Four English contenders for women's Ballon d'Or and their chances of winning
The nominees have been announced for the 2023 women's Ballon d'Or.
And four players who helped England to a first-ever World Cup final are on the initial longlist. Stand-in captain Millie Bright is nominated, as is Aston Villa star and England utility player Rachel Daly. Georgia Stanway, fresh from her first club season in Germany, is also a contender for the big prize, as is Man Utd goalkeeper Mary Earps.
Earps last year won the FIFA Best Goalkeeper award and was one of England's best performers in Australia this summer, memorably saving a penalty from Jenni Hermoso in the final loss to Spain. Surprisingly, Champions League winner and transfer record holder Keira Walsh failed to receive a nomination.
Alex Greenwood also missed out despite following up a superb club season at Man City with being one of England's best players at the World Cup. Elsewhere Aussie superstar Sam Kerr, Spanish midfielder Aitana Bonmati, Ireland and Arsenal winger Katie McCabe and German forward Alexandra Popp are in the running.
No English player has ever won the award. Lucy Bronze was runner-up in 2019, a feat repeated by Beth Mead last year. But how did the English quartet in the running this year impress and what are their chances of winning?
Earps reacts to FIFA Best nomination and on season so far with Man Utd
Rachel Daly
With 22 goals in 22 WSL games last season, Rachel Daly was nothing short of unstoppable on her return to English football. The part-time left-back was unleashed as a No.9 for Carla Ward's Aston Villa after signing following the Euros and produced one of the all-time great individual WSL campaigns.
Daly was then named PFA Player of the Year, heading off to Australia in the form of her life. Many expected her to start for England as a striker at the finals Down Under. But instead, Alessia Russo was preferred by manager Sarina Wiegman in the central forward spot.
Rachel Daly is in the running (Daniela Porcelli/SPP/REX/Shutterstock)Yet Daly still played a role in the Lionesses' run to the final. Once again she had to adapt, this time appearing as a left wing-back as Wiegman settled on a progressive 3-4-1-2 system that very nearly helped England win a first World Cup. "Wow, to be nominated for this award amongst some of the best players in the world is such a phenomenal honour," The Villa striker said on social media.
Millie Bright
Had it not been for an untimely knee injury and an excruciating World Cup final defeat, Millie Bright could have completed one of the greatest seasons in women's football history. The Chelsea captain came mightily close to winning every major trophy for club and country.
The injury suffered against Lyon in the Champions League quarter-final ended Bright's club season prematurely. Had she featured in the semi-final against Barcelona, the Blues may well have got through and lifted the European Cup. Instead, they fell to a narrow defeat.
Millie Bright skippered England to the World Cup final (Getty Images)Bright still claimed another WSL and FA Cup winners medal as the Blues completed the double. She then returned from the sidelines to skipper England at the World Cup, not an easy task after Leah Williamson's inspirational leadership last summer.
But the towering centre-back rose to the challenge. After a shaky game against Haiti, she found form to marshal the Lionesses' defence, her performances key to England reaching the final.
Georgia Stanway
Stanway has had another strong year for both club and country, following on from her breakthrough major tournament at Euro 2022. Off the back of her performances there she moved to German giants Bayern Munich.
The box-to-box midfielder quickly established herself as a key cog in the Bayern machine, scoring vital Champions League goals to help the German side reach the quarter-finals. They were denied European silverware after a defeat to Arsenal, but Stanway claimed a first overseas league medal when Bayern held off Wolfsburg to win the Frauen-Bundesliga.
At the World Cup, she scored the winner against Haiti in England's opening game and helped run the midfield in the semi-final win over Australia - the Lionesses' best display of the tournament.
Man Utd boss Skinner sends firm message to Arsenal over Russo contract saga
Mary Earps
Mary Earps is currently the subject of a protracted transfer saga, with indications she could leave Man Utd before the transfer window ends. But wherever she plays her club football next season, the England No.1 is still considered by most the best keeper in the women's game.
Therefore her nomination is perhaps to be expected. Like Bright, Earps had a fantastic World Cup and was crucial to England's record of only three goals conceded in open play during the tournament.
Mary Earps of England is congratulated by Millie Bright after saving the penalty ((Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)Her penalty save in the final against Spain produced one of the highlights of the tournament and had England salvaged a late equaliser, Earps would have been the hero of the hour.
Will we see an English winner?
After Mead came so close to winning the individual crown last year, coming second to Alexia Putellas, could an English player finally win the trophy?
All four face a tough battle. Earps probably has the best chance. She proved again in Australia why she is the best keeper around. But her chances are hurt by the fact that these awards are naturally weighted to attackers and midfielders, rather than defenders and goalkeepers.
Other player gongs already awarded give a clearer indication of where the title is heading. Spain's Bonmati claimed the UEFA Player of the Year Award only last week and has won every title possible this year.
FIFA Golden Ball Award winner Aitana Bonmati of Spain and FIFA Golden Glove Award winner Mary Earps (Getty Images)She was also the UEFA Player of the Tournament as Barcelona won the Champions League in June, beating Wolfsburg 3-2 in the final. If that wasn't enough she then took home the Golden Ball crown, awarded to the top Women’s World Cup player after Spain's victory over England.
With Barcelona also having claimed a domestic league and cup double, with Bonmati playing a crucial role in the absence of the injured Putellas, she is a shoo-in to win her first-ever Ballon d'Or Feminin later this year. The award ceremony takes place on 30 October in Paris' Theatre du Chatelet.
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