Alessia Russo and Alex Greenwood receive women's Ballon d'Or nominations

England international players Alessia Russo and Alex Greenwood have been named on the 30-player shortlist for the women's Ballon d'Or. The nomination recognizes Russo’s performance at Arsenal, where she scored 24 goals across 40 appearances, and Greenwood’s role in Manchester City’s Women's Super League and FA Cup success last season. Scotland’s Caroline Weir also earned a nomination following a 20-goal campaign for Real Madrid. absent from the list is three-time winner Aitana Bonmati, who spent much of the season recovering from a broken leg. The award recipient will be announced at a ceremony in London on October 26. This year’s event marks the 70th anniversary of the trophy, with the location chosen to honor Sir Stanley Matthews, the inaugural winner of the award.

• 2:40 PMBBC Sport — Russo and Greenwood nominated for Ballon d'Or