“I genuinely wasn’t anticipating it, so once I first noticed it I wasn’t fairly certain if it was legit.”

Given her summer season was spent sitting on the couch watching the European Championship on tv relatively than starring in Switzerland, it was maybe comprehensible Caroline Weir was slightly stunned at her title being on the 2025 Ballon d’Or shortlist.

The truth is, the 30-year-old – who missed out on her third main event in a row with Scotland – really checked to verify the checklist was actual.

Nevertheless her kind for Actual Madrid in her self-proclaimed “comeback season” following 11 months out with a critical knee harm, was sufficiently daunting to get her among the many 30 females vying for the distinguished award.

It’s a historic second too, given the midfielder is the primary feminine Scot to be nominated for the award, the winner of which might be named in Paris on Monday.

Weir is famous for her modesty regardless of her standing as considered one of Europe’s prime gamers and he or she is taming expectations earlier than the night on the Theatre du Chatelet.

She does admit, although, she is thrilled to be brushing shoulders with giants of the sport – and intends to “soak all of it in” within the grand environment.

“It is fairly cool to be included in that type of firm,” Weir, who “genuinely can’t consider” her nomination, informed BBC Scotland.

“It is big for me simply to be in the identical room and on the identical checklist as these gamers, in order a lot as I wasn’t anticipating it, I am simply attempting to roll with it and revel in it.”