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Sophia Smith earns nomination for Ballon d’Or Feminin award

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The 2023 Ballon d’Or Feminin shortlist was announced on Wednesday with a rising U.S. women’s national team talent receiving her first nomination.

Sophia Smith was named to the 30-player shortlist on Wednesday, which featured two representatives from Concacaf. Jamaica’s Khadija Shaw joined Smith as the other Concacaf representative on the list.

Smith, 23, has enjoyed a strong 2023 year for club and country. She has tallied 11 goals and five assists in NWSL play for the Portland Thorns between league and Challenge Cup play.

Smith also tallied two goals and two assists for the USWNT in seven appearances this year, finishing as one of the positive performers at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Despite the Round of 16 exit for the Americans, Smith is slated to be one of the key members of the program going forward.

Spain’s Alexis Putellas won the award in 2021 and 2022, but missed majority of 2023 due to injury. Australia’s Sam Kerr has twice finished third in the Ballon d’Or Feminin voting and is the only player in the current shortlist to have been a finalist for the award.

Here is a full list of the Ballon d’Or Feminin shortlist:


Aitana Bonmati (Spain)
Mille Bright (England)
Linda Caicedo (Colombia)
Olga Carmona (Spain)
Rachel Daly (England)
Debinha (Brazil)
Kadidiatou Diani (France)
Mary Earps (England)
Amanda Ilestedt (Sweden)
Patricia Guijarro (Spain)
Yui Hasegawa (Japan)
Sam Kerr (Australia)
Mapi Leon (Spain)
Katie McCabe (Ireland)
Hinata Miyazawa (Japan)
Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria)
Ewa Pajor (Poland)
Salma Paralluelo (Spain)
Alexandra Popp (Germany)
Hayley Raso (Australia)
Alba Redondo (Spain)
Guro Reiten (Norway)
Wendie Renard (France)
Fridolina Rolfo (Sweden)
Jill Roord (Netherlands)
Khadija Shaw (Jamaica)
Sophia Smith (USWNT)
Georgia Stanway (England)
Daphne van Domeslaar (Netherlands)
Lena Oberdorf (Germany)

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