Ten women have been shortlisted as candidates for the Best FIFA Women’s Player 2016 by experts from the Committee for Women’s Football and the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The candidates, in alphabetical order, are:

  • Camille Abily (France/Olympique Lyonnais),
  • Melanie Behringer (Germany/FC Bayern Munich),
  • Sara Däbritz (Germany/FC Bayern Munich),
  • Amandine Henry (France/Portland Thorns),
  • Saki Kumagai (Japan/Olympique Lyonnais),
  • Carli Lloyd (USA/Houston Dash),
  • Dzsenifer Marozsán (Germany/1. FFC Frankfurt/Olympique Lyonnais),
  • Marta (Brazil/FC Rosengård),
  • Lotta Schelin (Sweden/Olympique Lyonnais/ FC Rosengård),
  • Christine Sinclair (Canada/Portland Thorns)
via FIFA.com
via FIFA.com

The winner of the Best FIFA Women’s Player 2016 will be chosen through a combined voting process, in which 50% of the decision will be based on the choices of captains and head coaches from women’s national teams around the globe. The other 50% will be determined by an online public ballot and submissions from a selected group of over 200 media representatives around the world

As usual, there is a lot of controversy with the player’s selection with names like Pernilla Harder from Denmark or Ada Hegerberg from Norway forgotten.

The list is very much Euro-centric which is disappointing.

I have absolutely no clue about players from South America, Asia or Africa who have performed well for club and country in 2016, but the FIFA committee should know who these players are.

I mean there are only four Leagues represented – the NWSL (USA), the AFBL (GER), the D1 Feminine (FRA) and the Damallsvenskan (SWE).

Considering the traditional criteria of the award – honours during the year and individual performance for club and country – it is puzzling to see certain players on the BEST list.

For example, one player with no honours, who has not done much for her club but scored goals for her country is Carly Lloyd.

We can then find two players who has been strong individually but not with a lot of honours – Marta  Svenska Damer Cup plus fourth place at the Olympics and Christine Sinclair NWSL Shield, Bronze medal at the Olympics

Five candidates who have managed some honours, but have not always been influential individually in 2016 are Lotta Schelin D1 Feminine, UEFA WCL, Coupe de France, Silver medal at the Olympics, Dzsenifer Maroszan Gold medal at the Olympics, Saki Kumagai D1 Feminine, UEFA WCL, Coupe de France, Camille Abily D1 Feminine, UEFA WCL, Coupe de France, Amandine Henry D1 Feminine, UEFA WCL, Coupe de France, NWSL Shield

Two candidates who seems legitimate winners for me

Sara Däbritz Frauen Bundesliga and Gold at the Olympics

Melanie Behringer Frauen Bundesliga and Gold at the Olympics

Melanie Behringher in all logic should win the award for her performance for her club and her exceptional level during the Olympics that Germany won.

Here is my top 10 ranking from the shortlist with the usual criteria honours for club and country plus individual performances in 2016

  • 10 Lloyd
  • 9 Marta
  • 8 Sinclair
  • 7  Abily
  • 6 Kumagai
  • 5 Maroszan
  • 4 Henry
  • 3 Schelin
  • 2 Däbritz
  • 1 Behringer