Fresh from lifting their maiden Women’s European Championship in July last year, the England Senior Women’s National Team has been nominated for the Laureus World Team of the Year.
The England Lionesses defeated old rivals and eight-time champions Germany 2-1 in a pulsating EURO 2022 final at Wembley – with substitute Chloe Kelly netting the winner in extra time with 10 minutes remaining.
Earlier Ella Toone had also come from the bench to give the hosts the lead in the 62nd minute, which was cancelled by Germany’s Lina Magull 17 minutes later to take the match to extra time and a nervy finish at a sold out Wembley with a record crowd of 87,192.
This was England’s first major football title since their male counterparts won the FIFA World Cup in 1996.
For the Laureus nomination, Sarina Wiegman’s side faces very stiff competition from the recently crowned men’s FIFA World Cup champions, the Lionel Messi-led Argentina and Karim Benzema’s Real Madrid who won the EUFA Champions League.
Also on the nomination list are France’s men’s rugby team, NBA side the Golden State Warriors and Formula 1 World Champions Red Bull.
Italy’s Men’s Football National Team won this award in 2022.
Since the inception of the awards in 2000, several women’s football teams have been nominated, but are yet to lift the trophy: USA Women’s National Team – 2000, 2016 Germany Women National team – 2004, 2008, 2010; Japan Women’s National – 2012;Barcelona Women Football Team – 2022.
In individual awards, FC Barcelona Femeni and Spain’s Alexia Putellas has strong competition in the Sportswoman of the Year category.
One of the most decorated footballers in the world in women’s football, the midfielder is considered the best in the game. She has won six league titles, six Copa de la Reina trophies and a Women’s Champions League with the Spanish giants.
In the 2020/21 season, Putellas won the Ballon d’Or Féminin, the Best FIFA Women’s Player, and UEFA Women’s Player of the Year all in the same year – and went on to retain the Ballon d’Or award the following season, beating hot stars Beth Mead and Sam Kerr.
For the Laureus award, the FC Barcelona captain battle it out with Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (Jamaica) – Athletics; Katie Ledecky (USA) – Swimming; Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (USA) – Athletics; Mikaela Shiffrin (USA) – Alpine skiing and Iga Swiatek (Poland) – Tennis.
This is Putellas’ second nomination in a row – last she was pipped to the title by Jamaican track and field sensation Elaine Thompson-Herah.
The 2023 winners will be revealed at an awards ceremony later this year.
Full list of nominees:
Team of the Year
England women’s football team
Argentina men’s football team
France men’s rugby team
Golden State Warriors (USA) – Basketball
Red Bull Racing – Formula 1
Real Madrid (Spain) – Football
Sportswoman of the Year:
Alexia Putellas (Spain) – Football
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (Jamaica) – Athletics
Katie Ledecky (USA) – Swimming
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (USA) – Athletics
Mikaela Shiffrin (USA) – Alpine skiing
Iga Swiatek (Poland) – Tennis
Sportsman of the Year:
Steph Curry (USA) – Basketball
Armand Duplantis (Sweden) – Athletics
Kylian Mbappe (France) – Football
Lionel Messi (Argentina) – Football
Rafael Nadal (Spain) – Tennis
Max Verstappen (Netherlands) – Formula 1
Breakthrough of the Year:
Carlos Alcaraz (Spain) – Tennis
Tobi Amusan (Nigeria) – Athletics
Nathan Chen (USA) – Figure skating
Morocco men’s football team
Elena Rybakina (Kazakhstan) – Tennis
Scottie Scheffler (USA) – Golf
Comeback of the Year:
Francesco Bagnaia (Italy) – MotoGP
Christian Eriksen (Denmark) – Football
Jakob Ingebrigtsen (Norway) – Athletics
Klay Thompson (USA) – Basketball
Annemiek van Vleuten (Netherlands) – Cycling
Tiger Woods (USA) – Golf
Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability:
Diede de Groot (Netherlands) – Wheelchair tennis
Catherine Debrunner (Switzerland) – Para-athletics
Declan Farmer (USA) – Para-ice hockey
Cameron Leslie (New Zealand) – Para-swimming and wheelchair rugby
Oksana Masters (USA) – Para-cross-country skiing
Jesper Saltvik Pedersen (Norway) – Para-alpine skiing
World Action Sportsperson of the Year:
Justine Dupont (France) – Big wave surfing
Stephanie Gilmore (Australia) – Surfing
Eileen Gu (China) – Freestyle skiing
Chloe Kim (USA) – Snowboarding
Rayssa Leal (Brazil) – Skateboarding
Filipe Toledo (Brazil) – Surfing
Sport for Good Award:
Boxgirls (Kenya) – Boxing
High Five (Germany) – Action sports
Made For More (South Africa) – Multi-sport
Slum Soccer (India) – Football
TeamUp – Support for refugee children
By Matlhomola Morake
