Race to be named the world’s best female player is the most open in years. But who should claim the prize?1 Melchie Dumornay (OL Lyonnes/Haiti) Yes, Dumornay was part of a team that lost 4-0 to Barcelona in last season’s Champions League final, but her influence in the OL Lyonnes midfield as they cruised to a domestic treble stepped up a gear. The technically brilliant 23-year-old midfielder was named player of the year by the French players’ union, and her importance to Lyonnes was most clearly demonstrated by her absence through injury for their 2-1 loss to Arsenal in their Champions League semi-final first leg. She returned for the second leg and produced a player-of-the-match performance in a 3-1 win. Dumornay scored five goals in Lyonnes’ Champions League run and was named in the team of the tournament.2 Ewa Pajor (Barcelona/Poland) After losing five Champions League finals, Pajor shook off her ‘always the bridesmaid, never the bride’ mantle in style with two goals as Barcelona thrashed Lyonnes in Oslo.

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