Mexico’s Charlyn Corral is named Best Striker of the Year at soccer’s biggest award ceremony

Mexican soccer player Charlyn Corral, 35, received the Gerd Müller trophy for Best Striker of the Year during the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony on Monday, making history as the first Mexican woman soccer player to earn the coveted distinction.

“It fills me with pride and great satisfaction. After a career spanning more than 20 years, I realize today that the hard work, discipline and effort have been worth it,” Corral said during her acceptance speech at the London Palladium Theatre in London. 

This is only the second time the award has been presented in the women’s category; the only other player to have received this recognition is Ewa Pajor, who won it in 2025 with 48 goals.

Corral, 35, who scored 49 goals across 49 matches for Club Pachuca Femenil and the women’s national team, shared the honor with English forward Harry Kane of Bayern Munich. Kane received the same award in the men’s category and was also the night’s biggest winner, taking home the Golden Ball. 

“I think that when you do things with great faith — but, above all, with your heart — everything is worth it,” Corral added, dedicating her award to Club Pachuca’s management and coaching staff.  

She also thanked her parents and her brother, “who have been, are and will be the foundation and support of my career,” she said.  

Corral highlighted Mexico’s support for women’s soccer, noting that she knows things in the country “are being done well,” and asked the audience to recognize her compatriot Scarlett Camberos, forward for Club América Femenil, for being ranked among the 30 best players in the world in the nomination for the main Ballon d’Or. 

The Gerd Müller trophy adds to Corral’s previous accolades.  

Earlier this year, the forward was recognized by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) as the world’s top goalscorer in 2025 for the second consecutive year with 57 goals, including 50 for Pachuca and seven for the national team.

While playing with Pachuca, Corral has won the 2025 Clausura tournament of the Liga Femenil and the 2024–2025 Campeón de Campeones.