From Super League pitches to London catwalks

England can’t get enough of her. On 19 September, just minutes after coming on as a substitute in her new Chelsea kit, following her high-profile move from Manchester United, she scored her first goal in the Women’s Super League at Stamford Bridge. Two days later, in a complete change of scene, she caused a sensation on a catwalk at London Fashion Week, draped in a design by an independent British brand.

A standout moment she summed up herself as she stepped off the catwalk: “Football and fashion, two worlds I love, brought together in a single unforgettable moment.” Seeing a professional footballer break the mould in this way shows that her status has definitively shifted into a whole new dimension.

An impressive CV built behind the scenes

To describe her as merely a rising star would be to overlook her honours list. Before heading across the Channel, the Réunion-born player had already won everything with Olympique Lyonnais, amassing four Champions League titles and several domestic honours. Add to that 41 caps and 14 goals for the French national team. Her decision to move to England from 2023 partly explains why she remains relatively unknown in France. After three full seasons at Manchester United, scoring 23 goals in 95 matches and winning an FA Cup along the way, she has taken her career to the next level this summer by signing a four-year contract with Chelsea. There she will be reunited with Sonia Bompastor, her former coach at Lyon, at one of the most ambitious clubs in the world.

Ballon d'Or: her chance to finally make her mark?

Her inclusion amongst the 30 nominees for the 2026 Ballon d'Or confirms that she is among the world’s elite. Yet, on the pitch, the player retains her freshness: “When I’m on the pitch, I don’t overthink things, I just play. Wearing this shirt brings pressure, but it’s the right kind of pressure. ” Her situation alone sums up the current challenges facing women’s football. How is it possible to rack up trophies, play for the best club in England, be among the contenders for the biggest individual honour, and still fly under the radar of the mainstream media?

By combining her talent with the ball at her feet with a strong personality off the pitch, Melvine Malard is carving out her own style. The question is no longer whether she will become a great player, because she already is one. What she still lacks is the recognition she deserves in her own country.