Caroline Weir of Real Madrid and Scotland is one of the contenders for this year’s Ballon d’Or.
But, she told the BBC, when she heard about her nomination, she wasn’t sure whether it was genuine.
“I genuinely wasn’t expecting it, so when I first saw it I wasn’t quite sure if it was legit,” she said.
The attacking midfielder is the first Scottish woman to be nominated for the award, which has only had a female category since 2018.
“It’s pretty cool to be included in that kind of company,” she added.
“It’s huge for me just to be in the same room and on the same list as these players, so as much as I wasn’t expecting it, I’m just trying to roll with it and enjoy it.”
Weir is nominated alongside players including Spain’s Alexia Putellas, Aitana Bonmati and Mariona Caldentey and England’s Lucy Bronze, Alessia Russo, Leah Williamson, Chloe Kelly and Hannah Hampton.
Caroline Weir: This nomination is special to me
Weir ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament at the end of 2023, so the nomination marks a great season as she returned to action and full fitness.
“Last season was my comeback season and I really didn’t put too much pressure on it, so I think for those reasons, it does make this nomination more special for me.
“You don’t set out and aim for these kind of things, especially when you’re coming back from a serious injury, so I’m proud of the way I’ve come back – it’s pretty tough and can take quite a bit of time, with a lot of self-doubt.
“It’s nice for me personally to have this, knowing what has gone on to lead to it.”
Last year’s winner was Aitana Bonmati, with Caroline Graham Hansen of Norway in second and Salma Paralluelo of Spain third. All three played their club football for Barcelona.
The highest a British player has been ranked is second, with Beth Mead achieving that in 2022 and Lucy Bronze in 2019.
Weir’s career in the UK and Spain
Weir, now aged 30, has played for clubs in the UK including Hibs, Arsenal, Bristol Academy, Liverpool and Manchester City.
She joined Real Madrid in 2022.
She has previously been nominated for the FIFA Puskas Award in 2021, and has played over a hundred times for Scotland as well as being part of the Team GB Olympic squad.
