Ballon d’Or: Real Madrid’s Caroline Weir checked list was legit

“I genuinely wasn’t expecting it, so when I first saw it I wasn’t quite sure if it was legit.”

Given her summer was spent sitting on the sofa watching the European Championship on television rather than starring in Switzerland, it was perhaps understandable Caroline Weir was a little surprised at her name being on the 2025 Ballon d’Or shortlist.

In fact, the 30-year-old – who missed out on her third major tournament in a row with Scotland – actually checked to make sure the list was real.

Her form for Real Madrid in her self-proclaimed “comeback season” following 11 months out with a serious knee injury, was sufficiently formidable to get her among the 30 females vying for the prestigious award.

It is a historic moment too, given the midfielder is the first female Scot to be nominated for the award, the winner of which will be named in Paris on Monday.

Weir is noted for her modesty despite her status and she is taming expectations before the evening at the Theatre du Chatelet.

However, she admits she is thrilled to be brushing shoulders with giants of the game and intends to “soak it all in” in the grand surroundings.

“It’s pretty cool to be included in that kind of company,” Weir, who “genuinely cannot believe” her nomination, told BBC Scotland.

“It’s huge for me just to be in the same room and on the same list as these players, so as much as I wasn’t expecting it, I’m just trying to roll with it and enjoy it.”