Aya Miyama: Highlights from 2015 - FIFA BALLON D'OR 2015
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Miyama’s contribution is consistently at a lofty level, yet 2015 could perhaps be her best year of all. Headlining above all else was captaining Japan to the FIFA Women’s World Cup Final™– a significant achievement at any time, least of all with the team under pressure to reprise their Germany 2011 success. So too, there was, perhaps most poignantly of all, significant personal acclaim.
FIFA.com looks at three headline achievements for the Nadeshiko captain ahead of next month’s FIFA Ballon d’Or Gala on 11 January, where she is one of the final three nominees for the FIFA Women's World Player of the Year award.
Nadeshiko's heart and soul
Japan reached their second successful Women’s World Cup Final, and Miyama’s midfield promptings and dead-ball delivery played a considerable role. She scored the winning goal against Switzerland, provided the assist for Japan’s late quarter-final winner against Australia, while her typically perfect delivery forced USA’s Julie Johnston into own goal during the tournament decider. All the while Miyama - who played every minute of her team’s seven matches - was Japan’s go-to in attack, especially from set-pieces. She was also inches away from a candidate for goal of the tournament but her between-the-legs near-post flick against Australia just failed to find the target.
Leading by example
As captain, Miyama bore the considerable responsibility of assuming the captain’s armband from the iconic Homare Sawa for the Women’s World Cup, with Japan seeking to maintain their status as world champions. Miyama, who had been captain for three years but the first time at a Women’s World Cup, stood tall in the role on the biggest stage of all displaying trademark inspirational leadership.
Personal recognition at the highest level
Miyama’s understated but crucial contribution in Japan’s charge to the Final was recognised by being named winner of the Canada 2015 adidas Bronze Ball. Incredibly, she was also named Live Your Goals Player of the Match in all three of Japan’s group games. The Japan star was also recognised at continental level after being short-listed for the AFC Women’s Player of the Year, with the winner to be announced in early 2016. Miyama has won the accolade twice before, and on the most recent occasion she donated her prizemoney – which amounted to a significant sum – to children’s charity UNICEF. For all achievements on the field, it was perhaps this single act that says most about Aya Miyama. Now the world awaits the upcoming FIFA Ballon d’Or Gala to see if the Nadeshiko’s main inspiration can add yet another momentous accolade to an already burgeoning resume.