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| UEFA Women's Player of the Year Award | |
|---|---|
| Name | UEFA Women's Player of the Year Award |
| Awarded for | Outstanding female footballer playing for a club in Europe |
| Presenter | Union of European Football Associations |
| Country | Europe |
| First awarded | 2013 |
UEFA Women's Player of the Year Award is an annual association football prize presented by the Union of European Football Associations to the best female player who has played for a club in Europe during the previous season. Created to parallel the UEFA Men's Player of the Year Award, the prize recognizes performance in continental club competitions such as the UEFA Women's Champions League while also considering domestic league and international performances in competitions like the FIFA Women's World Cup and the UEFA Women's Championship. Recipients are chosen through a nomination and voting process involving coaches and journalists from across UEFA's member associations.
The award was established by UEFA in 2013 to acknowledge the growing professionalization of women's club football and to mirror existing accolades such as the Ballon d'Or and the FIFA Best awards. Its inauguration followed increasing visibility from tournaments including the UEFA Women's Champions League, the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup and the London 2012 Olympic Games women's football tournament. Early editions highlighted players from leading clubs like Olympique Lyonnais Féminin, FC Barcelona Femení, VfL Wolfsburg and Arsenal W.F.C., and showcased stars who had already been prominent at competitions such as the UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship and the SheBelieves Cup.
Eligibility requires the player to have played for a club within an association of UEFA during the relevant season; performances for national teams in UEFA Women's Championship qualifying and final tournaments are considered alongside club achievements in domestic competitions such as Division 1 Féminine and the FA Women's Super League. A shortlist is compiled by an appointed panel including representatives from clubs and media across associations like the German Football Association, the Real Federación Española de Fútbol, and the French Football Federation. Nominees frequently include players from prominent squads such as Manchester City W.F.C., Chelsea F.C. Women, Juventus Women, and FC Bayern Munich (women). The shortlist often mirrors top performers from tournaments like the UEFA Women's Champions League knockout stages and league-winning campaigns in Damallsvenskan and the Nevellie?.
Final voting is conducted by national team coaches who competed in UEFA competitions, club coaches from teams participating in UEFA continental tournaments, and selected sports journalists accredited by associations including the Association of European Journalists and national outlets like The Guardian and L'Équipe. Each voter ranks their top three choices; points are allocated in a weighted system to determine the winner. The process echoes voting structures used in awards such as the FIFA Ballon d'Or and the UEFA Men's Player of the Year Award, and involves coordination with officials from bodies like FIFA and media organisations such as BBC Sport and ESPN.
Winners are presented with a trophy at a formal ceremony organised by UEFA in conjunction with events like the UEFA Champions League Group Stage draw or the UEFA Congress. The physical award is sculpted to reflect European football iconography and is comparable in prestige to trophies bestowed at ceremonies including the Ballon d'Or gala and the FIFA The Best awards. The presentation attracts attendees from leading clubs such as Olympique Lyonnais, FC Barcelona, national associations like the Royal Spanish Football Federation, and celebrities from sports media outlets like Sky Sports.
Since 2013, recipients have included leading figures in women's football from clubs and national teams: prominent winners have been affiliated with Olympique Lyonnais Féminin, FC Barcelona Femení, VfL Wolfsburg (women), Chelsea F.C. Women, and Arsenal W.F.C.. Nominees frequently overlap with recipients of honours such as the FIFA Puskás Award (for notable moments), the IFFHS World's Best Woman Player and national player of the year awards from associations like the German Football Association and the Royal Dutch Football Association. Shortlists routinely feature international stars from United States, Netherlands, Sweden, Spain, France, and Germany.
Statistical records track metrics such as most wins, youngest and oldest winners, and frequency by club and nation. Clubs with multiple winners include Olympique Lyonnais Féminin and FC Barcelona Femení, while nations with repeated honourees include France, Spain, Netherlands, and Germany. Performance indicators considered in record tallies include goals and assists in competitions like the UEFA Women's Champions League and domestic leagues such as the FA Women's Super League and Division 1 Féminine. Individual milestones often align with achievements in tournaments like the FIFA Women's World Cup and continental qualifiers organised by UEFA.
The award has drawn critique regarding visibility, voting transparency, and perceived bias toward players from high-profile leagues and clubs such as Division 1 Féminine powerhouses and FA Women's Super League teams. Media organisations including The Guardian, The New York Times sports desk, and broadcasters like Sky Sports have debated the weighting of club versus international performance and the representation of smaller associations such as the Football Association of Ireland and the Football Federation of Armenia. Debates have also referenced parallel controversies around other prizes like the Ballon d'Or and the FIFA Best awards concerning lobbying, regional bias, and the influence of major clubs and agents.
Category:UEFA awards Category:Association football trophies and awards