BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year 2019 is open for voting

Today also marks 50 days to go until the start of the Women’s World Cup in France. The 2019 shortlisted footballers are:

BBC Sports presenter Sarah Mulkerrins is available on request for interviews to talk about the shortlisted players, women’s football and the importance of the BBC award now in its fifth year.

Mary Hockaday, Controller of BBC World Service English said: “Now in its fifth year, the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year celebrates the considerable skill of the individual players, their commitment to the women’s game and its growing popularity. Ahead of the Women’s World Cup this summer, fans around the world now have a chance to vote for their favourite player out of the five shortlisted players who are at the top of their game.”

The shortlist will be announced during BBC World Service’s programme Newsday. The vote will close on 2 May at 8am and the winner of the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year 2019 will be revealed on Tuesday 22 May 2018 on BBC World News, online at bbc.com/womensfootball and on BBC social media channels.

The shortlist was selected by a large panel of experts involved in the game from all around the world, including coaches, players, administrators and journalists.

Pernille Harder says: “Individual awards like this are a big thing. The team titles are the biggest and if you don’t win them you’ll never win individual awards, but it’s good to be recognised.”

Ada Hegerberg says:  “It’s amazing to be nominated. It’s a big deal for me and a great honour. It’s something that pushes me and gives me a lot of inspiration.”

Lindsey Horan says: “I hope I could win it but truly I’m just honoured. It all came together when I changed my mentality, and my confidence came together. I had the best season I’ve had in my career.”

Sam Kerr says: “I think I play with a lot of spirit and a lot of heart and maybe I’ve just been very consistent scoring. I’m a team player and it would be good to win this award to give back to my team mates.”

Saki Kumagai says: “It’s an honour. For me it’s good, every day we can train with the best players in the world. I love it. Whatever I achieve is not down to me, I have to thank my team mates.”

Last year’s winner was British footballer Lucy Bronze who plays for Olympique Lyonnais . The 2017 winner was Norwegian footballer Ada Hegerberg who also plays for Olympique Lyonnais. The 2016 winner was Scottish footballer Kim Little who plays for Arsenal, and the 2015 winner was Nigerian footballer Asisat Oshoala who now plays for Barcelona Femení.

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Voting information

• The public can vote online for free at bbc.com/womensfootball
• Further details about the awards and terms and conditions are online at bbc.com/womensfootball
• Audiences can follow the competition on the BBC World Service, and on the dedicated pages on bbc.com/womensfootball
• Information and updates on the competition will also be available on social media on BBC World Service’s Facebook and on Twitter via @bbcworldservice, plus on BBC Sport’s Facebook and Twitter @bbcsport. Audiences can get involved by using the #BBCWFOTY