BBC World Service today revealed the five players in the running for the Women’s Footballer of the Year award.
Nadine Kessler from Germany, Veronica Boquete from Spain, Kim Little from Scotland, Marta from Brazil and Asisat Oshoala from Nigeria make up the nominees.
The shortlist was decided by a panel of experts made up of journalists, coaches and former players but the winner will be chosen by public vote.
Spanish midfielder Boquete told the BBC: “I’m really, really happy to be shortlisted. To have all the media talking about this award is really important to help our sport grow.”
2013 European Championship winner Kessler added: “I am very honoured to be nominated for the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year Award. It is a special award because this time the fans are given the opportunity to vote for the players.”
Representing Great Britain on the honours list is former PFA Women’s Player of the Year Kim Little who now plays her domestic football in the United States.
Little has scored 17 goals in 25 games for her club Seattle Reign, who won the league in 2014, and the midfielder was named the championship’s Most Valuable Player in the same year.
The 24-year-old is joined on the shortlist by the Brazilian Marta who has won eight league titles with clubs in the US and Sweden, and scored an impressive 79 goals in 91 international appearances for her country.
Marta’s illustrious career has already been well decorated after the attacker won Fifa’s World Player of the Year award on five consecutive occasions between 2006 and 2010.
The final nominee is Nigerian striker Asisat Oshoala who joined Liverpool Ladies in January 2015. In the previous year the 20-year-old was named the best player in the Under-20’s World Cup, and on route to the final with her country, Oshoala won the golden boot.
She said of her nomination, “”I worked hard last year but I am surprised to be nominated and I feel very appreciated. This award is a very good thing for women’s football. It can really help us by encouraging other countries to support their ladies more and treat them the same way they treat the men.”
Voting is open now and closes on 11 May, with the winner set to be revealed two weeks later on the 26th. Fans can vote online through the BBC website or by texting the number of the player they wish to vote for to +44 7786 20 20 04 .
Text 1 for Veronica Boquete, 2 for Nadine Kessler, 3 for Kim Little, 4 for Marta and 5 for Asisat Oshoala.
