Voting for the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year 2024 is open.
Fans from across the world can vote for their favourite from the five-player shortlist of Barbra Banda, Aitana Bonmati, Naomi Girma, Caroline Graham Hansen, Sophia Smith.
The award was first given out in 2015, making this its 10th year.
Voting closes at 09:00 GMT on Monday, 28 October 2024 and the winner will be announced on Tuesday, 26 November on BBC World Service and the BBC Sport website and app.
The five contenders for the BBC World Service accolade were chosen by a panel of experts, including coaches, players, administrators and journalists.
Below is the opportunity to cast your vote, and read more on the five contenders.
Barbra Banda
Age: 24 Country: Zambia
Club: Orlando Pride Position: Forward
Barbra Banda was already a global superstar after the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and 2023 World Cup, but her profile hit new heights when Orlando Pride paid Chinese club Shanghai Shengli $740,000 (£581,000) to sign her in March.
The second most-expensive women’s footballer – behind her Zambia team-mate Racheal Kundananji – Banda has lived up to that status in the NWSL – America’s top league.
Despite joining Orlando Pride late in the NWSL regular season, the clinical striker has netted 13 goals and sits second in the league’s scoring chart.
Already the first female player to score successive hat-tricks at the Olympic Games, having done so in 2021, Banda once again dazzled on that stage this summer.
The Zambia captain scored four goals in Paris, including a first-half hat-trick against Australia, to become Africa’s all-time top scorer in Olympic football history with 10 goals.
Read Barbra Banda’s full profile
Aitana Bonmati
Age: 26 Country: Spain
Club: Barcelona Position: Midfielder
Aitana Bonmati has once again found herself at the heart of success for both Barcelona and Spain.
The creative playmaker won every possible trophy at club level as Barca secured a historic quadruple.
Bonmati scored a career-best 19 goals across all four competitions as Barca won a fifth straight league title, the Champions League, Supercopa and Copa de la Reina.
The 2023 Ballon d’Or winner netted the first goal in Barca’s Champions League final triumph over Lyon and was named the competition’s player of the season.
And having helped Spain to lift their first World Cup trophy in 2023, Bonmati spearheaded their charge to the inaugural Nations League title in February with four goals, including one in their 2-0 win over France in final.
Read Aitana Bonmati’s full profile
Naomi Girma
Age: 24 Country: United States
Club: San Diego Wave Position: Defender
Defenders can often fly under the radar, but that’s not the case for Naomi Girma.
Described as “the best defender I have ever seen” by United States head coach Emma Hayes, Girma has impressed for both club and country.
The 24-year-old, whose parents were both born in Ethiopia, made history in January when she was named the US women’s player of the year – becoming the first defender to win the award.
She played every minute in her nation’s run to Olympic gold and the centre-back, known for her composure on the ball and leadership qualities off it, was widely considered one of their most pivotal players during the tournament.
The United States’ triumph in Paris wrapped up a remarkable treble in 2024 after their success in the Concacaf Gold Cup and She Believes Cup.
There was similar success for Girma at club level as San Diego Wave secured the NWSL shield and Challenge Cup.
Read Naomi Girma’s full profile
Caroline Graham Hansen
Age: 29 Country: Norway
Club: Barcelona Position: Winger
Often considered one of the most underrated players in world football, Caroline Graham Hansen grabbed fans’ attention with a stellar 2023-24 season.
The crafty winger, who is known for dancing past defenders, has struggled with injury throughout her career but starred on all fronts for Barcelona over the past 12 months.
As the Spanish side wrapped up a historic quadruple, Graham Hansen racked up an incredible 60 goal contributions in 40 games.
She finished Liga F, which Barca won for the fifth straight time, as the Golden Boot winner with 21 goals.
They often arrived at crucial moments, too, with her second-half strike against Chelsea ultimately taking Barcelona into the Champions League final – and a hat-trick against Levante in the final of the Supercopa.
Read Caroline Graham Hansen’s full profile
Sophia Smith
Age: 24 Country: United States
Club: Portland Thorns Position: Forward
There are not many strikers who are more in form than Sophia Smith.
The 24-year-old was a crucial cog in Emma Hayes’ United States gold-medal-winning machine, hitting the back of the net on three occasions at Paris 2024.
The most important of those was an extra-time winner against Germany in the semi-finals, with Smith cool and composed enough to place a delicate chip over the goalkeeper.
Smith also proved prolific in the SheBelieves Cup, scoring two goals and converting her penalty in the shootout in the final against Canada to earn herself the tournament’s Most Valuable Player accolade.
However, her hot goalscoring form for the United States should have come as no surprise given her record at club level.
With the Portland Thorns, Smith finished the 2023 regular season as the NWSL’s Golden Boot winner on 11 goals – a tally she has already matched in 2024.
Read Sophia Smith’s full profile
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