The 30-player shortlist for this year’s women’s Ballon d’Or award has been released and four of England’s Lionesses have earned nominations for the prestigious prize
Ballon d’Or nominations rarely arrive without stirring debate, and England and Barcelona star Lucy Bronze is leading the charge against the “ridiculous” snub of club and country team-mate Keira Walsh.
Walsh, currently the most expensive player in women’s football, was conspicuously absent from the 30-player shortlist for the best female footballer of 2023 released on Wednesday evening.
Meanwhile, England quartet Millie Bright, Rachel Daly, Mary Earps and Georgia Stanway were among the nominees, along with Chelsea and Australia striker Sam Kerr and Spain and Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati.
Two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas was not nominated, with the striker missing a large portion of last season through injury.