BBC Women's Footballer of the Year 2019: Winner to be announced on 22 May
- Published
Meet the BBC Women's Footballer of the Year contenders
Voting for the BBC Women's Footballer of the Year 2019 has now closed.
Fans from across the world have been voting for their favourite since the five-player shortlist of Pernille Harder, Ada Hegerberg, Lindsey Horan, Sam Kerr and Saki Kumagai was revealed on 18 April.
The winner will be announced on Wednesday, 22 May on BBC World Service and the BBC Sport website.
The five contenders for the BBC World Service accolade were chosen by a panel of experts, including coaches, players, administrators and journalists.
Here we look at the five contenders vying for the BBC World Service honour, which is in its fifth year.
Pernille Harder
BBC Women's Footballer of the Year 2019 contender Pernille Harder
Age: 26 Country: Denmark Caps: 110
Club: VFL Wolfsburg Position: Forward
Harder finished the 2017-18 season as the top scorer in the women's Bundesliga with 17 goals, and helped Wolfsburg to a consecutive domestic double.
She also played and scored in her first Champions League final last year against Olympique Lyonnais, but came away without the trophy after a 4-1 defeat.
However, Harder claimed individual silverware after being voted the Uefa Player of the Year 2018. She was also runner-up at the women's Ballon d'Or.
Ada Hegerberg
Meet BBC Women's Footballer of the Year contender Ada Hegerberg
Age: 23 Country: Norway Caps: 66
Club: Olympique Lyonnais Position: Forward
Hegerberg won her third consecutive Champions League title with Olympique Lyonnais last year and finished with a record 15 goals in the competition as her team completed the French league and European double.
Hegerberg has scored 193 times for the club since joining in 2014, with 19 coming in 18 league matches this season. She signed a new long-term deal last summer.
The Norwegian, who no longer plays for Norway, was the first recipient of the Women's Ballon d'Or in 2018.
Lindsey Horan
BBC Women's Footballer of the Year 2019 contender Lindsey Horan
Age: 24 Country: USA Caps: 62
Club: Portland Thorns Position: Midfielder
In September 2018, Horan was named the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) most valuable player.
She became the first Portland Thorns player to be given the accolade after scoring 13 goals and making two assists in 22 matches during the regular season.
Horan helped her club to the NWSL Championship final by finishing second in the table, but the lost to North Carolina Courage.
Sam Kerr
BBC Women's Footballer of the Year 2019 contender Sam Kerr
Age: 25 Country: Australia Caps: 67
Club: Perth Glory and Chicago Red Stars Position: Forward
Currently playing for both Perth Glory and Chicago Red Stars, Kerr is the all-time top scorer in the NWSL, and in January 2019 earned the same record in the W League in Australia.
She won her second consecutive NWSL golden boot in 2018, finishing with 16 goals and four assists in 19 games for Red Stars.
Kerr was made captain of Australia in February and led them to their first Cup of Nations.
Saki Kumagai
Meet BBC Women's Footballer of the Year contender Saki Kumagai
Age: 28 Country: Japan Caps: 102
Club: Olympique Lyonnais Position: Defender/defensive midfielder
A World Cup winner with Japan, Kumagai captained the national team to the Asian Cup in 2018 - their first win in the competition in four years.
She was part of Olympique Lyonnais' double-winning squad for 2017-18 season, and has three Champions League titles to her name.
Kumagai has played her part in the French club's outstanding defensive record in the league campaign; the team have conceded six goals in 20 matches.