BBC Women�s Footballer Of the Year: Five Vie For Award

Five players have been shortlisted for the 2016 BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year award.

Cameroon striker Gaelle Enganamouit, France midfielder Amandine Henry, Scotland midfielder Kim Little and USA pair Carli Lloyd and Becky Sauerbrunn are nominated.

You can vote for your favourite online or by text until 08:00 GMT/09:00 BST on Monday 9 May.

Here we looks at the five contenders vying for the BBC World Service honour, which is in its second year.

GAELLE ENGANAMOUIT
Country: Cameroon Caps: 43 Goals: 10

Club: FC Rosengard Position: Forward Age: 23

 
How was 2015?

Part of the Cameroon team that reached the last 16 on their Women’s World Cup debut last year.

Started all four games and netted a hat-trick in the 6-0 group win over Ecuador, becoming the first African to score three times in a Women’s World Cup match.

She was in the Eskilstuna United team that finished as surprising runners-up in Sweden’s Damallsvenskan, finishing as the league’s top goalscorer with 18 goals and helping secure qualification for the Women’s Champions League.

Women’s Footballer of the Year: Gaelle Enganamouit profile

Career highlights

Helped Cameroon qualify for the Olympic Games for the first time in 2012, appearing as a substitute – aged 20 – in their three defeats.

Moved from Cameroon in 2012 to play for Spartak Subotica in the Serbian First League and the Women’s Champions League. Scored what was reportedly the fastest goal in women’s football history, after only three seconds.

Joined newly promoted Damallsvenskan team, Eskilstuna United, in December 2013, and switched to champions FC Rosengard two years later as a replacement for Germany’s Anja Mittag.




AMANDINE HENRY
Country: France Caps: 48 Goals: 6

Club: Olympique Lyonnais Position: Midfielder Age: 26

 
How was 2015?

Made it to the Women’s World Cup quarter-finals last year with France, before going out to Germany on penalties.

Appeared in all five games, scoring one of the goals of the tournament with a stunning long-range strike in the 5-0 group win against Mexico.

A member of the Lyon team that won the Division 1 Feminine title in 2015 for a record ninth consecutive season.

Women’s Footballer of the Year: Amandine Henry profile

Career highlights

Played at Women’s Euro 2009 and 2013, when France exited at the quarter-final stage.

Signed for Lyon before the 2007-08 season and went on to score 44 goals in 198 matches and win the Women’s Champions League twice. Lyon are in the semi-finals again this season.

Will move to US side Portland Thorns in the NWSL at the end of the European season.




KIM LITTLE
Country: Scotland Caps: 115 Goals: 46

Club: Seattle Reign FC Position: Midfielder Age: 25

 
How was 2015?

Seattle’s leading scorer – and second in the league – with 10 goals in 2015, while topping the assists rankings on seven.

The Reign finished the regular season in first place before a 1-0 defeat in the Championship final against FC Kansas City.

Scored five goals in five qualifying games as Scotland edged towards qualification for Euro 2017 – which would be their first major tournament – and lit up Australia’s W-League during the United States off-season with nine goals in 12 games for title-winning Melbourne City.

Women’s Footballer of the Year: Kim Little profile

Career highlights

Nominated for the first BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year award – won by Nigeria striker Asisat Oshoala – having enjoyed fine form with Seattle Reign after her move from Arsenal.

Represented Scotland since the age of 16 and one of two Scots selected for the Great Britain squad that reached the quarter-finals of the 2012 London Olympics.

The 2010 FA Women’s Player of the Year and 2013 PFA Women’s Players’ Player of the Year, her trophy haul at Arsenal included five league titles. Also won the Scottish Championship during an earlier successful stint with Hibernian.




CARLI LLOYD
Country: United States Caps: 222 Goals: 87

Club: Houston Dash Position: Midfielder Age: 33

 
How was 2015?

Captained her country and scored six goals at the World Cup, including a hat-trick in the opening 16 minutes of the final against Japan, sealed with a goal from the halfway line which earned a Puskas Award nomination.

Won the Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament, for her efforts in leading the United States to a record third World Cup title, and first since 1999.

The first woman to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final and the first player – male or female – to do so since Geoff Hurst for England against West Germany in 1966 at Wembley.

Women’s Footballer of the Year: Carli Lloyd profile

Career highlights

A two-time Olympic gold medallist who scored the gold medal-winning goals in the finals of the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.

Represented the United States at three World Cups – finishing third, second and first.

Led Western New York Flash to the NWSL final in the league’s inaugural 2013 season, she was traded to the Houston Dash prior to the 2015 season and was voted last year’s Fifa Female Player of the Year.




BECKY SAUERBRUNN
Country: United States Caps: 105 Goals: 0

Club: FC Kansas City Position: Defender Age: 30
 
How was 2015?

Became the first player to win an NWSL end-of-season award for three years running when named Defender of the Year.

Played all 630 minutes for the United States during the 2015 World Cup, and her performances led to Sauerbrunn being named co-captain of the national team, alongside Carli Lloyd, earlier this year.

Captains FC Kansas City and helped them successfully defended their NSWL Championship.

Women’s Footballer of the Year: Becky Sauerbrunn profile

Career highlights

Bounced back from suffering a broken nose on her USA debut in 2008 against Canada to play at the 2011 and 2015 World Cups, and the 2012 Olympics.

One of three USA players to be allocated to the new NWSL club FC Kansas City at the start of 2013.

Co-captain when the side won the league title in her second season at the club. – BBC