Weir would swap Ballon d'Or nods for World Cup

Caroline Weir reflects on her Ballon d'Or nomination while eyeing a World Cup spot with Scotland. When a football pitch is in sight, there are few things Caroline Weir cannot do well. But, leaning against a stand at St Mirren Park in her Scotland training gear, the back-to-back Ballon d'Or nominee struggles and squirms when she is forced to talk about herself. The 31-year-old has again been named on the 30-player shortlist after an exceptional year for club and country – having swapped Real Madrid for eight-time European champions Lyon and been named Scotland captain – but she is not one for shouting about her achievements. "Yeah, it's cool, I guess," said Weir, who has scored 11 international goals – including three hat-tricks – in a year she signed-off as the Galactica's all-time goalscorer.

"It's always cool to be included in a list where there are so many good players on it – that's a real honour but it's very subjective." Downplaying the feat with the same ease she glides by defenders, Weir is much more at home discussing her determination and "desperation" of reaching the World Cup in Brazil next summer. She says "it all means nothing if we don't achieve our goal of going to the World Cup". Attention will swiftly shift back to that goal after the