FIFA announced the short list for the 2009 FIFA Women's World Player of the Year Award from its headquarters in Zurich on Friday with five of the 10 players in contention for the award currently playing in WPS. 

WPS selections include France's Sonia Bompastor (Washington Freedom), Brazil's Marta (Los Angeles Sol), America's Abby Wambach (Washington Freedom), England's Kelly Smith (Boston Breakers) and Brazil's Cristiane, who played for the Chicago Red Stars this year and is currently a free agent as the Red Stars look to re-sign her. Marta, who was selected as the Michelle Akers Player of the Year in WPS this year after leading the league in scoring, is the three-time reigning FIFA World Player of the Year, having won the award in 2006, 2007 and 2008.

With the biggest international competition of the year being the just-concluded 2009 European Championship, the FIFA nominations were decidedly European-heavy. Germany won that tournament 6-2 in a lopsided final against England and was rewarded for that performance with four nominations among the 10 short listed players including former three-time FIFA World Player of the Year Birgit Prinz and standout goalkeeper Nadine Angerer.

Given that American Hope Solo (Saint Louis Athletica) was selected as Player of the Tournament for the year's second-biggest international competition - the 2009 Algarve Cup - and won the 2009 Coast Guard Goalkeeper of the Year Award in WPS, it is surprising that neither she nor fellow WPS All-Star Karina LeBlanc, who helped lead Los Angeles to the regular season WPS title, were put on the short list as standout keepers.

One player whose international reputation has been clearly bolstered by her performance in WPS this season is Frenchwoman Sonia Bompastor. The slashing defensive midfielder for the Washington Freedom was little known prior to 2009, but proved to be one of the most exciting players in WPS this season, winning WPS Player of the Month honors in May before being selected as a WPS All-Star.

Another nominee, Wambach, proved her successful return from injury in WPS this year with a strong finish to the season and eight goals for the Freedom. Smith led Boston's attack early in the season, before being hampered by injuries in the second half of 2009. Smith was WPS Player of the Month for April. Brazilian Cristiane was the only WPS player to notch a hat trick this season and scored one of the goals of the year with her stunning strike against FC Gold Pride in July.

The five finalists for 2009 FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year will be selected by head coaches and captains of the various national teams and will be announced in early December with the FIFA World Player Gala scheduled for December 21 in Zurich, Switzerland.


WPS Players Nominated for FIFA Women's World Player of the Year (country/2009 team)

Sonia Bompastor FRA/Washington Freedom – Led the league in assists (6) while tallying four goals and was selected as WPS Player of the Month for May. Her slashing, exciting play at defensive midfield helped the Freedom bounce back from a slow start to finish third in the 2009 WPS Regular Season.

Cristiane BRA/Chicago Red Stars – The only player in WPS to notch a hat trick this season, her incredible long-range strike against FC Gold Pride in early July was one of the goals of the year this season in WPS. Finished with seven goals, fourth-best in WPS.

Marta BRA/Los Angeles Sol – Winner of the 2009 Michelle Akers Player of the Year Award as the league MVP, Marta notched 10 goals and 3 assists to lead the Los Angeles Sol to the regular season title and a spot in the WPS Championship final game.

Kelly Smith ENG/Boston Breakers – Tallied six goals in just 15 games in WPS this year to lead the Boston Breakers early charge to start the season as one of the best teams in WPS and winning WPS Player of the Month honors for April. Finished among the top 5 in WPS in goals and was a consistent threat in the offensive third with her dangerous left foot.

Abby Wambach USA/Washington Freedom – After a slow start, Wambach finished tied for second in the league in scoring with eight goals and led her team to a strong finish down the stretch and a third-place finish in the regular season as WPS’s July Player of the Month. Notched her 100th career international goal with the U.S. National Team in July against Canada.