The shortlist for the BBC’s Women’s Footballer of the Year has been revealed. After a simply stunning year for women’s football where attendances have skyrocketed and interest in the sport has peaked, these are the top five players in the world.
Lucy Bronze - England and Lyon
For English football fans, the shining light of women’s football has been nominated for the award. After a stellar 2019, in which Bronze helped the Lionesses reached the semi-finals of the World Cup and win the SheBelieves Cup, the best right-back in the world took her game to the next level.
She was voted the second-best player at the World Cup and came second in the Ballon d’Or Feminine but will be looking to go one better this time around. Her club form has been simply sensational and she was a key part of the dominant Lyon side that won the treble, including the precious Champions League. Club form does not come any more dominant than that.
Megan Rapinoe - USA and Reign FC
The current Ballon d’Or holder and the best player at the World Cup, Megan Rapinoe thrust herself into the limelight in 2019. Having won the Golden Boot at the World Cup and fired her country to another trophy she certainly can put claim to being the best player in the world at international level.
For her club, the 34-year-old helped her side reach the play-offs before they lost in the semi-finals. She certainly could not have the same impact for her club as she did for her country. Having said that, she produced her best football for the biggest stage in football and went home with the World Cup.
Vivianne Miedema - Netherlands and Arsenal
Arsenal forward Miedema is simply a goal machine. In 2018-19 she scored 31 goals in 28 games for her club and in the 2019-20 season she is currently on 27 goals across 22 games in all competitions. The most lethal goalscorer in the women’s game won the Golden Boot as she fired the Gunners to the Super League title and she is currently leading both the goals and assists charts in England’s top division this season.
For her country, the PFA Players’ Player of the Year could not quite win the big prize but she did lead her team to the World Cup final and became her country’s all-time leading scorer along the way. She would certainly be a deserving winner of this award.
Julie Ertz - USA and Chicago Red Stars
Another World Cup winner who was touted as the unsung hero of that USA side, she is finally flourishing in her new midfield role. She was named US Soccer’s Female Player of the Year, perhaps surprisingly given the fierce competition, but that is testament to her ability.
The 27-year-old also helped her Chicago Red Stars side finish second, before losing to North Carolina Courage in the play-off final. She is a player who does not get on the scoresheet or grab the headlines too often, but with 88 caps to her name she is consistent and deserves to be nominated for this award.
Sam Kerr - Australia and Chelsea
Australia’s star Sam Kerr has only been in England for a couple of months but she has already made a big impression on her Chelsea teammates. In 2019 she managed to finish as top scorer in two domestic leagues, scoring 13 times in the Australian W-League before hitting 18 goals for the Chicago Red Stars.
Another goal machine, she scored a hat-trick at the World Cup (Australia’s first) and hit five goals across the entire tournament. Another stellar year for Kerr awaits and we can’t wait for her to start finding the net for her new club.
