There was never any doubt that Homare Sawa would be named Women¡¯s World Player of the Year on Monday, but the significance of the award to the Japanese game still cannot be overstated.
Sawa ended the five-year reign of Brazil¡¯s Marta and also saw off the challenge of U.S. striker Abby Wambach to claim the prize at FIFA¡¯s Ballon d¡¯Or ceremony in Zurich, becoming the first Japanese player ever to be officially recognized as the world¡¯s best in either men¡¯s or women¡¯s categories. National team manager Norio Sasaki was also named Women¡¯s Coach of the Year and the Japan Football Association won the Fair Play Award, but on a night when Japanese soccer commanded the world¡¯s attention, it was Sawa¡¯s star that shone brightest.
After the year she has just had, few would argue with the judges¡¯ decision. Sawa won both the Golden Ball for best player and Golden Boot for top scorer as she led Japan to a historic triumph at the Women¡¯s World Cup in Germany, playing the captain¡¯s role to perfection with a crucial late equalizer in the final to set up a penalty shootout win over the U.S.
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