Childhood in Malawi

Before she began to rattle the defences in the NWSL and write her name into the history books of the Ballon d'Or, Temwa Chawinga had to fight for her place back home in Rumphi, in northern Malawi. Within her family, football was seen at the time as an exclusively male pursuit. Her parents’ stance was clear: she was forbidden to play. Together with her older sister Tabitha – who also went on to become an international player and made a name for herself on the world stage after finishing 16th in the Ballon d'Or in 2024 – Temwa would sneak off to play matches with the local boys. Talent eventually spoke for itself. Spotted and then transferred to Lilongwe to play for Blantyre Zero, the two sisters realised that their right foot would change their destiny.

The move to Sweden

In 2017, at just 18 years old, Temwa travelled halfway across the globe to sign for Kvarnsvedens IK in Sweden. The cultural and time-zone shock was immense. Whilst her sister Tabitha was due to join her, she ended up flying off to China instead. Alone in the Scandinavian cold, consumed by homesickness, Temwa was on the verge of returning to Malawi. It was Tabitha who convinced her over the phone to hang in there, whilst the Swedish club recruited other African players to help her settle in. Once she had overcome her psychological barriers, the Malawian found her form and scored 55 goals in 57 matches for the Swedish side.

The breakthrough in China

In 2020, she joined Wuhan Jianghan University in China to finally play alongside her sister. Over four seasons, Temwa set the scoring records alight with 84 goals in 84 matches. She won four consecutive league titles and was twice the league’s top scorer. Her 2023 season was nothing short of extraordinary: across all competitions, she netted 63 goals in the calendar year, firmly establishing herself as one of the world’s most formidable strikers. America welcomed her with open arms.

Success in the United States

Upon joining Kansas City Current in 2024, Chawinga took on the world’s most demanding league. She settled in immediately, scoring 20 goals in the regular season – an all-time record in NWSL history. She walked away with the Golden Boot and the MVP award.The 2025 season confirmed her dominance: 15 goals, a second consecutive Golden Boot and a second consecutive MVP title – a historic first in the NWSL. Her performances in 2026 confirmed her consistency at the top with the American club.

Achievements with her national team

For her national side, Temwa Chawinga has written one of the finest chapters in African football. After leading Malawi to their first COSAFA Cup title in 2023, she guided the Scorchers to the final of the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations. Top scorer of the tournament with five goals, she shone particularly brightly during the historic 3–2 victory over Nigeria in the group stage. Despite the eventual defeat to Cameroon, the main objective was achieved: Malawi secured their first-ever qualification for the World Cup.

Ballon d'Or recognition

Ranked 17th in the 2025 Ballon d'Or, Temwa Chawinga reached a monumental milestone this year by climbing to 10th place in the 2026 edition. She thus became the first African female footballer to enter the Top 10 in the history of the award. Beyond her statistical records, the Malawian – who is actively involved in social initiatives in schools across her home country – now embodies the face of an ambitious and inspiring African football.