PARIS (France): USA World Cup superstar Megan Rapinoe claimed the women’s Ballon d’Or award at a ceremony on Monday.
She was not at the Chatelet Theatre, unable to make the trip back to the country where she led the USA to victory in July.
This is just the second year that a women’s Ballon d’Or — voted for by a smaller panel of 48 journalists — has been awarded, with Rapinoe succeeding Norway’s Ada Hegerberg as the winner.
The prolific Hegerberg starred as Lyon again won the Champions League, but her self-imposed exile from her national team prevented her from featuring at the World Cup.
Rapinoe, meanwhile, was the star of that tournament on and off the field.
She won the Golden Boot for top scorer, with six goals, and Golden Ball for best player. Rapinoe scored the opening goal from the penalty spot as the USA beat the Netherlands 2-0 in the final.
But the 34-year-old feminist icon made headlines with her outspoken criticism of US President Donald Trump during the tournament and by leading the calls for her team to be paid the same as their male counterparts.
“It’s been an incredible year,” said Rapinoe in a recorded video message.
