England defender Lucy Bronze was named best women's player of the year during FIFA's 'The Best' awards ceremony on Thursday, succeeding last year's winner Megan Rapinoe The 29-year-old Manchester City defender, who won the Champions League with Lyon in August, carried off the award ahead of her former Lyon teammate Wendie Renard, and striker Pernille Harder, who moved from Wolfsburg to Chelsea in early September. bsp/dj