Sports
Five Lionesses earn Fifpro World XI places
Five England players have been included in the Fifpro women’s World XI team.
Chelsea defender Lucy Bronze has been selected for a seventh time – meaning she equals the women’s appearance record set by France’s Wendie Renard.
Fellow defender Alex Greenwood, goalkeeper Mary Earps, midfielder Keira Walsh and forward Lauren James were the other Lionesses chosen by their fellow professionals.
Brazilian star Marta makes her return to the team of the year for the first time since 2021, while Zambia and Orlando Pride striker Barbra Banda, the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year 2024, becomes the first African player to be included.
Spanish trio Olga Carmona, Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmati – who won the women’s Ballon d’Or for the second year in a row in October – and Colombia forward Linda Caicedo complete the line-up.
The Fifpro World XI award is voted for solely by fellow professional footballers with a record-breaking 7,000 women’s football players casting their vote.