Carli Lloyd is part of the first-ever Women’s World XI voted on by players and unveiled by FIFPro. (Photo Copyright Patricia Giobetti for The Equalizer)
FIFPro announced the first-ever Women’s World XI on Thursday, a world all-star team selected by players from across the globe. Four players from the United States team which won the 2015 Women’s World Cup title are on the list.
Carli Lloyd, the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year, made the list, along with U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo and defenders Meghan Klingenberg and Julie Johnston.
France was the next-most represented country with three players: defender Wendie Renard, midfielder Amandine Henry and forward Eugenie Le Sommer.
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FIFPro, which is the world union for soccer players, created the concept of a Women’s World XI throughout 2015 as women’s players expressed their interest in seeking the same kind of recognition as men get. FIFA and FIFPro have an official World XI for the men which is honored at the annual Ballon d’Or Gala.
“This is a great step forward in terms of equality, respect and recognition for women’s football,” Lloyd said.
“I’d like to thank FIFPro for making this possible. It’s an initiative that will be appreciated by female players all over the world.”
FIFPro says that “players of 33 different nationalities spread out over 20 countries participated in this year’s test vote. Players were asked to pick one goalkeeper, four defenders, three midfielders and three forwards, replicating the same format used in deciding the men’s award.”
“This is a landmark for the women’s game,” FIFPro General-Secretary Theo van Seggelen said.
The full list is as follows:
Goalkeeper:
- Hope Solo (USA, Seattle Reign FC)
Defenders (4):
- Wendie Renard (France, Lyon)
- Meghan Klingenberg (USA, Portland Thorns FC)
- Kadeisha Buchanan (Canada, West Virginia Mountaineers)
- Julie Johnston (USA, Chicago Red Stars)
Midfielders (3):
- Carli Lloyd (USA, Houston Dash)
- Amandine Henry (France, Lyon)
- Aya Miyama (Japan, Okoyama Yunogo Belle)
Forwards (3):
- *Celia Sasic (Germany, 1.FFC Frankfurt)
- Eugenie Le Sommer (France, Lyon)
- Anja Mittag (Germany, PSG)
*Retired
Voting parties, according to FIFPro:
Four national teams participated: Australia, Cameroon, Finland and Portugal. Australia and Cameroon appeared in the 2015 Women’s World Cup Finals in Canada and reached the final 16.
Participating players from clubs such as Bayern Munich, Chelsea (English champions), Olympique Lyon (French champions), Paris Saint-Germain (Champions League finalists), VfL Wolfsburg (runners-up Germany), FC Rosengard (Swedish champions), Verona, (Italian champions) Atlético Madrid (runners-up Spain), Houston Dash and Portland Thorns.
