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The nominees for the Ballon d’Or (best soccer player of the year) were released on Wednesday and five American women were named to the 30-player shortlist. Shockingly, star defender Naomi Girma wasn’t one of the five.
The Ballon d'Or is an annual award determined by French magazine "France Football."
Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith, Mallory Swanson, Lindsey Horan and Alyssa Naeher were the five USWNT players nominated for the prestigious award.
Congrats to our five ️ nominees for #BallonDor 2024! What a year for Lindsey, Alyssa, Soph, Trin, and Mal!
And for head coach, Emma Hayes, up for Coach of the Year! https://t.co/kjKgUgd8z2 pic.twitter.com/NpYw82BVVS— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) September 4, 2024
Here's the full recap of the 2024 Women's Ballon d'Or nominees!#ballondor pic.twitter.com/xlleWGWw0I
— Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) September 4, 2024
Last year Smith was the only American named to the list. This summer the Americans proved on the world stage they are still some of the most elite players, winning gold in the Olympics.
Naomi Girma Ballon d'Or snub
USWNT fans were proud of the five players making the list but were stunned that Girma was snubbed.
Head coach Emma Hayes, who has been nominated for Women’s Coach of the Year, was amazed by Girma during the Olympics. Hayes said that Girma is the “best defender I’ve ever seen,” as she played every minute of the Summer Games.
Girma is widely regarded as the best USWNT player and arguably the best defender and center back on the planet. Her not making the list was shocking.
Two center backs were named to the 30-player list. Tarciane who plays for Brazil and the Houston Dash along with Glódís Viggósdóttir of Iceland and Bayern Munich were the only two center backs nominated.
Naming those two players and NOT Girma is baffling. Fans reacted how you’d expect along with Girma’s club San Diego Wave FC who called out the decision.
No Naomi Girma in that list is ridiculous and deeply unserious
— Courtney Stith (@CourtneyStith) September 4, 2024
hey, so this is actually insane https://t.co/ePUgh8y8dB
— San Diego Wave FC (@sandiegowavefc) September 4, 2024
Naomi Girma not getting a Ballon D’Or nomination is the most “do you even watch the damn games, you don’t know ball” omission from the nominees
— Douglas Reyes-Ceron (@dreyesceron) September 4, 2024
There is loads of talent on the Ballon d'Or list so this is not a singular take on a list that will yield a worthy winner: If anyone doubted that there is zero appreciation for great defending, #USWNT centerback Naomi Girma not making a 30-player list is ludicrous.
— Jeff Kassouf (@JeffKassouf) September 4, 2024
WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU MEAN NAOMI GIRMA THE WORLD'S BEST CB WASNT NOMINATED???????? pic.twitter.com/HjCHEwbqJJ
— jaws (@jawsavfc) September 4, 2024
Girma was named the NWSL Defender of the Year for 2023, the U.S. Soccer Player of the year in 2023 and named to the NWSL Best XI for 2023. What more was she supposed to do??
The Ballon d’Or award tends to favor players that performed well on the international stage meaning the five Americans nominated could have a shot at winning it.
The Ballon d’Or wasn’t awarded to women’s players until 2018. Megan Rapinoe is the only American player to win the award back in 2019. She finished first in the voting while Alex Morgan ended up in third place.
Since 2019 no American player has been in the top three. That should change this year.
