Best FIFA Women’s Player for 2016, Carli Lloyd
The United States international has announced that Carli Lloyd was named Monday as the Best FIFA Women’s Player for 2016.
It marks the second straight year that she has earned the honor, two-time Olympic gold medalist, FIFA Women’s World Cup champion, 2015 and 2016 FIFA Player of the Year.
Lloyd received her award at the Best FIFA Football Awards ceremony in Zurich, Switzerland, as the world’s governing body for soccer held its annual event. Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid and Portugal was named the Best FIFA Men’s Player of the Year.
“I’m very honored to win this award again,” Lloyd said. “I play on the best team in the world and this award would not be possible without my extraordinary teammates, who are fantastic competitors. We push each other to be better every day. I want to thank Jill Ellis and the entire coaching staff for believing in me and helping me constantly evolve my game.”
This marks the fifth time an American woman has been named FIFA Women’s Player of the Year, following Abby Wambach (2012), Hamm 2001, 2002) and Lloyd (2015, 2016).
Lloyd finished first in voting by coaches and captains of women’s national teams from around the world with 20.68% of the total votes, followed by Marta of Brazil with 16.60% and Melanie Behringer of Germany with 12.34%.
A 12-year veteran of the U.S. National Team, the 34-year-old Lloyd has 232 caps, the seventh most in U.S. history, and tied for the U.S. lead (with Alex Morgan) for goals scored in 2016, finding the net 17 times, including twice during the 2016 Olympics. She also led the team in assists with 11, her career high for a calendar year and had four goals and two assists during the CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying tournament.
She currently has 96 career goals, just four from becoming the sixth player in U.S. history to score 100 or more international goals.
Lloyd was the recipient of the 2015 CONCACAF Female Player of the Year award.
