For soccer fans, the greatest players are celebrated for their on-field magic as well as off-field accolades. Individual awards often distinguish legends from the rest, marking them as the best of the best. So when the FIFPRO Women’s World XI was announced, USWNT fans were left disappointed to see the association overlooked the brilliance of the ‘Triple Espresso’, and many took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to vent their frustrations. 

Despite their dominance and contributions to the game, Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith, and Mallory Swanson did not make it to the list. Every year, roughly 70 affiliated player unions give links to players from all professional football clubs, access to the voting links. For this year, players received votes from their peers for performances from August 21, 2023, to August 10, 2024. 

So when Naomi Girma emerged as the sole USWNT player among the 26 nominees for the FIFPRO Women’s World XI, fans were quick to voice their concerns. The ‘Triple Espresso’ was vital in Emma Hayes’ side in the team’s unbeaten run to Olympic Gold on August 10, 2024. Adding to the frustration was the fact that all 3 of them had amazing seasons domestically, with Rodman even carrying her Washington Spirit to their second-ever NWSL final. 

The USWNT has won the World Cup four times, with their most recent win in 2019. Much of their success is thanks to a roster mostly comprised of players who grew up playing in the top division of women’s soccer in the United States. So when only three NWSL players made it to the 26-player FIFPRO Women’s World XI nominees list, fans couldn’t help but raise eyebrows.

European bias in FIFPRO?

A lot of USWNT fans jokingly asked if the Triple Espresso trio had secretly taken up other sports. Considering how they scored 10 of the team’s 12 goals during their unbeaten Olympic Gold run, it seemed absurd that their names were missing from the list. 

While the women’s side continues to rack up trophies, some fans expressed confusion over the nominations. One questioned how certain English players made the list when Great Britain failed to qualify for the Olympics. Another highlighted that more Lyon players deserved to make the list because of their impressive Champions League run last season. 

Others mocked the awards, questioning whether they lose credibility year after year. One fan even wondered if the players voting for these honors were truly aware of the individual performances in the NWSL.

Among shouts for the Triple Espresso, Caroline Graham Hansen was a major name missing on the list. Considering how she helped Barcelona Femeni win the league title and a Champions League while finishing second in the Ballon d’Or, her exclusion from the nominations was a surprise that left many questioning what the actual criteria are. 

With fans believing that many major names were missing from the list, the question arises as to whether the rest of the nominees truly deserved their spots. Regardless, the Triple Espresso will continue to shine under Emma Hayes’, whose USWNT side looks to be favorites in any major tournament they take part in. Fans hope that in the future, the recognition they deserve will come with more than just individual awards.