Football news - The contenders for inaugural women’s Ballon d’Or
ByReuters
Updated 03/12/2018 at 03:25 GMT
A women's Ballon d'Or will be awarded for the first time this year with a shortlist of 15 nominees set to battle it out.
Eugenie Le Sommer and Ada Hegerberg of Lyon celebrate with the trophy during the UEFA Womens Champions League Final between VfL Wolfsburg and Olympique Lyonnais on May 24, 2018 in Kiev, Ukraine.
Image credit: Getty Images
The annual award, which will be given at this year's ceremony in Paris on December 3, is a regular feature for men since 1956 with England great Stanley Matthews winning the inaugural trophy.
However, this is the first time there will be a women's award.
THE NOMINEES
| Player name | Position | International team | Club |
| Lucy Bronze | Defender | England | Lyon |
| Pernille Harder | Forward | Denmark | Wolfsburg |
| Ada Hegerberg | Forward | Norway | Lyon |
| Amandine Henry | Midfielder | France | Lyon |
| Lindsey Horan | Forward | USA | Portland |
| Sam Kerr | Forward | Australia | Chicago |
| Fran Kirby | Forward | England | Chelsea |
| Saki Kumagai | Defender | Japan | Lyon |
| Dzsenifer Marozsan | Midfielder | Germany | Lyon |
| Amel Majri | Midfielder | France | Lyon |
| Marta | Forward | Brazil | Orlando |
| Lieke Martens | Forward | Netherlands | Barcelona |
| Megan Rapinoe | Midfielder | USA | Seattle |
| Wendie Renard | Defender | France | Lyon |
| Christine Sinclair | Forward | Canada | Portland |
WHAT THE PLAYERS HAVE SAID
France and Olympique Lyonnais defender Wendie Renard told the magazine:
It is a step forward, women's football is evolving and inequality is shrinking even though there is still room for improvement.
Brazil's Marta added: "I've always wanted to see a woman win this prestigious award."
WHO IS GOING TO WIN?
The Ballon d'Or award was partnered with FIFA from 2010 to 2015, until becoming its own entity once again.
The sport's world governing body honoured the world's best players at its Best FIFA Football Awards last month, with Marta winning the women's award.
American Carli Lloyd and Lieke Martens from the Netherlands have also won the FIFA best player award for women since it was rebranded in 2016 but Marta is the strong favourite.
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