- Lucy Bronze was named in the FIFA FIFPRO World 11 for a fifth time
- Women’s World 11 was revealed at The Best FIFA Football Awards gala
- The World 11 is the only global player award decided exclusively by footballers
Barcelona and England defender Lucy Bronze says being in the FIFA FIFPRO World 11 is one of the best awards a player can win.
Voted for by thousands of players, the World 11 is the only global player award decided exclusively by footballers.
"I feel like being in the World 11 is almost better than being the best player. That might sound controversial, but the World 11 is solely voted for by the players – and, to me, that’s the opinion that doesn’t necessarily matter the most, but it means the most," said Bronze.
"It's the players that play against you; the players that have analysed your game, that have been playing with or against you for many years or a couple of games and they think, ‘Lucy Bronze was hard to play against’.
"They're the players that feel it in the moment, and not just those watching it on TV, or coaches, fans or the media. It's just got a different feel to it. That's why, for me, it's one of the best awards to get."
Bronze’s selection in the 2022 team of the year marks her fifth World 11 appearance. The attacking right-back has been present in five successive World 11 teams since 2017.
While Bronze has been here many times before, this 2022 appearance has proven extra sweet: being named in a team laden with club and international team-mates.
Indeed, four English players – Leah Williamson, Keira Walsh, Beth Mead and Bronze – marked a first for the World 11 and were just rewards for the Lionesses on the back of their first continental triumph at the Women’s EURO 2022.
"I think it's nice that there's so many England players now in the World 11," said Bronze. "I remember back to my first time [in the World 11] and I was the only one, so times are changing, and the standard of the England team is obviously getting around and people are recognising us for the team that we are and the players that we are."
But it’s not just international team-mates that join Bronze in the World 11: club team-mates Alexia Putellas and Mapi Leon also made the team of the year.
"The whole 11 is spectacular and I'm lucky to have played with most of the players, so it’s pretty nice for me," said Bronze.
