FIFA announced the finalists earlier today.
Three of the five women finalists play in MLS - the others are Kelly Smith (Boston Breakers) and
Cristiane (Chicago Red Stars).
From the WPS press release:
Cristiane, BRA/Chicago Red Stars - The only player in WPS to notch a hat trick this
season, her incredible long-range strike against FC Gold Pride in mid-July was one of the goals of
the year this season in WPS.
FIFA has announced the final five nominees for FIFA World Player of the Year. It's a match between
FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. FC Barcelona has three players nominated for the prestigous award.
Balon d'Or winner Lionel Messi is nominated along with his team mates Xavi Hernandez and Andres
Iniesta.
So Messi won the FIFA Men's Player of the Year Award, and Marta won the FIFA Women's Player of
the Year Award, and no-one was surprised. But should we have been? There's enough out there about
Messi, so let's look at Marta and the women's award for a moment.
Shek Borkowski, former Indiana FC head coach and current head coach of WFC Zvezda-2005 in
Russia, criticised FIFA's shortlist a couple of weeks ago, writing:
The list includes Cristiane (Brazil), Inka Grings (Germany), Marta (Brazil), Birgit Prinz
(Germany), and Kelly Smith (England).
Brazil's Marta captured soccer's World Player of the Year award for the fourth year in a row.
The 23-year-old playmaker beat teammate Cristiane, Kelly Smith of England, and Germans Birgit Prinz
and Inka Grings.
"I'm really surprised," Marta said of winning the award again. Tearful but happy she described
the accolade as "a landmark in my career and in my life".
