The 2024 Ballon d’Or nominee list is full of surprises. For starters, this is the first time in 21 years that French Football has snubbed both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo from the Ballon d’Or shortlist. For women’s soccer, the biggest shocker came, as USWNT’s centerpiece defender Naomi Girma failed to make the shortlist. Girma’s career peaked this summer, winning the Olympic gold with the USWNT, where she helped the team maintain a clean sheet every other knockout game. Former US star Alexi Lalas lambasted the Ballon d’Or organizers for denying Girma the chance to reach the top.

Alexi Lalas habitually gives his hot takes on US Soccer-related matters every week. Recently he spoke at length about everything about US Soccer. When asked to comment on Naomi Girma’s Golden Ball snub, Lalas wonders if French Football doesn’t care about the US defender or even know about her heroics. “It’s insane. It’s insane… Anybody who has watched women’s soccer over the last year will recognize how important Naomi Girma is, and how good she is… And there is not a team or a country in the world that wouldn’t love to have Naomi Girma as part of their program,” Lalas said in the State of the Union podcast.

He added, “It’s an absolute travesty that she is not on this list because not only does she deserve to be on the list. But if she is on the list, she automatically goes to the top as far as I’m concerned.”

Now let’s see which other USWNT stars have made the cut to be at the next Ballon d’Or ceremony. We will also dive deeper into one possible reason the ace US defender missed the big prize.

Meet other USWNT nominees as Naomi Girma misses out on Ballon d’Or hopes

The USWNT’s front three has attracted all the limelight during its gold medal-winning run at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Trinity Rodman and Sophia Smith scored three goals each. Meanwhile, Mallory Swanson netted four, including the winning goal in the gold medal game. USA’s CONCACAF W Gold Cup win has also favored its front three for the Ballon d’Or nomination.

Having solidly guarded the US post this year, GK Alyssa Naeher has also been short-listed by the French Football. Next up is the USWNT captain Lindsey Horan.

Horan came under immense scrutiny for a relatively lackluster midfield display during the Olympics. Yet, she gracefully completed the task of captaining the USWNT to its first Olympic win in 12 years. While Naomi Girma’s snub remains a shocker, her club stint is not on Ballon d’Or levels. The San Diego Wave failed to carry the momentum of its strong start in the NWSL and they are currently struggling as the league’s 12th seed.

Tell us your thoughts on Naomi Girma’s Golden Ball snub in the comments below.