Banda scored 4 targets for Zambia on the Paris Olympics this summer time, together with a first-half hat-trick in opposition to Australia, to develop into the prominent African goalscorer in Olympic historical past with 10.

She scored 13 targets for Pleasure in 2024 Nationwide Ladies’s Football League (NWSL) habitual season, in spite of handiest becoming a member of in March, and 4 targets within the playoffs, together with the successful purpose within the championship ultimate on Saturday as Orlando Pleasure received their maiden name.

Banda was once additionally named Maximum Worthy Participant (MVP) within the NWSL.

Spain and Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati got here moment within the balloting, time USA and Portland Thorns ahead Sophia Smith completed 3rd.

Norway and Barcelona winger Caroline Graham Hansen and USA and San Diego Tide defender Naomi Girma had been additionally at the shortlist.

Banda changed into the second-most dear girls’s signing in historical past – at the back of Zambia team-mate Racheal Kundananji – when she joined Pleasure from Chinese language membership Shanghai Shengli $740,000 (£581,000) in March.

“My aim always is to score because I love scoring,” mentioned Banda. “But it all starts from practice, having good training sessions and good talks with the coaches and team-mates.

“It has now not been simple however I believe dried paintings and consistency has truly helped.”

The Zambia captain, who came 12th in the 2024 Women’s Ballon d’Or, is a former professional boxer who won all of her five bouts before switching focus to football.

“Rising up in Zambia hasn’t ever been simple, particularly as a tender woman. It’s so tricky for us to get into recreation like soccer,” she mentioned.

“Oldsters by no means impaired to consider that girls may just play games soccer so it was once a problem.

“My mum was not in support of it, but when women’s football started being recognised in Zambia she came to understand and let me do what I love doing most.”

Pleasure head professor Seb Hines advised BBC Game: “It is great to see Barbra getting acknowledged for what she has done, not only for our club but for African football.

“She is tremendous humble and a just right particular person and that implies a dozen to us to have just right community in our group.

“She is a team player and, for all of the accolades that she has won and all of the goalscoring records that she has, she puts the team first.”