European Championship winners Millie Bright, Lucy Bronze and Beth Mead are among the nominees for the Ballon d’Or Feminin. Mead was the top scorer and named player of the tournament as England triumphed on home soil last month.
Chelsea’s Sam Kerr and Vivianne Miedema of Arsenal also make the shortlist, along with Barcelona star Alexia Putellas, while the headline from the men’s nominations was the absence of seven-time winner Lionel Messi.
Messi won the prize in 2021 and 2019 - it was not held in 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic - but, following his move to Paris Saint-Germain, the Argentinian has been omitted.
Messi’s long-time rival for the Ballon d’Or, Cristiano Ronaldo, is included as the only Manchester United nominee while English trio Trent Alexander-Arnold, Phil Foden and Harry Kane also make the 30-strong line-up.