England's Lucy Bronze named UEFA women's player of the year

Olympique Lyonnais and England defender Lucy Bronze has been named UEFA women’s player of the year for 2018/19.

The right-back became the first defender to lift the award after helping the French side to their fourth straight Champions League win.

She topped the polls ahead of Lyon teammates Ada Hegerberg, the 2015-16 winner, and Amandine Henry.

Bronze was also part of the England side that reached the semi-finals of the World Cup in France during the summer, losing narrowly to eventual winners the United States in Lyon.

The 27-year-old joined Lyon ahead of the 2017-18 season and has helped them to back-to-back domestic league and Champions League doubles.

"I'm ecstatic and super humbled to have won the award up against two fantastic players who I know really well at Lyon: two great girls, great players,” Bronze said by video-link.

“I want to say huge thanks to the Lionesses, the England team. We had a great summer and I don't think I would have won this award if it wasn't for them.

“The same goes for the Lyon team. We had an amazing season, we won the treble. I think any one of those girls could have been up here receiving this award."

The top ten

1 Lucy Bronze (Lyon & England) – 88 points

2 Ada Hegerberg (Lyon) – 56 points

3 Amandine Henry (Lyon & France) – 44 points

4 Vivianne Miedema (Arsenal & Netherlands) – 31 points

5 Ellen White (Birmingham City, now Manchester City & England) – 22 points

6 Pernille Harder (Wolfsburg & Denmark) – 21 points

7 Dzsenifer Marozsán (Lyon & Germany) – 12 points

8 Caroline Graham Hansen (Wolfsburg, now Barcelona & Norway) – 10 points

9= Lieke Martens (Barcelona & Netherlands) – 9 points

9= Wendie Renard (Lyon & France) – 9 points