England's Alessia Russo and Alex Greenwood have been named among the 31 players nominated for the Women's Ballon d'Or, an award that honors the best female footballer of the year. They are the only representatives from the England women's national team on this year’s shortlist. Notably, Aitana Bonmati, a three-time winner from Barcelona, is absent due to a broken leg that limited her playing time this season. Russo, who plays as a forward for Arsenal, finished third in last year's Ballon d'Or voting and scored 24 goals in 40 club games this season. Greenwood, the captain of Manchester City, led her team to victory in both the Women's Super League and the FA Cup last year. Her teammate Khadija Shaw also made the shortlist after scoring 21 goals in 22 league matches. Among the contenders, Alexia Putellas, a two-time Ballon d'Or winner, is seen as a strong favorite after helping Barcelona win the Champions League. Caroline Weir, who moved to Lyon from Real Madrid in June, made the list after scoring 20 goals for her new club in all competitions. The Ballon d'Or, which celebrates its 70th anniversary this year, was first awarded in 1956 by the French publication France Football. This year’s winner will be announced on 26 October in London, a tribute to Sir Stanley Matthews, a legendary English footballer and the first recipient of the award. The full list of nominees includes a wide range of players from across the globe, such as Selma Bacha, Barbra Banda, and Vivianne Miedema, among others. In addition to the main award, there are separate categories, including Young Talent of the Year, Women's Goalkeeper of the Year, Women's Coach of the Year, and Women's Club of the Year. The shortlists for these categories feature players like Ann-Katrin Berger and Hannah Hampton for goalkeeper, and coaches such as Jonatan Giraldez and Elena Sadiku. Clubs like Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City are also in contention for the Women's Club of the Year award.