Barcelona defender Lucy Bronze has criticised the Ballon d'Or organisers for not including England hero Keira Walsh on their 20-person shortlist for the women's award.
France Football, who organise the annual honour, announced their men's and women's shortlists on Friday evening. They also confirmed the nominees for the Kopa Trophy and Yashin Trophy, awarded to the best youngster and goalkeeper respectively.
Bronze was one of three Lionesses to be nominated for the women's Ballon d'Or alongside Chelsea defender Millie Bright and Arsenal forward Beth Mead. Yet the former runner-up was disappointed not to see Manchester City midfielder Walsh not make the shortlist.
More England internationals were expected to make the shortlist after winning the Euros last month. Sarina Wiegman's side defeated Germany 2-1 in the final to claim their first major honour on home soil, with more than 87,000 in attendance at Wembley.
Although Mead was named the Player of the Tournament, Walsh named the Player of the Match in the final for setting up Ella Toone's goal. She was also named in the Team of the Tournament alongside Mead, goalkeeper Mary Earps and captain Leah Williamson.
"Thanks but I don't deserve this," wrote Bronze on Instagram after the shortlist was announced. "The best Lionesses player during the Euros was Keira Walsh. Should be the first English name in the list!"
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Walsh, 25, has played a pivotal role in England's success since her senior debut five years ago, winning 48 caps to date. She's also lifted the WSL, three Women's FA Cups and four Women's League Cups since joining City from Blackburn eight years ago.
Only four WSL players made the shortlist, with Chelsea's Sam Kerr and Arsenal's Vivianne Miedema making the 20. Five Lyon stars are up for the award following their Champions League triumph, including Ada Hegerberg - the first woman to win the Ballon d'Or.
Four Barcelona players have been nominated for the Ballon d'Or - including defending champion Alexia Putellas - with the other candidates representing the likes of Paris Saint-Germain, San Diego Wave, Wolfsburg and Washington Spirit.
The women's Ballon d'Or has been awarded since 2018, with Hegerberg, Putellas and USA international Megan Rapinoe winning the prize to date. The honour was not awarded in 2020 - for both men and women - due to the Covid pandemic.
Bronze is no stranger to success. The 30-year-old has won countless honours at club level - including three consecutive Champions Leagues at Lyon - and was named FIFA's Player of the Year in 2020, the year the Ballon d'Or wasn't awarded.
Women's Ballon d'Or shortlist: Asisat Oshoala, Marie-Antoinette Katoto, Millie Bright, Trinity Rodman, Ada Hegerberg, Selma Bacha, Fridolina Rolfo, Vivianne Miedema, Lucy Bronze, Sam Kerr, Christiane Endler, Lena Oberdorf, Kadidiatou Diani, Catarina Macario, Alexia Putellas, Alexandra Popp, Aitana Bonmati, Wendie Renard, Alex Morgan, Beth Mead.
