USWNT superstar Megan Rapinoe has added to her swathe of trophies in 2019 after being named The Best Women’s Player at FIFA’s annual awards ceremony, held on Monday night in Milan.
Already having claimed the Golden Boot and Golden Ball on the way to winning this year’s Women’s World Cup, Rapinoe topped the vote with 46% to win her first The Best award, joining fellow Americans Mia Hamm (2001-02), Abby Wambach (2012), and Carli Lloyd (2015-16) in being crowned the year’s standout player.
Fellow USWNT striker Alex Morgan was named second in the three-player shortlist with 40% of the vote, while Lyon and England defender Lucy Bronze came in third on 29%.
Rapinoe’s World Cup-winning teammates, along with four-time European champions Olympique Lyonnais, dominated the awards, claiming eight spots in the FIFA FIFPro World XI.
American manager Jill Ellis took out The Best Women’s Coach award, winning 48% of the vote, ahead of fellow World Cup finalist Sarina Wiegman of the Netherlands (40%), and England boss Phil Neville (31%).
Netherlands goalkeeper Sari van Veenendaal was named The Best Women’s Goalkeeper, edging out Chilean stopper Christiane Endler and Swedish veteran Hedvig Lindahl.
Matildas striker Sam Kerr and Arsenal manager Joe Montemurro were nominated, but were not shortlisted in their respective categories.
2019 FIFA FIFPro World XI: Sari van Veenendaal (Arsenal/Atletico Madrid); Lucy Bronze (Lyon), Nilla Fischer (Wolfsburg/Linköpings), Kelley O’Hara (Utah Royals), Wendie Renard (Lyon); Julie Ertz (Chicago Red Stars), Amandine Henry (Lyon), Rose Lavelle (Washington Spirit); Marta (Orlando Pride), Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride), Megan Rapinoe (Reign FC).
