<
>

Alex Morgan only USWNT player named to FIFPro Women's World XI

Alex Morgan was the only player from the United States' women's national team chosen for the FIFPro Women's World XI, announced on Thursday to coincide with International Women's Day.

A year ago, Morgan was one of four USWNT players on the list, along with Hope Solo, Carli Lloyd, Ali Krieger.

England, Denmark, Netherlands and Spain all put players on the team for the first time in the three years of the poll.

FIFPro said Lloyd missed out by just four votes, after more than 4,100 female first-division players in 45 countries voted for the World XI based on 2017 performances.

France's Wendie Renard is the only player to have been named to the list all three years.

Netherlands and Barcelona forward Lieke Martens received the most votes on the team, as 1,251 players selected her in their World XI.

"It is a huge honour," Martens said. "I am a little surprised that I received most votes of all players. I like it, but I know that there are so many very good players like Pernille Harder, Eugenie le Sommer, Ada Hegerberg and many others. I played an important role in the success of the Dutch national team and now people know that I can play very well."

Five-time winner of the FIFA World Player of the Year and Brazil international Marta also made it on to the list at age 32.

"This shows I can still play at the top level. I'm very happy. It's also motivation for me to keep pushing myself," said Marta, who moved from Rosengard to the NWSL's Orlando Pride last year.

"Women's football is becoming more competitive so it's harder to stay at the top. You have to have a lot of perseverance to stay consistent. I have that in my character: fighting spirit."

The full XI:

Goalkeeper: Hedvig Lindahl (Chelsea/Sweden)

Defenders: Lucy Bronze (Manchester City and Lyon/England), Nilla Fischer (Wolfsburg/Sweden), Wendie Renard (Lyon/France), Irene Paredes (Paris Saint-Germain/Spain)

Midfielders: Dzsenifer Marozsan (Lyon/Germany), Camille Abily (Lyon/France), Marta (Rosengard and Orlando Pride/Brazil)

Forwards: Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride and Lyon/United States), Pernille Harder (Wolfsburg/Denmark), Lieke Martens (Rosengard and Barcelona/Netherlands)