Carli Lloyd named finalist for 2016 Best FIFA Women’s Player award

The United States midfielder will look to defend her crown when the award is presented in January.

U.S. national team midfielder Carli Lloyd has been named a finalist for the 2016 Best FIFA Women’s Player award.

Lloyd, 34, is the current holder of the award, winning the prize in 2015. The Houston Dash and USA midfielder is joined in the final three by Brazilian star Marta and Melanie Behringer, who led Germany to an Olympic gold medal in Rio this summer.

Lloyd's international coach Jill Ellis was nominated for the Best FIFA Women's coach award, a prize she also took home in 2015. Ellis is joined in the final three by Sweden coach Pia Sundhage and Germany boss Silvia Neid.

The winner of the awards will be revealed at a ceremony in Zurich on Jan 9.

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