ANN-KATRIN BERGER is among the top stoppers shortlisted for Fifa’s Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award.
And Berger’s Chelsea team-mate Sam Kerr and Arsenal’s Vivianne Miedema are two of seven WSL stars in the running for the Best Women’s Player prize.
Denmark captain Pernille Harder and South Korea’s Ji So-yun are among the Kingsmeadow stars in contention along with Sweden centre-back Magdalena Eriksson.
And England and Manchester City aces Ellen White and Lucy Bronze are also among the group of 13 vying for the Fifa gong.
Other stars of the game shortlisted include Jenni Hermoso, Aitana Bonmati and Caroline Graham Hansen who were all part of the Barcelona team that defeated Chelsea in this year’s Champions League final.
However, one major WSL name surprisingly missing from the list is Chelsea’s Fran Kirby who enjoyed a standout trophy-winning season with the Blues last term.
The in-form Kingsmeadow ace netted her 100th goal for Emma Hayes side when they hammered Birmingham 5-0 to keep pace with Arsenal.
And the England forward racked up 16 WSL goals and 11 assists last season, before winning the PFA Women’s Player of the Year Award.
Emma Hayes and Sarina Wiegman are among the five managers nominated for Fifa’s Best Women’s Coach Award.
The Chelsea and England bosses will be up against Canada chief Beverley Priestman, ex-Barcelona manager Lluis Cortes and Sweden boss Peter Gerhardsson.
Former Netherlands boss Wiegman, who was the winner of last year’s Women’s Coach gong, has led the Lionesses to four World Cup qualifying wins since taking charge of the side in September.
An online ceremony for the award winners, who will be chosen through a public vote, is due to take place on Monday 17 January 2022.
Winners will be chosen by an international panel of ten Fifa-appointed experts from across the sport.
The group includes former England and Chelsea star Eni Aluko, Spain-born ex- Birmingham boss Marta Tejedor and former Arsenal and Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Emma Byrne.
Public voting for nominees will run online until the deadline of Friday 10 December.
Fifa’s 2021 Best Women’s Player and Goalkeeper shortlist
Best Women’s Player nominees
Stina Blackstenius, (Sweden/BK Hacken), Aitana Bonmati (Spain/Barcelona), Lucy Bronze (England/Manchester City) Magdalena Eriksson (Sweden/Chelsea), Caroline Graham Hansen (Norway/Barcelona), Pernille Harder (Denmark/Chelsea), Jennifer Hermoso (Spain/Barcelona), Ji So-yun (South Korea/Chelsea), Sam Kerr (Australia/Chelsea), Vivianne Miedema (Netherlands/Arsenal), Alexa Puttellas (Spain/Barcelona), Christine Sinclair (Canada/Portland Thorns), Ellen White (England/Manchester City)
Best Women Goalkeeper nominees
Ann-Katrin Berger (Germany/Chelsea FC Women), Christine Endler (Chile/ Paris Saint-Germain/Lyon), Hedvig Lindahl (Sweden/Atletico Madrid), Alyssa Naeher (USA/Chicago Redstars).
Best Women’s Coach nominees
Beverley Priestman (England/Canada Women’s team), Emma Hayes (England/Chelsea), Lluis Cortes (Spain/Barcelona), Peter Gerhardsson (Sweden/Sweden Women’s team), Sarina Wiegman (Netherlands/England Women’s team)
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
