The English football star Millie Bright is involved in the Ballon d’Or. What are her chances for the win?

The Ballon d’Or is one of the most prestigious individual awards in football, with only the very best players in the world usually being in contention for the prize.

This year, there are 10 nominees for the Ballon d’Or Féminin – the award for the best female footballer in the world – and one of them is Chelsea and England’s Millie Bright.

Bright has had an excellent year, both for club and country. She was a key player as Chelsea won the Women’s FA Cup, and also played a pivotal role in England’s run to the semi-finals of the World Cup. With her impressive performances at both club and international level, Bright has certainly put herself in contention for the Ballon d’Or – but can a defender really win the award?

In the history of the Ballon d’Or, only one defender has ever been nominated for the prize – Germany’s Nadine Angerer in 2013. Angerer didn’t win the award that year, with the prize going to Brazil’s Marta instead, but she did finish second in the voting.

This shows that it is possible for a defender to be in contention for the Ballon d’Or – and Bright will be hoping to emulate Angerer by becoming the first ever defender to win the award. With her excellent performances this year, Bright has certainly put herself in with a chance of winning the Ballon d’Or. Whether she can become the first ever defender to win the prize remains to be seen, but she is certainly one of the contenders.

However, the 28-year-old is not getting carried away with the hype and insists her focus is on continuing to perform for club and country. “It’s nice to hear (the Ballon d’Or talk) but I don’t really focus on that,” Bright told BBC Sport. “My focus is on the team and what we’re doing. If personal accolades come then that’s a bonus.”

Bright has been steadily climbing the ranks in the women’s game over the past few years and is now widely regarded as one of the best defenders in the world. She has been a key player for Chelsea since joining the club in 2015, helping them to two Women’s Super League titles, an FA Cup and a League Cup.

Millie made her England debut in 2016 and has since gone on to win 54 caps for her country. She was a member of the Lionesses squad that reached the semi-finals of the World Cup in 2019 and also featured prominently at Euro 2021 this summer.

With her club and country both enjoying success, Bright is in a good position to challenge for the Ballon d’Or later this year.

What are your thoughts on Millie Bright’s chances of winning the Ballon d’Or? Let us know in the comments below!

Do you think a defender can win the Ballon d’Or? Who would you like to see win the award this year?