The Ballon d'Or's Growing Pains The women's game is often touted as a bastion of parity, where talent and hard work can propel players to greatness regardless of their nationality or club affiliation.
However, the annual announcement of the Ballon d'Or nominees reveals a different story: European clubs dominate, while the English national team struggles to make an impact.
This year's nominations are no exception, with only two Lionesses – Alessia Russo and Alex Greenwood – selected from England's pool of talented players.