For Club América captain Scarlett Camberos, the 2026 Ballon d’Or gala on Monday was more than a night among the best players in the world. It was a milestone that made all the difficult moments, the setbacks, and the years of work feel worthwhile.
“Today is the day that best reflects everything I’ve been through in my life to get to this point,” she said to TUDN before the ceremony on October 26.
The 26-year-old arrived in London after being included in the shortlist of nominees for the women’s Ballon d’Or, the first time a Mexican woman was nominated for the award. Her club also had the opportunity to be recognized on the international stage as Club of the Year. The Liga Femenil BBVA club was the only club outside of Europe on the shortlist.
Camberos finished 21st in the voting and Barcelona took home the club award, but their nominations and presence at the gala marked a milestone for Mexican women’s soccer.
“There were difficult months, days when it’s hard to keep professionalism and do your job. Everything is panning out and I’m very grateful,” she said.
Her journey hasn’t been straightforward. After going undrafted in the NWSL, the attacker was disappointed but didn’t let that crush her soccer dreams. After spending a few years in the WPSL, she was signed by Club América, where she spent one year and became a key player.
Repeated stalking and online harassment while at Club América forced her to leave Mexico. Now, however, the door to the NWSL was open. She was signed by Angel City FC, where she spent one season, then another with Bay FC. In 2024, she transferred back to Mexico for her second stint with América.
But before all the recognition and trophies, América’s path to success was far from easy. The team lost three championship finals and that brought frustration, with coach Ángel Villacampa having to endure hard criticism and fans calling for his dismissal. Yet, the club continued to back the coach.
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Camberos knew it wasn’t easy for fans to stay by the club’s side all those seasons and took the time to thank them before the ceremony. “All the wins, the losses, the bad days when we lost championships and they were still there for us. These nominations are very important and are for them,” she said while wiping her tears with her sleeve.
Camberos’ individual success was intertwined with América’s rise, re-establishing herself as a key player. As captain, she led them to turn years of frustration into a historic season. “I wouldn’t be here without them,” she said of her club.
Although the league was once dominated by teams such as Rayadas and Tigres, América began investing heavily in its women’s team, and after many frustrating years, it paid off. In 2026, América earned a historic treble: the domestic Clausura title, the Campeón de Campeonas, and the Concacaf W Champions Cup. That last one felt particularly significant, as they defeated two NWSL teams in the semifinal and final: Gotham (against whom Camberos scored a hat-trick) and Washington Spirit, respectively.
Hopefully, these nominations and trophies won’t be the end of the story but just another chapter in their decorated narratives. They will be a reminder of what can be accomplished through sheer persistence, collective effort and belief. That’s the sentiment Villacampa shared when he said, “We want this to become a regular occurrence.”
And while the coach hoped that, the club’s captain wasn’t the only Mexican that night whose work received international recognition. Pachuca striker Charlyn Corral recieved the Gerd Müller Trophy for 43 goals and 11 assists scored in 46 matches. However, despite her deserved spotlight, she took the opportunity to shift it to Camberos, asking for applause for her in her acceptance speech.
“I’m happy to be here, to be the first Mexican to receive this award. I’m filled with pride because I know my country is doing great things when it comes to women’s soccer,” Corral said. “An example of that is my fellow Mexican teammate Scarlett, who was included in the shortlist of nominees. I’d like us to give her a round of applause.”
In a night destined mostly for individual recognition, that gesture demonstrates that these awards often extend beyond the winners. It serves as a reminder that recognition can take time. After all, Corral has won the Golden Boot four times in the Mexican league, but only now is she being globally recognized for her goal-scoring prowess.
Corral’s career didn’t start in her home country because there was no league when she was starting as a professional. That led her to be one of the first few Mexicans who ventured into Europe in 2014. She tried her luck in Finland, then moved to Spain the next year and signed with Liga F’s side Levante, where she won the ‘Pichichi’ Trophy in her third season there after scoring 24 goals. The striker also spent two seasons with Atlético de Madrid but an ACL injury sidelined her. After that, she returned to Mexico to play with Pachuca in 2021.
Camberos and Corral’s journeys took different paths, yet the ceremony brought them together on the same international stage. While Camberos is still building her legacy, Corral, 35, has spent more than two decades working toward a moment like this one.
“When you do things with faith, but above all, with heart, it is all worth it,” Pachuca’s striker stated.
Camberos, Corral, and Club América’s successes at the Ballon d’Or ceremony are a recognition of how far Liga Femenil BBVA has come. With stars like Camberos and Corral backed from continued investment, nights like Monday are poised to become the norm, not the exception, for Mexican women’s soccer.
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