90min

Ranking the finalists for The Best FIFA Women's Player 2021

By Jamie Spencer

Ballon d'Or holder Alexia Putellas is among the nominees
Ballon d'Or holder Alexia Putellas is among the nominees / Eric Alonso/GettyImages
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FIFA has cut the list of nominees in the running to be named the best women's player of 2021 down to the final three ahead of the award ceremony on Monday 17 January.

Here's a closer look at the remaining finalists and what order they might finish in come the results...

3. Sam Kerr (Chelsea)

Sam Kerr
Sam Kerr has become the best player in a competitive WSL / Stuart Franklin/GettyImages

Sam Kerr, having began slowly when she first joined Chelsea at the start of 2020, came into her own in 2021.

The Australian was WSL Golden Boot winner last season, eclipsing Arsenal superstar Vivianne Miedema in the process, and scored more than 20 WSL goals in the calendar year as a whole after a similarly flying start to 2021/22.

2021 was also the year that Kerr laid her hands on three domestic trophies with Chelsea, landing the WSL title, FA Cup and Conti Cup. She and Chelsea fell marginally short in the Champions League, which is what should ultimately see her place third in the final rankings here.

2. Jennifer Hermoso (Barcelona)

Jennifer Hermoso enjoyed a prolific 2021
Jennifer Hermoso enjoyed a prolific 2021 / Alex Grimm/GettyImages

Barcelona's Jennifer Hermoso was perhaps the most in-form striker in the world in 2021. She finished top scorer in Spain's Primera Division for the third season in a row in 2020/21 and was also top of the Champions League goal charts as well, with her club cruising to victory.

Hermoso has already been named Champions League forward of last season by UEFA and stands every chance of adding another honour here.

The 31-year-old finished second in the recent Ballon d'Or standings because one of her Barcelona colleagues was even better in 2021.

1. Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)

Alexia Putellas has already recently won the Ballon d'Or
Alexia Putellas has already recently won the Ballon d'Or / Quality Sport Images/GettyImages

Alexia Putellas has been the superstar at the very heart of Barcelona's surge to the pinnacle of women's club football.

She is the current Ballon d'Or Feminin holder, leaving the rest of the nominees in her wake in the final vote, as well as the Champions League midfielder of the season and UEFA player of the year.

Putellas hasn't slowed down either. At the time of writing, she is top scorer in Spain's Primera Division, with Barcelona cruising towards another title, and is also her club's top scorer at this stage of the Champions League.

She is quite simply the best player in the world at this moment in time and all eyes will be on her in Spain colours at Euro 2022 in the summer.

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