France Football have published their annual Ballon d’Or list and there are the usual controversies over players that have been left out, such as the Lionesses’ Keira Walsh.

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 09: Vivianne Miedema of Arsenal reacts during the Barclays FA Women's Super League match between Birmingham City Women and Arsenal Women at St Andrew's Trillion Trophy Stadium on January 09, 2022 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – JANUARY 09: Vivianne Miedema of Arsenal reacts during the Barclays FA Women’s Super League match between Birmingham City Women and Arsenal Women at St Andrew’s Trillion Trophy Stadium on January 09, 2022 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

Here is the full Ballon d’Or 20 player-list in alphabetical order, which contains two Arsenal nominees:

  • Selma BACHA (FRA, Lyon)
  • Aitana BONMATI (SPA, FC Barcelona)
  • Millie BRIGHT (ENG, Chelsea)
  • Lucy BRONZE (ENG, Manchester City / FC Barcelona)
  • Kadidiatou DIANI (FRA, PSG)
  • Christiane ENDLER (CHI, Lyon)
  • Ada HEGERBERG (NOR, Lyon)
  • Marie-Antoinette KATOTO (FRA, PSG)
  • Sam KERR (AUS, Chelsea)
  • Catarina MACARIO (USA, Lyon)
  • Beth MEAD (ENG, Arsenal)
  • Vivianne MIEDEMA (NED, Arsenal)
  • Alex MORGAN (USA, Orlando Pride / San Diego Wave)
  • Lena OBERDORF (GER, VfL Wolfsburg)
  • Asisat OSHOALA (NGA, FC Barcelona)
  • Alexandra POPP (GER, VfL Wolfsburg)
  • Alexia PUTELLAS (SPA, FC Barcelona)
  • Wendie RENARD (FRA, Lyon)
  • Trinity RODMAN (USA, Washington Spirit)
  • Fridolina ROLFÖ (SWE, FC Barcelona)

France Football and l’Equipe have clarified the rules, with  new changes coming in for this edition:

  • A new calendar with the results taken into account from the season 2021/22 instead of the year 2022, for example.
  • The final list voters has changed and the number of voting people has been decreased in order to avoid maverick votes.
  • The criteria have also evolved with the career criteria now gone and only the following criteria are taken into account:
  1. Individual performance and their decisiveness during the season.
  2. Team performances and trophies won during the season.
  3. The players’ class as an individual and her fair play values.

It should be a very open award and Beth Mead who had been excellent with club and country is certainly with a chance of a top three finish.

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