive the prize.

England captain Harry Kane won the men’s award at the same time. Actress Sophie Turner and Alan Shearer, the Premier League’s all-time leading scorer, presented both trophies, according to BBC Sport.

What Charlyn Corral said

Speaking on stage, Corral pointed to the progress of the women’s game in her country. BBC Sport reported her remarks in English:

“I am very happy to be here - the first Mexican to receive this prize and full of pride because my country, Mexico, is doing stuff very well in women’s football. Being here in front of all of you fills me with pride and a great deal of satisfaction.”

MARCA also quoted her (translated from Spanish) as saying she was very happy to be there representing her country alongside Scarlett Camberos, the Club América forward who was nominated for the women’s Ballon d’Or.

What is the Gerd Müller Trophy?

Sports Illustrated describes the Gerd Müller Trophy as a purely statistical award. It goes to the top-scoring men’s and women’s players of the season for club and country. It’s named after the German striker Gerd Müller, one of the most prolific scorers of all time.

Corral succeeds Barcelona’s Ewa Pajor as the women’s winner, MARCA noted.

Charlyn Corral’s 2025-26 season by the numbers

According to MARCA, Corral played 42 matches for Pachuca across the Apertura, the Clausura and the Concacaf Champions Cup, with these totals:

Before the gala, ESPN reported that Corral had won the Liga MX Femenil scoring title four times in a row and five times overall. It said she also set her own regular-season record with 22 goals in 17 rounds. In January 2026, the IFFHS named her the world’s top goal scorer for the second straight year, with 57 goals, ahead of players including Pajor, ESPN said.

From “never nominated” to the stage in London

The award also carried a personal note. Days before the ceremony, ESPN quoted Corral (translated) praising Camberos’ nomination as “very positive for Mexican soccer.” She added that in her own case she had never been nominated even though she had been the scoring champion for three years, and suggested that “Pachuca doesn’t carry as much weight” as América.

Monday’s prize put her name on one of the sport’s biggest stages anyway.

Who is Charlyn Corral?

Corral is a Mexican striker who plays for Pachuca (the “Tuzas”) in Liga MX Femenil. Before returning to Mexico, she played in Spain for Levante and Atlético Madrid, according to MARCA. ESPN said her titles with Pachuca include the Clausura 2025 Liga MX Femenil championship.

Other big winners on the night

Corral’s prize was part of a long night of awards in London. Sports Illustrated and BBC Sport reported that Barcelona’s Alexia Putellas won the women’s Ballon d’Or, her third. Barcelona was named women’s Club of the Year and Pere Romeu took women’s Coach of the Year.

FAQ