Manchester City defender Lucy Bronze has been named The Best FIFA Women’s Player for 2020 ahead of Pernille Harder and Wendie Renard, while future England Women’s head coach Sarina Wiegman won The Best FIFA Women’s Coach award.
Bronze returned to City in the summer after spending three years at Lyon, where she won three straight Champions League and French league titles.
“Wow, what a surprise,” Bronze said upon receiving the award. “To be even nominated alongside the two other players, who I know very well – both incredible players and amazing human beings.
“To have won it, I don’t think I have the words right now to explain how I’m feeling. If there’s anything that 2020 has taught us it’s to appreciate every moment. Winning this award now, I’ll appreciate it more than ever and I’ll remember this moment for the rest of my life.”
Both Bronze and Renard were part of Lyon’s treble-winning side in 2019-20, and the club’s dominance also saw Sarah Bouhaddi claim The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper award ahead of Christiane Endler (Chile & Paris Saint-Germain) and Alyssa Naeher (USA & Chicago Red Stars).
FIFA FIFPro Women’s World11 2020
Christiane Endler, Lucy Bronze, Wendie Renard, Millie Bright, Delphine Cascarino, Barbara Bonansea, Veronica Boquete, Megan Rapinoe, Pernille Harder, Vivianne Miedema, Tobin Heath
Bronze was also named in the FIFA FIFPRO Women’s World11, where she was joined by Chelsea defender and fellow England international Millie Bright.
The English duo were two of five WSL players to make the XI, with Chelsea’s Harder joined in attack by Arsenal’s Vivianne Miedema and Manchester United’s Tobin Heath.
Bronze added: “The magic had to be the Champions League. It was like a World Cup, and going up against fierce rivals PSG and Wolfsburg, back to back, it was disappointing not to have fans but it was incredible to be in it and lift the trophy.
“A huge reason for me coming back to City was to be that serial winner with a club in England, and to bring that back with the national team is what I’m looking forward to the most, with the Olympics for Team GB and then a home Euros and World Cup.”
