Despite not performing to the expected level at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, there has still been plenty to cheer for German women's football. Some individuals have shone more than others, though Lena Goeßling has pipped them all to the post and been voted as their Player of the Year.
An impressive year
The VfL Wolfsburg Frauen midfielder has been a stalwart at the heart of midfield for club and country, missing just three of 18 games for the latter.
Goeßling scored twice and put in a string of fine performances to help the Germans reach the World Cup semi-final, before they fell to defeat against the USA.
On a club level, the 29-year-old also enjoyed relative success. Even though Wolfsburg have been poor this season and missed out on the Frauen-Bundesliga on the final day of last campaign, they are still in the UEFA Women's Champions League and also claimed DFB-Pokal glory.
Goeßling also made it into VAVEL's own Top 50 Women's Footballers of 2015; she came in at a very respectible 16th place.
Comfortable winner
Melanie Leupolz came closest to Goeßling's total of 33.8%. The Bayern Munich Frauen midfielder amassed over a quarter of the votes and was well clear of Goeßling's Wolfsburg team-mate, Alexandra Popp, in third.
There were 51,369 votes in total, with it being run by the DFB and the national team Fan Club powered by Coca-Cola.
It won't be long until the players return to action, with just over a month until the Winter Break comes to an end.
Both are back on Sunday February 14th, as runaway leaders Bayern welcome 1. FC Köln to Bavaria. Wolfsburg, who are their nearest challengers, face off against Werder Bremen. The pair will be hoping for convincing wins to kick-start their competitive 2016 campaign.