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Dec 21, 2024 | 8:15 AM EST
26, it’s the age when players often hit their prime, but nobody has done it in women’s soccer quite like Aitana Bonmati. This season, Sport awarded the midfielder a perfect 10 rating, making it clear that individual accolades would follow. However, former USMNT star Alexi Lalas believes that, somewhere down the line, the other side of the ocean is being neglected, especially Naomi Girma.
Girma was instrumental in Emma Hayes’ side that won Olympic gold at Paris 2024 for the USWNT. The San Diego Wave player was also nominated for The Best FIFA Women’s Player Award, becoming one of only three defenders on the shortlist. While Bonmati ultimately took the prize home, Lalas questions whether international tournaments are being overlooked in the selection process.
“There’s a noticeable Eurocentric bias. We see some of the American names winning some of the later awards, but overall, the focus leans heavily towards Europe.” says Lalas on his ‘State of the Union’ podcast. “Take Bonmati, for example. Spain didn’t win anything major on the women’s side this year, while the US won the Olympics, which was the marquee event of 2024.”
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NASHVILLE, TN – FEBRUARY 19: United States defender Naomi Girma 12 punches the ball away from Japan forward Rikako Koyayashi 11 during the SheBelieves Cup match between USA and Japan, February 19, 2023 at GEODIS Park in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo by Matthew Maxey/Icon Sportswire SOCCER: FEB 19 Womens SheBelieves Cup – USA vs Japan Icon23021965
Domestically, Bonmati led her club Barcelona to a second continental treble and their first continental quadruple. For Lalas, he believes that not just American players, but others playing in the NWSL, are often overlooked despite their domestic achievements. “Because of this, I think they get slighted on a lot of these awards. Naomi Girma is one of them,” he adds.
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Bonmati finished ahead of the NWSL star Barbra Banda who led Orlando Pride to their first-ever league title. Naomi Girma finished 10th on the FIFA list with 9 points, compared to the Spaniard’s 52. At just 24, she has plenty of time to win more accolades, and USWNT head coach Emma Hayes already knows she has a gem in her backline.
Emma Hayes did not hold back in her praise for the defender when asked about the splendid campaign she’s had in Paris. After all, they ended the tournament with three consecutive clean sheets, becoming the first team in Olympic history to not concede a goal in the quarterfinal, semifinal, and final.
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Naomi Girma will miss having Alyssa Naeher behind her after the goalkeeper decided to retire, playing her last match against the Netherlands. One thing is for sure, the next goalkeeper won’t have much to worry about with a rock like Girma leading the backline.
As for Emma Hayes, she will be counting on the 24-year-olds’s services, when the 2027 World Cup arrives. For now, her focus remains on the upcoming season, with hopes of leading the San Diego Wave to a playoff spot and possibly winning the title. But the question remains: will that be enough to make her a favorite for some individual accolades?
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