Zambia international Barbra Banda made history on Monday as the 24-year-old became the first African to be named in the final shortlist for the FIFPRO Women’s World XI, Afrosport reports.
The Copper Queens forward, who was recently named the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year, helped Orlando Pride clinch their first National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Championship, scoring the only goal in their 1-0 win against Washington Spirit.
Banda, 24, scored 13 goals for Orlando Pride in the 2024 NWSL regular season, adding four more in the playoffs, and was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the NWSL.
The FIFPRO Women’s World XI is voted for by fellow professional footballers, with a record-breaking 7,000 women’s football players casting their votes.
Banda is joined in the frontline by England international Lauren James, who is one of five Lionesses players on the list, Colombian star Linda Caicedo, and the legendary Marta as the Brazilian returns to the squad for the first time since 2021.
Chosen by 7000 players, this is the 2024 FIFPRO Women’s #World11 ✨
🏴 Mary Earps
🏴 @LucyBronze
🇪🇸 @7OlgaCarmona
🏴 @AlexGreenwood🇪🇸 @AitanaBonmati
🇪🇸 @AlexiaPutellas
🏴 @Keira_Walsh🇿🇲 @BarbraBanda11
🇨🇴 @Linda__Caicedo
🏴 Lauren James
🇧🇷 @MartaVieiras10 pic.twitter.com/BIicCGmhQ7— FIFPRO (@FIFPRO) December 9, 2024
Former Manchester United goalkeeper Mary Earps gets the nod in goal, while the defence is made up of the England duo of Lucy Bronze and Alex Greenwood as well as Spain’s Olga Carmona.
The midfield, however, comprises reigning Ballon d’Or winner and Spanish midfielder Aitana Bonmati and her compatriot Alexia Putellas, along with England’s Keira Walsh.
FIFPRO Women’s World XI full squad
Goalkeeper: Mary Earps (Manchester United/Paris St-Germain, England).
Defenders: Lucy Bronze (Barcelona/Chelsea, England), Olga Carmona (Real Madrid, Spain), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City, England).
Midfielders: Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona, Spain), Alexia Putellas (Barcelona, Spain), Keira Walsh (Barcelona, England).
Forwards: Barbra Banda (Shanghai Shengli/Orlando Pride, Zambia), Linda Caicedo (Real Madrid, Colombia), Lauren James (Chelsea, England), Marta (Orlando Pride, Brazil).
