August 8 – The Lionesses are flying high and rightfully so. Fresh from that magnificent Euro triumph, FIVE of England’s finest have earned their place among football’s elite with Women’s Ballon d’Or nominations.
Captain Leah Williamson, Lucy Bronze, Alessia Russo, Chloe Kelly, and Hannah Hampton are all in the running for the biggest individual prize on offer in women’s football, and winning it would conclude a sensational summer for English football.
But the list of nominees also includes Spain’s Aitana Bonmati, who’s made this award her personal property the last two years, and her Barcelona and Spain team-mate Alexia Putellas, another double winner.
While the Spaniards are favourites, Bronze has quietly emerged from the pack as the dark horse. The 33-year-old right back played the entire Euros with a fractured leg and her heroics against Sweden in the quarter-finals will be talked about for years. England found themselves down 2-0 with ten minutes left when Bronze powered home a far-post header. She then stepped up in the penalty shootout to power home the winner in a nerve-shredding shootout.
Meanwhile, Hampton finds herself in the running for the Women’s Yashin Trophy as the world’s best keeper. At just 24, she was instrumental in England’s Euro success and Chelsea’s domestic treble.
Arsenal’s Champions League triumph has earned them three nominees – Williamson, Spain’s silky midfielder Mariona Caldentey, and USA right-back Emily Fox.
On the coaching front, its little surprise to see Lionesses manager Sarina Wiegman nominated, while Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor and Arsenal head coach Renee Slegers join the Dutchwoman for Team Coach of the Year.
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