Brazilian international goalkeeper Lorena da Silva Leite, simply known as Lorena, has officially been nominated for the 2026 Ballon d'Or in the Best Women's Goalkeeper category. The recognition tops off a monumental career-jump for the 6-foot star, whose commanding presence between the posts for both the Brazil national team and the Kansas City Current has solidified her standing among the world's elite goalkeepers.

A Stellar International Career

Born in Ituverava, Brazil, Lorena made her senior international debut in November 2021 against Venezuela. After overcoming an ACL injury that sidelined her from the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, she returned in triumph at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. She played every single minute of the tournament, keeping three clean sheets in six matches to lead Brazil to the Olympic silver medal.

Her international dominance continued into August 2025, when she guided Brazil to its fifth straight Copa América title. Lorena sealed the championship trophy herself with a match-winning save in a high-stakes penalty shootout against Colombia.

Record-Breaking Club Success

At the club level, Lorena built her foundation in Brazil, winning Gaucho Championship titles with Grêmio in 2022 and 2024 before signing with the Kansas City Current in December 2024. In her debut 2025 NWSL campaign, she rewrote the record books by helping Kansas City set league records for clean sheets (16) and consecutive shutout minutes (869).

Her brilliant individual campaign earned her the 2025 NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year award - becoming the first player in her club's history to win the accolade - and a selection to the 2025 NWSL Best XI First Team. Now recognized with a 2026 Ballon d'Or nomination, Lorena continues to set the benchmark for elite modern goalkeeping.