Nov. 30--Carli Lloyd, whose hat trick in the final against Japan gave the U.S. its first Women's World Cup title in 16 years, is one of three finalists for player of the year award, FIFA announced Monday.
Jill Ellis, who coached the U.S. team to the title, is a finalist for FIFA's women's coach of the year. Two American players -- Mia Hamm and Abby Wambach -- have previously won the player of the year award while Sweden's Pia Sundhage won the coach's prize for leading the U.S. to an Olympic gold medal in 2012.
On the men's side Argentina's Lionel Messi, the only four-time winner of the player of the year award -- now called the FIFA Ballon o'Or -- is among the finalists for this year's prize along with Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, a three-time winner. Messi and Ronaldo play for club teams in Spain, Messi with Barcelona and Ronaldo with Real Madrid.
In addition to Lloyd, who also plays for the Houston Dash in the National Women's Soccer League, women's finalists include Japan's Aya Miyama and Germany's Celia Sasic.
The third men's finalist is Messi's Barcelona teammate Neymar of Brazil.
The winners in each category will be announced at an awards ceremony in Zurich on Jan. 11.
