[AWARDS] Homare Sawa, who captained Japan to the 2011 Women's World Cup title, ended Marta's five-year reign as the top player, beating out the Brazilian forward  and American Abby Wambach was a finalist.

With almost 29 percent of the total votes of national team coaches, captains and journalists, Sawa outdistanced Marta and Wambach, her former teammate at the Washington Freedom.

Sawa's goal late in overtime of the final earned Japan a tie, and it went on to win the Women's World Cup title from the penalty spot.

U.S. goalie Hope Solo finished fifth in the voting.