Players from both Arsenal and Chelsea have been named on the shortlist for the 2022 Women’s Ballon d’Or.
France Football announced this year’s shortlist via their social media channels last night with some familiar faces making the initial selection.
Arsenal’s attacking pair Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema have both been selected while Chelsea’s Millie Bright and Sam Kerr are also on the shortlist. Former Manchester City full-back Lucy Bronze, now of FC Barcelona, has been included but England teammate Keira Walsh has missed out, something which has both astonished and angered many.
Arsenal and England forward Mead enjoyed a hugely successful UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 in which she ended the tournament with a winner’s medal and the Golden Boot. Her Arsenal teammate Miedema was less effective in the tournament but she had been in good form for club and country during the first half of the calendar year. Miedema dropped into a deeper role for Arsenal at times last season but continued to provide a major attacking threat for her team.
Like Mead, Chelsea defender Bright was also a member of the England side which became European champions a fortnight ago. She was a real brick wall at the back for the Lionesses. At club level, Bright won the Barclays Women’s Super League title and Vitality Women’s FA Cup once again earlier this year. Bright’s Chelsea teammate Kerr makes the shortlist after an unstoppable season for The Blues. She netted 20 goals in 20 league outings for the Barclays Women’s Super League champions, topping the goalscoring charts in the process.
The winners of this year’s Ballon d’Or will be announced on Monday 17 October 2022.
2022 Women’s Ballon d’Or Nominees: Selma Bacha (Lyon/France), Aitana Bonmati (FC Barcelona/Spain), Millie Bright (Chelsea/England), Lucy Bronze (FC Barcelona/England), Kadidiatou Diani (Paris St-Germain/France), Christiane Endler (Lyon/Chile), Ada Hegerberg (Lyon/Norway), Marie-Antoinette Katoto (Paris St-Germain/France), Sam Kerr (Chelsea/Australia), Catarina Macario (Lyon/United States), Beth Mead (Arsenal/England), Vivianne Miedema (Arsenal/Netherlands), Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave/United States), Lena Oberdorf (VfL Wolfsburg/Germany), Asisat Oshoala (FC Barcelona/Nigeria), Alexandra Popp (VfL Wolfsburg/Germany), Alexia Putellas (FC Barcelona/Spain) Wendie Renard (Lyon,/France), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit/United States), Fridolina Rolfo (FC Barcelona/Sweden)
Here are the nominees for the 2022 Women’s Ballon d’Or! ✨#ballondor pic.twitter.com/w4XbpV5KN3
— Ballon d’Or #ballondor (@francefootball) August 12, 2022
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