England trio up for Women's Ballon d'Or, Leah Williamson snubbed

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 12 August 2022

England trio up for Women's Ballon d'Or, Williamson snubbed

England trio Beth Mead, Lucy Bronze and Millie Bright are nominated for the 2022 Women's Ballon d'Or, but there is no place for Leah Williamson on the list.

Three England players have been nominated for the 2022 Women's Ballon d'Or, but Leah Williamson has not made the list.

The Arsenal defender captained the Lionesses to Euro 2022 glory earlier this summer, but her domestic season was disrupted by a serious hamstring injury back in November.

In Williamson's absence, club and national teammate Beth Mead is up for the prestigious award after ending the continental tournament with six goals to her name - clinching the Golden Boot.

Mead also registered 11 goals and eight assists in 22 Women's Super League games for Arsenal, who are further represented by Vivianne Miedema after her 14-goal haul domestically.

A pair of English defenders in Lucy Bronze and Millie Bright have also been nominated, with the former already finishing as runner-up to Megan Rapinoe in 2019.

Bright was a stalwart at the back for England at Euro 2022 and also secured the WSL and Women's FA Cup double with Chelsea, whose star striker Samantha Kerr has also made the list.

Barcelona's Alexia Putellas is aiming to defend the honour she won in 2021, although the Spaniard missed the Women's Euros due to a devastating ACL injury, which will also threaten her participation in the 2022-23 domestic season.

2022 WOMEN'S BALLON D'OR NOMINEES IN FULL:

Selma Bacha (Lyon), Fridolina Rolfo (Barcelona), Vivianne Miedema (Arsenal), Lucy Bronze (Barcelona), Sam Kerr (Chelsea), Christiane Endler (Lyon), Lena Oberdorf (Wolfsburg), Kadidiatou Diani (Paris St-Germain), Catarina Macario (Lyon) Alexia Putellas (Barcelona), Alexandra Popp (Wolfsburg), Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona), Wendie Renard (Lyon), Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave), Beth Mead (Arsenal), Asisat Oshoala (Barcelona), Marie-Antoinette Katoto (Paris St-Germain), Millie Bright (Chelsea), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Ada Hegerberg (Lyon)