The five England players to be nominated for the Ballon d'Or Feminin have been revealed, with Lauren James being snubbed in the process. The Lionesses created history over the summer, retaining their European Championship crown and becoming the first English team to win a major trophy on foreign soil. For some of the squad, it was the continuation of what was already an incredible campaign, while others shone on the biggest stage to such an extent that they couldn't be ignored.
While many were fretting about James' fitness heading into and during the Euros due to her being perceived as the biggest talent on Sarina Wiegman's books, the Chelsea star didn't get a look in, with just two Blues players even being considered.
Lauren James Misses Out on Ballon d'Or Nomination
Veteran Lucy Bronze is included
On the same day that the 30 male contenders were announced, the same was done for the women's award, with Alessia Russo the pick of the English stars to be included in the final shortlist. The Arsenal striker is one of the favourites for the trophy, having helped the Gunners win the Champions League for just the second time in their history before helping the Lionesses to glory over the summer.
Another player who stole the hearts of the nation over the course of the tournament was Chloe Kelly. Having endured a tough season at club level which saw her ousted by Manchester City, she settled in at Arsenal to win the Champions League alongside Russo, before playing a crucial role as an impact substitute across the Euros for England, culminating in her scoring the winning penalty in the shootout against Spain.
Skipper Leah Williamson also earned herself a nomination, as did goalkeeper Hannah Hampton. The Chelsea star had some big shoes to fill following the retirement of Mary Earps, but her penalty-saving heroics helped the Lionesses en route to several victories and completed a remarkable story, having previously been told she wouldn't be able to play football due to an eye condition.
Finally, Lucy Bronze also joins her compatriots off the back of playing the entire tournament over the summer with a fractured tibia.