03 January 2024 , 14:18
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Eight Lionesses have been shortlisted for the 2022/23 FIFPro World XI, with the summer’s Golden Glove winner Mary Earps leading the charge.
Following a triumphant European campaign on home soil, the Lionesses continued their searing form under manager Sarina Wiegman as they maintained a remarkable 30-match unbeaten run scoring 138 goals in the process.
England reached a first-ever Women’s World Cup final in Australia and New Zealand but fell short in the final against Spain as Olga Carmona’s second-half goal proved decisive.
Nevertheless, the Lionesses triumph earned eight stars a nomination on the 23-player shortlist for this year’s FIFPro XI, including Earps, Lucy Bronze, Alex Greenwood, Georgia Stanway, Ella Toone, Keira Walsh, Lauren James and Alessia Russo.
Over 6,000 women’s footballers voted for their team of the year and the winners are set to be unveiled on 15 January at the Best FIFA Football Awards in London.
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Earps’ nomination is the latest laurel afforded the Manchester United and England goalkeeper this year having recently been named the BBC Sport Personality of the Year after winning the summer's Golden Glove award and the WSL's Golden Glove award.
Earps was also named in the top five finishers in this year’s Ballon d’Or awards. Stanway is the only other England player named in both the Ballon d’Or shortlist and the FIFPro XI.
This year’s nominations saw no room for Chelsea defender Millie Bright, who finished 11th in the Ballon d’Or final results, or Aston Villa striker Rachel Daly, who finished 10th in the Ballon d’Or rankings and won the WSL’s Golden Boot.
Elsewhere, World Cup winners Olga Carmona, Salma Paralluelo, Jenni Hermoso, Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmati, Mapi Leon, Irene Paredes and Claudia Pina were also nominated.
The FIFPro Women's World XI nominations in full:
Goalkeepers
Mackenzie Arnold ( West Ham United, Australia)
Mary Earps (Manchester United, England)
Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars, USA)
Defenders
Lucy Bronze ( Barcelona, England)
Olga Carmona ( Real Madrid, Spain)
Alex Greenwood ( Manchester City, England)
Amanda Ilestedt (Paris Saint-Germain/ Arsenal, Sweden)
Ashley Lawrence (Paris Saint-Germain/Chelsea, Canada)
Maria Leon (Barcelona, Spain)
Irene Paredes (Barcelona, Spain)
Midfielders
Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona, Spain)
Claudia Pina (Barcelona, Spain)
Fridolina Rolfo (Barcelona, Sweden)
Georgia Stanway ( Bayern Munich, England)
Ella Toone (Manchester United, England)
Keira Walsh (Barcelona, England)
Forwards
Jennifer Hermoso (Pachuca/Tigres, Spain)
Lauren James (Chelsea, England)
Sam Kerr (Chelsea, Australia)
Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave, USA)
Salma Paralluelo (Barcelona, Spain)
Alexandra Popp (Wolfsburg, Germany)
Alessia Russo (Manchester United/Arsenal, England)