There was ongoing talk during the World Cup about how good the United States women’s national team‘s second team of 11 is compared to the rest of the world. Well, players from around the world have voted more than a full starting 11 of Americans into the top 55 players globally.
FIFA and FIFPro announced on Wednesday the 55-player shortlist for the women’s world XI which will be revealed on Sept. 23. The U.S. leads all countries with 14 players on the list, twice as many as the next closest nations (England and Netherlands with seven). Lyon leads all clubs with 13 contracted players on the list. The next closest clubs to the European champions are Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, with four players each.
This is the fourth Women’s World 11 organized by FIFPro, the world football players union. The last world 11 was in 2017. The players on the women’s 11 are voted on exclusively by women’s players — over 3,500 — worldwide.
The world 11 will be revealed on Sept. 23 in Milan, at FIFA’s Best Football Awards gala. It will be the first time that both the Women’s and the Men’s World 11 are presented on the same stage. U.S. forwards Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe, and England defender Lucy Bronze, are the three finalists for FIFA Best Women’s Player 2019.
The 55 players who received the most votes are (in alphabetical order):
Name (Country, current club/previous club)
GOALKEEPERS (5)
Sarah Bouhaddi (France, Olympique Lyonnais)
Christiane Endler (Chile, Paris Saint-Germain)
Hedvig Lindahl (Sweden, VfL Wolfsburg/Chelsea)
Alyssa Naeher (USA, Chicago Red Stars)
Sari van Veenendaal (The Netherlands, Atletico)
DEFENDERS (20)
Millie Bright (England, Chelsea)
Lucy Bronze (England, Olympique Lyonnais, photo)
Kadeisha Buchanan (Canada, Olympique Lyonnais)
Abby Dahlkemper (USA, North Carolina Courage)
Crystal Dunn (USA, North Carolina Courage)
Nilla Fischer (Sweden, Linkopings/VfL Wolfsburg)
Sara Gama (Italy, Juventus)
Stefanie van der Gragt (The Netherlands, FC Barcelona)
Alex Greenwood (England, Olympique Lyonnais)
Stephanie Houghton (England, Manchester City)
Ali Krieger (USA, Orlando Pride)
Saki Kumagai (Japan, Olympique Lyonnais)
Amel Majri (France, Olympique Lyonnais)
Griedge Mbock Olympique Lyonnais
Maren Mjelde (Norway, Chelsea)
Kelley O’Hara (USA, Utah Royals)
Wendie Renard (France, Olympique Lyonnais)
Michelle Romero (Venezuela, Deportivo La Coruna)
Camila Saez (Chile, Rayo Vallecano)
Becky Sauerbrunn (USA, Utah Royals)
MIDFIELDERS (15)
Andressa Alves (Brazil, AS Roma)
Kosovare Asllani (Sweden, CD Tacon/Paris Saint-Germain)
Sara Daebritz (Germany, Paris Saint-Germain)
Danielle van de Donk (The Netherlands, Arsenal)
Julie Ertz (USA, Chicago Red Stars)
Formiga (Brazil, Paris Saint-Germain)
Jackie Groenen (The Netherlands, Manchester United)
Amandine Henry (France, Olympique Lyonnais)
Lindsey Horan (USA, Portland Thorns)
Rose Lavelle (USA, Washington Spirit, photo)
Carli Lloyd (USA, Sky Blue)
Dzsenifer Marozsan (Germany, Olympique Lyonnais)
Samantha Mewis (USA, North Carolina Courage)
Sherida Spitse (The Netherlands, Valerenga)
Keira Walsh (England, Manchester City)
FORWARDS (15)
Oriana Altuve (Venezuela, Rayo Vallecano)
Caroline Graham Hansen (Norway, FC Barcelona)
Pernille Harder (Denmark, VfL Wolfburg)
Tobin Heath (USA, Portland Thorns)
Ada Hegerberg (Norway, Olympique Lyonnais)
Jennifer Hermoso (Spain, FC Barcelona)
Sam Kerr (Australia, Chicago Red Stars)
Eugenie Le Sommer (France, Olympique Lyonnais)
Lieke Martens (The Netherlands, FC Barcelona)
Vivianne Miedema (The Netherlands, Arsenal, photo)
Alex Morgan (USA, Orlando Pride)
Nikita Parris (England, Olympique Lyonnais)
Megan Rapinoe (USA, Reign FC)
Marta Vieira da Silva (Brazil, Orlando Pride)
Ellen White (England, Manchester City)
Choosing from the 55 players above, who would you pick to create the best world 11? Let us know in the comments section below.
