Lucy Bronze has become the first Englishwoman to win the Uefa Women’s Player of the Year award.
The former Sunderland, Everton, Liverpool and Manchester City right-back helped Phil Neville's Lionesses to a fourth-place finish at the World Cup in France over the summer following a treble-winning season with Lyon.
Bronze was beaten to the Golden Ball award by USA star Megan Rapinoe, but still claimed the Silver Ball for being the second best player at the tournament and also netted a stunning goal against Norway in the quarter-finals.
The 27-year-old will now have bragging rights at Lyon after beating Ada Hegerberg and Amandine Henry to the Uefa Player of the Year award, with the announcement made following the men's Champions League draw in Monaco on Thursday.
“I’m ecstatic and super humbled to have won the award, up against two fantastic players," Bronze said.
“I want to say a huge thanks to the England team. We had a great summer and I don’t think I would have won this award of it wasn’t for them.
“It’s the same with the Lyon team. We had an amazing season, we won the treble and any one of those girls could have [won this award].
“I want to thank both teams for pushing me to [become] a better player and the player that I am today.”
Bronze was not in Monaco to receive her award, with England in action against Belgium in a friendly match in Leuven on Thursday evening.
