FIFA has released its list of nominees for ‘The Best’ Player of the Year Award. Four members of the American Women’s World Cup winning squad have been nominated, two English players, two French, two Norwegian, one Dutch and one Australian.
Nominations are put together by selected representatives from each football confederation with the winner decided by a combined vote of fans, football journalists, international coaches and national team captains.
The result will be announced at The Best FIFA Football Awards in Milan, Italy, on the 23rd September 2019. The shortlist of nominees is as follows (in alphabetical order of surname):
1. Lucy Bronze, Full Back, Olympique Lyonnais and England
UEFA Champions League Winner with Olympique Lyonnais. World Cup Semi Finalist with England.
2. Julie Ertz, Defensive Midfielder, Chicago Red Stars and USA
World Cup Winner with USA delivering high impact performances at the heart of midfield or in central defence.
3. Caroline Graham Hansen, Winger / Attacker, FC Barcelona (previously VfL Wolfsburg) and Norway
Frauen-Bundesliga winner with Wolfsburg and strong World Cup showing.
4. Ada Hegerberg, Striker, Olympique Lyonnais and Norway (up to 2017)
A hat-trick in the 2019 Champions League Final and winner of the inaugural Ballon d’Or Féminin.
5. Amandine Henry, Midfielder, Olympique Lyonnais and France
Talismanic midfielder for the 2019 treble winning Olympique Lyonnais: Division 1 Féminine; Coupe de France Féminine; UEFA Women’s Champions League.
6. Sam Kerr, Striker, Chicago Red Stars and Australia
Currently top scorer in the US Nation Women’s Soccer League.
7. Rose Lavelle, Midfielder, Washington Spirit and USA
Swashbuckling box-to-box midfielder who scored the second goal in the 2019 World Cup Final to take the game away from the Netherlands.
8. Vivianne Miedema, Striker, Arsenal and the Netherlands
FA Women’s Super League winner with Arsenal, PFA Player of the Year and became the Netherlands’ all-time record goal scorer, all before her 23rd birthday (61 goals in 82 appearances at time of writing)
9. Alex Morgan, Striker, Orlando Pride and USA
Recorded six goals at the World Cup including a record equalling 5 in one match versus Thailand.
10. Megan Rapinoe, Winger / Wide Forward, Reign FC and USA
Golden Ball and Golden Boot winner at the 2019 Women’s World Cup, as well as the championship trophy.
11. Wendie Renard, Central Defender, Olympique Lyonnais Féminin and France
Captain of treble winning Olympique Lyonnais: Division 1 Féminine; Coupe de France Féminine; UEFA Women’s Champions League.
12. Ellen White, Striker, Manchester City (previously Birmingham City) and England
Six goals at the Women’s World Cup.
Dare 2 Blog - Women's Football 