Barbra

Banda

Mar 20, 2000

#22 - Forward

Barbra Banda is a Zambian professional footballer who plays as a striker for National Women's Soccer League club Orlando Pride and captains the Zambia national team.

Did You Know?

She was the first Zambian professional female footballer.

Her inspiration is Cristiano Ronaldo. She admires him for his work ethic.

She is an inspiration to many girls in Zambia, motivating them to break traditional gender roles and pursue professional sports.

She began playing on the street in her neighborhood barefoot as she couldn't afford football shoes.

She was also drawn to boxing as a teen, inspired by Zambian champion Catherine Phiri.

She started boxing around age 14, she became a professional, never losing a match before ultimately choosing to focus on her football career.

Her mother initially discouraged her from playing football because it wasn't acceptable for girls in Zambia.

Her father was her biggest supporter, cheering her on at every game and greatly influencing her early career, but he passed away when she was still young.

She became the first Zambian female footballer to play in Europe.

During the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Barbara made history by becoming the first-ever player to score back-to-back hat tricks in Olympic history, scoring three goals in each of Zambia’s first two games.

She was controversially banned from the 2022 Women’s AFCON for having "high natural testosterone levels," which led to backlash from fans and human rights groups, prompting FIFA to review its policies; this decision was later reversed for the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

She started playing football at the age of seven in a boys' academy as there were no girls' teams. She was inspired by her father, who also played.

She transferred to Orlando for a $740,000 fee, the second-highest in women's football history.

She is Africa's all-time top scorer in Olympic history.

In 2021, she launched the Barbra Banda Foundation to empower women and girls by addressing economic inequality, gender-based violence, and other social challenges through sports and co-hosts an annual football tournament in Zambia.

She joined Common Goal in 2019, pledging at least 1% of her salary to a collective fund that supports football charities around the world.

She used to sneak her football boots out the window to play secretly when her parents felt she wasn't focused on school.

News

NWSL condemns abusive language directed at Orlando striker Banda

Mar 25, 2025

Barbra Banda Orlando Pride

NWSL condemns abusive language directed at Orlando striker Banda

The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) has strongly condemned the abusive language directed at Orlando Pride striker Barbra Banda during a recent match against Gotham FC. The league stated that such behavior is unacceptable and goes against its values of respect and inclusion. Officials are investigating the incident to ensure that appropriate action is taken. Orlando Pride and Gotham FC also expressed their support for Banda, emphasizing the importance of a safe and respectful environment for all players.

Banda, who recently joined Orlando Pride, has been an important player for the team. Despite the incident, she remains focused on her performance and helping her team succeed. The NWSL is working to prevent similar situations in the future by reinforcing strict policies against discrimination and abuse. Fans and players alike are calling for better protection and respect for athletes on and off the pitch.

11 Most Expensive Transfers in Women's Football History (Ranked)

Sep 2, 2024

Barbra Banda Orlando Pride

11 Most Expensive Transfers in Women's Football History (Ranked)

After decades lost to draconian bans implemented by morally bankrupt institutions that are still allowed to exist, women's football is unmistakably on an upward trajectory. This hard-fought rise is borne out in the increasing figures of registered players, watching fans and transfer fees.

Milene Domingues' move from Fiamma Monza to Rayo Vallecano in 2002 for a sum of €235,000 (at the time worth just under £150,000) stood as the world's most expensive transfer until 2020. Unlike Domingues, Pernille Harder did not boast the highest number of keepy-uppies ever recorded but still persuaded Chelsea to part ways with £250,000.

Over the following years, that high watermark has been shattered so frequently that Harder no longer ranks among the most expensive transfers of all time. Here's a closer look at the deals that have helped the women's game continue to grow.

1. Racheal Kundananji, Madrid CFF to Bay FC, 2024 - £685,000

2. Barbra Banda, Shanghai Shengli to Orlando Pride, 2024 - £581,000

3= Ewa Pajor, Wolfsburg to Barcelona, 2024 - £425,000

3= Mayra Ramirez, Levante to Chelsea, 2024 - £425,000

5. Keira Walsh, Manchester City to Barcelona, 2022 - £400,000

6. Tarciane, Corinthians to Houston Dash, 2024 - £384,000

7. Lena Oberdorf, Wolfsburg to Bayern Munich, 2024 - £339,000

8. Jill Roord, Wolfsburg to Manchester City, 2023 - £300,000

9. Kyra Cooney-Cross, Hammarby - Arsenal, 2023 - £297,000

10= Lindsey Horan, Portland Thorns to Lyon, 2023 - £254,000

10= Geyse, Barcelona to Manchester United, 2023 - £254,000

Sensational Performance for Orlando Pride! | 2 Goals & an Assist

Debut goal for Orlando

Barbra Banda's 10 goals and 5 assists in her first 10 NWSL games

? Women's Olympic football history

Club Achievements

COSAFA Women's Championship	1×
NWSL Shield	1×

Awards

Chinese Women's Super League Top scorer

1×

COSAFA Women's Championship Top scorer

1×

IFFHS World's Best International Goal Scorer

1×

Ballon d'Or Feminin nominee

1×

NWSL Player of the Month

1×

Stats

Year	Club	AP	GL
2024 - present	Orlando Pride	21	13
2020 - 2023	Shanghai Shengli	13	18
2018 - 2020	DUX Logroño	28	16
2016 - 2018	Green Buffaloes
International Stats
2016 - present	Zambia	63	57
2014 -	Zambia U17	3	0