For those who have followed women's football in 2024, it cannot come as a major surprise that the jury's choice fell on the 27-year-old who has excelled in both Chelsea and the blue-yellow team.
"A creator who this year has reached a whole new level. A bundle of energy who with courage and speed is a driving force in both the national team and one of the world's best club teams. Sydsvenskan and the Swedish Football Association's Diamond Ball 2024 is awarded to Johanna Rytting Kaneryd".
This is the jury's motivation.
Already during the first half of the year, Rytting Kaneryd sailed up as one of the favorites for the award. With four goals and six assists, the speedy winger contributed to Chelsea winning the Super League last season.
Shortly after the league gold, she put on the national team jersey and sank Ireland with two goals.
Got trust
My role there (in the national team) has become very clear over the past year. I have received a lot of trust from Peter Gerhardsson and Magnus Wikman, and they have been clear about what they want to get out of me. It's the same as in Chelsea, that I should be a player who is creative, who dares and who can do the unexpected, she says to Sydsvenskan.
I missed a part of my career with injuries and the like, so I don't feel like I'm at my peak even though you might usually be at that age. I feel like I'm just getting better and better.
The positive development curve is now being rewarded with the finest award a Swedish female football player can receive.
It means extremely much. It's something I've dreamed of since I was a child and something my dad and I have talked a lot about. I don't think I can explain how much this means to me, she says to Sydsvenskan.
When the national team star received the happy news, she was forced to keep it secret.
Told mom and dad
But she couldn't help but tell two people who mean a lot to her.
I called mom and dad the same day. I had to share it with someone. It would never have happened without mom and dad, she says.
The jury for the Diamond Ball consists of Malena Henriksson, editor-in-chief, Ulf Jarevik, sports editor, and Max Wiman, reporter, from Sydsvenskan. From the Swedish Football Association, Fredrik Reinfeldt, chairman, Andrea Möllerberg, secretary-general, and Kim Källström, football manager, are part of the jury.
Born: February 12, 1997 (27 years old) in Kolsva.
Position: midfielder/forward.
Home club: Forsby FF.
Club: Chelsea.
Previous clubs: Forsby FF, Tyresö, Älta IF, Djurgården, Rosengård, Häcken.
A-international matches/goals: 50/7.
Achievements: World Championship bronze 2023, shared European Championship third place 2022, two league titles and one FA Cup win with Chelsea, Swedish championship with Rosengård, victory in the Swedish Cup with Häcken.
The Diamond Ball was established by the Swedish Football Association in 1990. Initially, the prize was awarded in collaboration with the morning newspaper Arbetet, but when it went bankrupt in 2000, Sydsvenskan took over the role.
Previously, there was the award Årets fotbollstjej (1980–89) which was a similar prize.
The winners of the past few years:
2024: Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, Chelsea.
2023: Elin Rubensson, Häcken.
2022: Fridolina Rolfö, Barcelona.
2021: Fridolina Rolfö, Barcelona.
2020: Magdalena Eriksson, Chelsea.
2019: Caroline Seger, Rosengård.
2018: Nilla Fischer, Wolfsburg.
2017: Kosovare Asllani, Manchester City/Linköping.
2016: Hedvig Lindahl, Chelsea.
2015: Hedvig Lindahl, Chelsea.
