Lionesses trio up for huge award as Best FIFA Women's Player shortlist announced

Three of England's Euro 2022 winning-squad had been nominated for the Best FIFA Women's Player award.

The Lionesses skipper and defender Leah Williamson is on the 14-player shortlist. She is joined by Arsenal teammate Beth Mead and fellow England star Keira Walsh.

The trio all played a huge part in England' s run to becoming European champions, with Mead winning the Golden Boot and Player of the Tournament titles as well. Also making the shortlist are Mead's Arsenal teammate and partner Vivianne Miedema and Chelsea's leading forward Sam Kerr. The other WSL player featured on the shortlist is fellow Blue Jessie Fleming.

Two of the German side that helped their run to the Euros final, Lena Oberdorf and Alexandra Popp are also included on the shortlist. Brazilian star Debinha, Spanish duo Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas and Lyon's Wendie Renard also feature in the running to crown the best player on the planet.

Fans can vote for their top three via the FIFA website. If one of the Lionesses triumphed it would be the second time an English player has won the award, after defender Lucy Bronze claimed the award in 2020.

Putellas is the holder of the award, claiming the crown in the 2021 ahead of Australia's Kerr and teammate Jennifer Hermoso.

Meanwhile, Alessia Russo's remarkable back-heeled goal against Sweden has been shortlisted for the FIFA Puskás Award, awarded to the best goal of the last 12 months.

Russo's strike in the 4-0 semi-final win at Euro 2022 was one of the highlights a memorable summer for the Lionesses, with the 23-year-old ending up the third highest-scorer in the tournament despite only appearing from the bench, scoring four goals overall.

The Man Utd forward is one of three women, with Lyon's Amandine Henry and FC Barcelona's Salma Paralleulo to make the eleven-goal shortlist, alongside strikes from Kylian Mbappé, Francisco González, Mario Balotelli, Théo Hernández, Alou Kuol, Metilli, Marcin Oleksy, Dimitri Payet and Richarlison.

No female player has previously won the award, but Ireland's Stephanie Roche finished second in 2014 behind James Rodriguez. Meanwhile Sarina Wiegman and Emma Hayes are both in the running the Best FIFA Women's Coach award.

Wiegman led England to an unbeaten 2022, which included landing a first major tournament on home soil last summer. Meanwhile, Hayes managed Chelsea to yet another WSL and FA Cup double.

The Blues boss isn't the only Englishwoman up the award, with Bev Priestman also on the shortlist after leading Canada's national side to a CONCACAF Championship final and qualifying for next summer's World Cup finals. Sonia Bompastor, Pia Sundhage and Martina Voss-Tecklenburg complete the shortlist.

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