- Alex Morgan is one of 23 nominees in the running for the 2022 FIFA FIFPRO Women's World 11
- Could USA star be named in the World 11 for a fifth time?
- FIFPRO outlines why Morgan is on the 23-player shortlist thanks to peer vote
At the age of 33 and with a fabulous career behind her, Alex Morgan needs no introduction: she’s one of the greatest players of her generation. And one of the keys to her greatness is the consistency she has maintained at the highest level, the same consistency that has enabled her once again to be among the candidates for the 2022 FIFA FIFPRO Women’s World 11.
Her fellow professionals saw it that way and placed her on the list of the 23 players who received the highest number of votes to be included in the best women’s team for 2022.
Morgan is in the running alongside fellow forwards Ada Hegerberg (Olympique Lyonnais, Norway), Sam Kerr (Chelsea, Australia), Beth Mead (Arsenal, England), Vivianne Miedema (Arsenal, Netherlands) and Ellen White (Manchester City, England).
How does the World 11 voting work?
The 2021/22 season
Morgan played the starring role in USA’s title-winning performance in the 2022 Concacaf W Championship. She scored the only goal in the final against Canada from the penalty spot and was voted Player of the Tournament.
In all, she netted three times to help the Americans lift the continental trophy for the ninth time.
To achieve that performance, Morgan made a new start in 2022 after deciding in 2021 to leave Orlando Pride. She moved to California and signed for San Diego Wave.
There she achieved her greatest feat of the 2021/22 season by becoming the third player in history to score four goals in a NWSL match: on 8 May 2022 in the 4-0 victory against NJ/NY Gotham FC. Morgan equalled the record of Sam Kerr in 2017 and Kristen Hamilton in 2019.
Morgan returned to the US national team after a few months of not being selected by manager Vlatko Andonoski. It was foretaste of how the year was to end for her: winning the NWSL Golden Boot and selected for the 2022 NWSL Best XI. It should be noted that in USA, the season ended in the last days of October, outside the reference period set for the 2022 Women’s World 11 (from 7 August 2021 to 31 July 2022).
Individual achievements in 2021/22
- Golden Ball at the 2022 Concacaf W Championship
- Member of the Best XI of the 2022 Concacaf W Championship
- Third player in history to score four goals in an NWSL match
Morgan in the FIFA FIFPRO Women’s World 11
Morgan is one of the leading figures in the history of the FIFA FIFPRO Women’s World 11, having been chosen four times. She shares this distinction with Marta (Brazil) and Lucy Bronze (England), all of them in second place behind Wendie Renard, who is the player with the record number of FIFA FIFPRO Women's World 11 appearances (six).
Morgan made her debut in the World 11 in 2016 and was also chosen by her fellow players in 2017 and 2019. In 2020 she wasn’t selected, as the 2019/20 season was when she was mostly away from the field of play because of her pregnancy. She returned to the World 11 in 2021.
If selected in 2022, Morgan will reach five appearances and could become Renard’s only immediate rival in the all-time list if Bronze does not make the final cut.
“[In Orlando] I was pretty burnt out. I wasn't in a mind-set where I was happy with my production level and how I was playing. [In San Diego] I was just happier in life. The goals came by me investing in San Diego 100 percent”
— by Alex Morgan
The football world speaks about Morgan
"I know it sounds crazy, but I do believe she’s actually playing better every time you see her on the field. When you need it the most, you can count on her."
Vlatko Andonovski, USA manager
"Alex is a fierce competitor. She wants to put a stamp on her career in this final stretch. It's critical to her legacy - she wants to prove she's in the top three of all time."
Heather O’Reilly, winner of three Olympic gold medals and world champion with USA
When will the 2022 FIFA FIFPRO Women’s World 11 be known?
The 2022 FIFA FIFPRO Women’s World 11 will be revealed at The Best FIFA Football Awards 2022, for which the gala will be held on 27 February 2023 in Paris.
It will be made up of the 11 players – out of the 23 on the final list – who receive the most votes in their position.
