MIAMI – The nominations for the 2024 Ballon d'Or Féminin were announced on Wednesday, and six Concacaf players made the shortlist after an incredible season for club and country.
The nominations transcend the players as U.S. club NY/NJ Gotham FC, a participant in the 2024/25 Concacaf W Champions Cup, also received a nomination for the Women’s Club of the Year Trophy after earning their first NWSL championship.
The award ceremony will occur on Monday, October 28, at the Théâtre du Châteletin in Paris, France.
Alyssa Naeher, Chicago Red Stars & USA
With 15 clean sheets and 37 NWSL matches during the 2023 and 2024 seasons with the Chicago Red Stars, Alyssa Naeher is the only goalkeeper nominated for this award. She was also an essential piece for the USWNT, having an outstanding participation early in the year at the inaugural Concacaf W Gold Cup by earning the Best Goalkeeper Award after the tournament.
Last month, Naeher was a key piece as the starting goalkeeper for the USWNT at the 2024 Summer Olympics. Thanks to her performance and leadership, Team USA won its first gold medal in women’s soccer in 12 years, the first Olympic gold medal for Naeher.
Sophia Smith, Portland Thorns & USA
For the second time in her career, Sophia Smith is nominated as one of the best female footballers in the world. She won the Golden Boot during the 2023 NWSL season with 11 goals and continues to be a game-changer for the Portland Thorns, one of the teams competing in the W Champions Cup.
Smith is also a pillar for the USWNT, being an active player for the United States in winning a gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics and helping her nation lift the inaugural W Gold Cup.
Lindsey Horan, Olympique Lyonnais Féminin & USA
Captain of the U.S. women’s national team in the 2024 W Gold Cup and the 2024 Summer Olympics, Lindsey Horan is also among the nominees. Playing for the eight-time European champion Olympique Lyonnais, she scored 13 goals in 50 matches in the French Première Ligue. Horan was also a finalist at this year’s UEFA Women’s Champions League, where Lyon finished as runners-up.
In the W Gold Cup Final at the beginning of the year, she scored the winning goal against Brazil to give the U.S. its first-ever title. She retook the armband in Paris, earning her first Olympic gold medal.
Mallory Swanson, Chicago Red Stars & USA
After missing the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup due to injury, Mallory Swanson made a stellar comeback to the pitch, starting in 27 matches in the NWSL with the Chicago Red Stars to register 13 goals and seven assists.
She continued her comeback at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. She scored the winning goal to help Team USA win gold and finished the tournament with four goals.
Trinity Rodman, Washington Spirit & USA
An integral part of the USWNT front line, Trinity Rodman received her second Ballon d’Or nomination. Scoring five goals in the 2023 NWSL regular season, and six in this year's competition, she is one of the biggest names for the Washington Spirit.
Rodman has also been a pillar for the United States all year, scoring three goals to earn the Gold Medal at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games and helping her team win the 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup.
Khadija Shaw, Manchester City W.F.C. & Jamaica
Concacaf Women’s Player of the Year in 2022, and a nominee to retain that title in 2023/24, Jamaican captain Khadija Shaw also made the shortlist for another prestigious award.
Her season with Manchester City ended as runners-up in the Women’s Super League in England, where she finished as the Best Player of the season after 22 goals in 26 matches to win the Golden Boot. She recently added another honor to her list by winning the PFA Women’s Player of the Year, becoming the first Concacaf player to win the award.
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
