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FIVE USWNT players nominated for 2024 Ballon d’Or, Naomi Girma wasn’t one of them

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.

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.

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.

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