Khadija Shaw Wins Top Football Honor After 19-Goal Season

Khadija Shaw is having the kind of season that reminds us why we fall in love with sports in the first place.

The Manchester City striker just won the Football Writers' Association Women's Footballer of the Year award for the second time. At 29, she's scored 19 goals in 21 appearances this season and helped City claim the Women's Super League championship.

Shaw is one goal away from making history as the first player ever to score 20 or more goals in three different WSL seasons. Since joining City in 2021, the Jamaica international has become one of the most feared strikers in women's football.

Her standout moments this season include a hat-trick against Tottenham in March and an impressive four-goal performance against Aston Villa in December. Teammate Sam Coffey described Shaw as "a player in a video game" because of how effortlessly she dominates defenders and finds the back of the net.

This season proved especially significant because Shaw stayed healthy and started all 21 of City's WSL matches. In previous years, when injury sidelined her, City's title challenges fell apart.

Why This Inspires

Shaw's journey shows what persistence and talent can achieve when given the right opportunity. Despite being overlooked for the Ballon d'Or awards, she's continued to show up and deliver world-class performances week after week.

Her success is opening doors for other women in football, particularly players from Jamaica and the Caribbean who now see what's possible at the highest levels of the sport. Shaw's excellence is helping reshape how we think about women's football and who gets recognized for greatness.

While she may be leaving City this summer after contract talks stalled, her impact on the club and the league is undeniable. Chelsea is reportedly ready to offer her a contract that reflects her value, with some reports suggesting up to £1 million per year.

City manager Andree Jeglertz still holds hope Shaw might stay, but for now, the focus is on celebrating what she's accomplished. City faces Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-finals on Sunday, giving Shaw another chance to showcase the talent that's made her one of the best in the world.

Great players find a way to shine no matter where they play, and Khadija Shaw has proven she's exactly that kind of player.