It is not the first time the shortlists have been controversial. Last year, Arsenal and Spain midfielder Mariona Caldentey was not included in the FifPro World XI despite coming runner-up in the Ballon d'Or.In 2024, when 7,000 women's footballers voted, four of the top five in the Ballon d'Or were not shortlisted, including the often overlooked Graham Hansen.Instead, five Lionesses made the cut despite not winning a major trophy that year or having any finalists in the Ballon d'Or top 10.This time around the WSL's Player of the Year Shaw missed out.
She helped Manchester City win a league and FA Cup double as their top scorer with 21 goals in 22 games.Meanwhile, the inclusions of England trio Toone, Kelly and Beever-Jones were controversial with all three initially failing to make the most recent Lionesses squad.Chelsea's Beever-Jones scored just seven goals in all competitions for club and country during the period of voting, while Toone and Kelly both struggled for form and fitness in that time.In contrast, England team-mates Lauren Hemp of Manchester City and Chelsea's Lauren James were in good form and impressed for their clubs but missed out. However, Lyon striker Ada Hegerberg is in.
The 2018 Ballon d'Or winner did not score in the knockout stages of the Women's Champions League and was not a guaranteed starter for Lyon in the first period of voting in what was a below-par season for her standards.Goalkeepers: Ann-Katrin Berger (Gotham, Germany), Catalina Coll (Barcelona, Spain), Hannah Hampton (Chelsea, England).Defenders: Ona Batlle (Barcelona/Arsenal, Spain), Lucy Bronze (Chelsea, England), Ellie Carpenter (Chelsea, Australia), Emily Fox (Arsenal, USA), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City, England), Mapi Leon (Barcelona/London City Lionesses, Spain), Katie McCabe (Arsenal/Chelsea, Republic of Ireland), Irene Paredes (Barcelona). Spain)Midfielders: Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona, Spain), Ghizlane Chebbak (Al-Hilal/Free Agent, Morocco), Patri Guijarro (Barcelona, Spain), Anaele Le Moguedec (Paris FC, France), Vicky Lopez (Barcelona, Spain), Alexia Putellas (Barcelona/London City Lionesses, Spain), Ella Toone (Manchester United, England).Forwards: Barbra Banda (Orlando Pride, Zambia), Aggie Beever-Jones (Chelsea, England), Athenea del Castillo (Real Madrid, Spain), Ada Hegerberg (OL Lyonnes, Norway), Chloe Kelly (Arsenal, England), Ewa Pajor (Barcelona, Poland), Claudia Pina (Barcelona, Spain), Alessia Russo (Arsenal, England).