My 10 finalists for Best Women’s Player in 2016

My 10 finalists for Best Women’s Player in 2016

The Best FIFA Football Awards 2016 is approaching so I decided to share with you my 10 finalists for Best Women’s Player in 2016.

Since the defeat of Inka Grings in 2009, we have not seen such a controversial FIFA Women’s Player list such as the current one, which has left out the best European player of the season.

I will not order the players, except the number one, the best of the year, which all female football lovers know, that was Ada Hegerberg, this season. So hope you like it and share your opinion!

Ada Hegerberg

Norwegian
Position: Forward
Current club: Olympique Lyonnais – FRA

How it is possible the Best Female Player of the year was not nominated in the 10 finalists for Best FIFA Women’s Player in 2016 is a mystery for the fans of women’s football. The truth is, if this life was fair, the prize should be going to the young Norwegian this year.

She simply won (almost) everything! Ada became the first woman in 20 years to win Norway’s Gold Ball award for the country’s best footballer. She also has won the 2015/16 UEFA Best Women’s Player in Europe Award ahead of Amandine Henry and Dzsenifer Marozsán.

Also at the 2015/16 season, Hegerberg was champion with Lyon of UEFA Women’s Champions League, French League and French Cup. She was the top scorer of UEFA Women’s Champions League this season scoring 13 goals and the top scorer of French League netting 33 goals during the 2015/2016 season.

Hedvig Lindahl

Swedish
Position: Goalkeeper
Current club: Chelsea L.F.C. – ENG

The best current female goalkeeper in the world is not American, but Swedish…
Chelsea Ladies goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl has achieved many accomplishments this season. She was crowned PFA Womens Goalkeeper of the Year 2015/2016 after an stunning performance at the Olympics for Sweden, where she was a key figure to reach the silver medal. Sweden overcome both USA and hosts Brazil in penalty shoot-outs, where Lindahl shined and showed why she is the best current female goalkeeper in the world.
Lindahl also received this season, the women’s Diamond Ball award, which is given to the best Swedish player over the course of the year.

Dzsenifer Marozsán

German
Position: Midfielder
Current club: Olympique Lyonnais – FRA

The young German midfielder is currently one of the best players in the world. She was one of three nominees for the 2015/2016 UEFA Best Women’s Player in Europe Award and she was also shortlisted for the Best FIFA Women’s Player 2016 after an impressive performance in Rio Olympic Games, where Germans won the golden medal.

The former Frankfurt player is currently playing for the best female team in the world, the Olympique Lyonnais.

Pernille Harder

Danish
Position: Forward
Current club: VfL Wolfsburg – GER

The Danish player led Linköping FC to win 2015/2016 Damallsvenskan season being the top scorer goal of the season in the league. She was named MVP and best forward player of the season and also was named Danish Footballer of the Year. The 2015/2016 season was so impressive for Harder that she was signed up by the giant German club, VfL Wolfsburg , one of the best female teams currently.

Tobin Heath

American
Position: Midfielder
Current club: Portland Thorns FC – USA

If 2015 was a good year for Americans, 2016 was the complete opposite. US, favourites after winning the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015, was eliminated early in the Olympics by the Swedes. The highlight of the American team this season was not Carli Lloyd, but Tobin Heath. The Portland player was voted the 2016 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year. The midfielder was one of the USA’s best players at the 2016 Olympic Games where she recorded two assists. In her fourth season playing for the NWSL’s Portland Thorns FC, Heath finished the year with 10 assists, a new league record.

Marta

Brazilian
Position: Forward/Midfielder
Current club: FC Rosengård – SWE

It is difficult to talk about Marta. Because even when she does not have a great season she stands out over other players. To my mind, she’s the best ever. She is one of three nominees for the Best FIFA Women’s Player 2016 and she was crowned the best midfielder of the 2015/2016 Damallsvenskan season playing for FC Rosengård. This season was well below her best, but how Hegerberg was not nominated and between the three options I truly believe she is the best one (but I would also be happy if Behringer wins!).

Wendie Renard

French
Position: Defender
Current club: Olympique Lyonnais – FRA

The French player is currently the best defender in the world. At the 2015/16 season, Renard won everything with Lyon including the UEFA Women’s Champions League title. She also captained her country at Rio Olympic Games.

Melanie Behringer

German
Position: Midfielfer
Current club: FC Bayern München – GER

The midfielder was a key player to Germany’s Olympic gold medal win. Behringer was the top scorer of 2016 Rio Olympic Games netting five goals that included strikes in both quarter-final and semi-final. She also was a key part of FC Bayern München that won the 2015–16 Bundesliga.

Cristiane

Brazilian
Position: Forward
Current club: Paris Saint Germain – FRA

Cristiane is one of the most underestimated players in the world. If it was not her injury during the Olympic Games, the fate of the Brazilian team could have been completely different.

Signing with PSG was one of the best decisions of the career of the Brazilian player, who seems to have found her best football on French soil. Cristiane was second in top goals scored in the 2015-16 Division 1 Féminine season, only after Ada Hegerberg.

She became the top scorer in the history of the Summer Olympics, totalling 14 goals.

In addition, Cristiane led PSG to the next round of the 2016/2017 UEFA Women’s Champions League season, after scoring an unbelievable hat-trick for PSG that over-turn their 3-1 loss to LSK.

Amandine Henry

French
Position: Midfielder
Current club: Portland Thorns FC – USA

For many women’s soccer fans, the French midfielder became in 2016 the biggest international signing of the US National Women’s Soccer League history after joining the Portland Thorns. Henry was one of three nominees for the 2015/16 UEFA Best Women’s Player and also was shortlisted for the Best FIFA Women’s Player 2016.

Izzy

Women’s football enthusiast based in Brazil. Supporting and raising the profile of the women’s game.