THE BEST FIFA FOOTBALL AWARDS
Linda Caicedo nominated for The Best FIFA Women’s Player: check out full shortlist
After impressing at the Women’s World Cup, Real Madrid and Colombia forward Caicedo is among the 16 players shortlisted to be named The Best Women’s Player.
More great news for Linda Caicedo and for Colombian soccer: having been shortlisted for the 2023 Women’s Ballon d’Or earlier this month, the Real Madrid forward has now also been nominated for this year’s The Best FIFA Women’s Player award.
Starred at World Cup as Colombia made last eight
The only South American on the shortlist, the 18-year-old excelled for Colombia in their run to the 2023 Women’s World Cup quarter-finals this summer, becoming the tournament’s youngest ever goalscorer when she netted in Las Cafeteras’ group-stage win over South Korea.
Caicedo has also impressed for Madrid since joining the Spanish club from Deportivo Cali in February. She registered three goals and five assists in her first 13 appearances for the club, as Las Blancas finished the 2022/23 season as runners-up in the Liga F and the Copa de la Reina.
How was The Best shortlist selected?
Announced by world soccer’s governing body on Thursday, the 16-player The Best Women’s Player shortlist was chosen by a panel of experts who analysed performances in the period between 1 August 2022 and 20 August 2023, the date of the Women’s World Cup final.
Among the experts was former Colombia international Isabella Echeverri, who appeared for the country at the 2015 Women’s World Cup.
See also:
Spain, England dominate The Best Women’s Player shortlist
The list of nominees features eight players who were involved in Spain’s final victory over England in Sydney - four for each side. They include the favourite for the award, Spain and Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmatí, who won the World Cup’s Golden Ball and has been named UEFA Women’s Player of the Year for 2022/23.
2023 The Best FIFA Women’s Player: the shortlist in full
- Aitana Bonmatí (Spain/Barcelona)
- Linda Caicedo (Colombia/Real Madrid)
- Rachel Daly (England/Aston Villa)
- Kadidiatou Diani (France/Lyon/Paris Saint-Germain)
- Caitlin Foord (Australia/Arsenal)
- Mary Fowler (Australia/Manchester City)
- Alex Greenwood (England/Manchester City)
- Jennifer Hermoso (Spain/CF Pachuca Women)
- Lindsey Horan (United States/Lyon)
- Amanda Ilestedt (Sweden/Arsenal/Paris Saint-Germain)
- Lauren James (England/Chelsea)
- Sam Kerr (Australia/Chelsea)
- Mapi León (Spain/Barcelona)
- Hinata Miyazawa (Japan/Mynavi Sendai)
- Salma Paralluelo (Spain/Barcelona)
- Keira Walsh (England/Barcelona)
When will The Best award winners be announced?
Fans can now visit the FIFA website to cast their vote for the winner, in a ballot that will also involve national-team coaches and captains, and a jury of selected journalists. The fan vote closes on 6 October.
The recipient of this year’s The Best FIFA Women’s Player award is set be revealed in early 2024, at a prize ceremony where several other accolades - including The Best FIFA Men’s Player - will also be handed out.
While Caicedo is in the running to scoop Best Women’s Player, a Colombian is also among the nominees for the FIFA Fan Award: Miguel Ángel, a supporter of the Bogotá club Millonarios, who achieved his dream of meeting the team’s players before he was euthanised due to an unknown illness.