FIFPro XI: Alozie in, Nnadozie, Ajibade, Arsenal star snubbed in 25-woman shortlist

FIFPro have released this shortlist of women footballers for their famous World XI and it conspicuously omits some of the biggest names in the sport, including many of Nigeria’s African champions. 

Super Falcons and Houston Dash right back Michelle Alozie was the only member of The Mission X achieving side to make the shortlist of 25 players. Zambia's Barbara Banda and Morocco's Ghizlane Chebbak were the only other African players to make the list. 

Goalkeepers

Hannah Hampton (Chelsea, England)

Ann-Katrin Berger (Gotham/Germany)

Mary Earps (Paris Saint-Germain/England)

 Defenders

Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash/Nigeria)

Ona Batlle (Barcelona/Spain)

Millie Bright (Chelsea/England)

Lucy Bronze (Chelsea/England)

Olga Carmona (Paris Saint-Germain/Spain)

Ellie Carpenter (Chelsea/Australia)

Alex Greenwood (Manchester City/England)

Leah Williamson (Arsenal/England)

Midfielders

Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona/Spain)

Ghizlane Chebbak (Al-Hilal/Morocco)

Debinha (Kansas City Current/Brazil)

Patri Guijarro (Barcelona/Spain)

Vicky Lopez (Barcelona/Spain)

Alexia Putellas (Barcelona/Spain)

Ella Toone (Manchester United/England)

Keira Walsh (Chelsea/England).

Forwards

Michelle Agyemang (Brighton/England)

Barbra Banda (Orlando Pride/Zambia)

Linda Caicedo (Real Madrid/Colombia)

Athenea del Castillo (Real Madrid/Spain)

Chloe Kelly (Arsenal/England) 

Marta (Orlando Pride/Brazil)

Alessia Russo (Arsenal/England)

For an award (World XI) marketed as global and voted for by players across confederations, the shortlist is quite Eurocentric.

This might be understandable in any other year, given the development of football in that part of the world. However, the WAFCON was played this year and the Player of the Tournament, Rasheedat Ajibade, was omitted. 

When a player like Mary Earps, who was not in the England squad for the Euros, makes the list over WAFCON-winning Chiamaka Nnadozie, it calls into question the decision-making of the voters. 

Awards are typically a popularity contest, but the voters (the players) of FIFPro’s shortlist for the Women's World XI take it up a notch. The omission of Arsenal's Mariona Caldentey, who came second in the Ballon d'Or, won the Champions League and reached the Euros finals, vitiates the validity of this list.