In Celebration of the Best Women in Football

While we recover from the reeling unpredictability that was the 2018 World Cup, the FIFA organization is busy preparing for their upcoming Best Awards. Yes, the World Cup trophy is great and all (congratulations, Team USA and Les Bleus!), but there are two other honors that individual footballers across the globe have been competing for. Not to mention that, for many a fan, the awards are the last chance to experience the magic of the year’s Cup before having to wait another four years.

The Best Player award is often considered to be the most prestigious but, with our eyes permanently glued to the cleat-wearing men and women on the pitch, we tend to forget about the incredible sportspersons behind said men and women: the coaches – particularly female coaches who are, astonishingly, still a minority in both the men’s and women’s leagues.

This year, 14 women are in the running for the prestigious awards. Representing the best and the greatest female football talents in the world, here are the nominations for the FIFA Best Awards for Best Player and for Best Coach:

Best Player

• Lucy Bronze (England / Olympique Lyonnais)
• Pernille Harder (Denmark / Wolfsburg)
• Ada Hegerberg (Norway / Lyon)
• Amandine Henry (France / Lyon)
• Samantha Kerr (Australia /Sky Blue FC / Perth Glory FC / Chicago Red Stars)
• Saki Kumagai (Japan / Lyon)
• Dzsenifer Marozsán (Germany / Lyon)
• Marta (Brazil / Orlando Pride)
• Megan Rapinoe (USA / Seattle Reign FC)
• Wendie Renard (France / Lyon)

Best Coach

• Emma Hayes (England / Chelsea FC)
• Asako Takakura (Japan / Japanese Nat’l Team)
• Martina Voss-Tecklenburg (Germany / Switzerland Nat’l Team)
• Sarina Wiegman (Dutch / Netherlands Nat’l Team)

For all you patriots out there, Megan Rapinoe is the only American to grace these nominations. So, join L’Officiel USA as we support the Californian midfielder in her path to becoming the best football player in the world. Go, Megan, go!