Mbeumo will turbo-charge Man Utd attack - but he's cost a FORTUNE

Chelsea's baffling transfer strategy might actually be working

Lionesses' great escape must be a serious lesson for Wiegman

Shea Lacey: Man Utd's dazzling dribbler - from Liverpool!

When Kaka's AC Milan smashed Boca Juniors 

Editors' Picks

Real Madrid vs Al Hilal: Stream, TV channels & where to watch

Pachuca vs Salzburg: Stream, TV channels & where to watch

Manchester City vs Wydad Casablanca: Stream, TV channels & where to watch

Monterrey vs Inter: Stream, TV channels & where to watch

Seat Unique names founding partner of Hill Dickinson Stadium 

Man City outcast Walker reassured over pace questions & future

Newlyweds Dyer & Bowen do not fear famous Strictly ‘curse’

Man City warned off transfer gamble on free agent Pogba 

<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Bonmati going for Ballon d'Or &amp; The Best double</li><li>Five USWNT stars on 16-player shortlist </li><li>Winner to be announced in January </li></ul><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va2ivxLJJhzdzbJdwo0n"><strong>Follow GOAL on WhatsApp!</strong></a> 🟢📱</td></tr></tbody></table>

Triple Espresso for the win! Sophia Smith, Trinity Rodman & Mallory Swanson to rival Aitana Bonmati for The Best FIFA Women's Player award with 16 stars confirmed on shortlist

<p>The 16 contenders to win The Best FIFA Women's Player award for 2024 have been announced, with Barcelona Femeni and Spain star Bonmati headlining the list following another trophy-laden season for club and country. </p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>Bonmati led Barca to a <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/barcelona-aitana-bonma-league-of-their-own-winners-losers-quadruple-lyon-womens-champions-league-final/blt3dd75d360dff3543" target="_blank">historic quadruple</a> and scored in the biggest games of the year, including in the Champions League and Women's Nations League finals. The 26-year-old has already been honoured for her success by <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/womens-ballon-dor-2024-official-rankings/blt157a3dec23d356f6" target="_blank">winning the Ballon d'Or</a>, but she faces competition from team-mates and rivals alike for The Best award.</p><p><strong>Full nominees:</strong></p><p>Aitana Bonmati (Spain), Barbra Banda (Zambia), Caroline Graham Hansen (Norway), Keira Walsh (England), Khadija Shaw (Jamaica), Lauren Hemp (England), Lindsey Horan (USA), Lucy Bronze (England), Mallory Swanson (USA), Mariona Caldentey (Spain), Naomi Girma (USA), Ona Batlle (Spain), Salma Paralluelo (Spain), Sophia Smith (USA), Tabitha Chawinga (Malawi), Trinity Rodman (USA). </p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">There can only be one. 🌟<br><br>The voting is open for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheBest?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheBest</a> FIFA Women's Player 2024! ⤵️</p>— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIFAWWC/status/1862278263613399133?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 28, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<p></p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>USWNT stars Smith and Rodman helped the Stars and Stripes <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/uswnt-lindsey-horan-lifts-first-ever-concacaf-w-gold-cup-victory-over-brazil/blt0b6135a44eab9334" target="_blank">win the CONCACAF W Gold Cup</a> in March and then gold at the Paris Olympics in the summer. Swanson, meanwhile, had a remarkable year, coming back from a <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/uswnt-mallory-swanson-opens-up-injury-nightmare-very-very-ill-out-2023-world-cup/bltf8120077f2122042" target="_blank">devastating long-term knee injury</a> to <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/uswnt-player-ratings-brazil-mallory-swanson-gold-medal-olympics/blt58f67101bbe3c47c" target="_blank">score the winner</a> in the final over Brazil in France. </p><p></p>

DID YOU KNOW?

<p>The 77-player shortlist for The Best Women's 11 has also been announced, with a host of stars to be whittled down. </p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Your nominees for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheBest?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheBest</a> FIFA Women's 11. 🏆<br><br>Who's getting your vote?</p>— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIFAWWC/status/1862281321529450708?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 28, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<p></p>

TELL ME MORE

<p>The winner of each award will be announced at a ceremony in January, as Bonmati aims to complete a Ballon d'Or and The Best Women's Player double for the second year in a row. </p>

WHAT NEXT?

Triple Espresso for the win! Sophia Smith, Trinity Rodman & Mallory Swanson to rival Aitana Bonmati for The Best FIFA Women's Player award with 16 stars confirmed on shortlist | Goal.com

Barcelona&apos;s Aitana Bonmati and USWNT trio Sophia Smith, Trinity Rodman and Mallory Swanson are contenders for The Best FIFA Women&apos;s Player award.

Triple Espresso for the win! Sophia Smith, Trinity Rodman &amp; Mallory Swanson to rival Aitana Bonmati for The Best FIFA Women&apos;s Player award with 16 stars confirmed on shortlist