What athlete has not dreamed of becoming one of the best in the world? That dream became a reality for Renate Lingor, who won two UEFA Women’s EUROs and two FIFA Women’s World Cups™ with Germany during her playing career.

As well as being capped 149 times for her country, the former midfielder tasted plenty of success at club level, winning seven championship titles with 1. FFC Frankfurt and lifting the DFB Women’s Cup just as many times. With few winners’ medals eluding her personal collection, it was only a matter of time before the world sat up and took notice, and in 2006 Lingor was named among the best three players on the planet together with Marta and Kristine Lilly.

"We generally had not only a strong team but a formidable generation,” she explained in an exclusive interview with FIFA.com. "Because only one player per country was usually nominated, ours was often Birgit Prinz. Of course, in a team sport it’s the team that counts most of all.

"While winning the World Cup or a gold medal at the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament means more, it’s certainly wonderful when you look at who gets chosen and the fact that it gives you the chance to be internationally recognised. It makes you proud. The event was a fantastic experience that I will remember for many years to come."

Lingor is not at all concerned that she was not named FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year that night, instead ‘only’ finishing in third place behind the aforementioned duo. "People will still know the names of Marta and Kristine Lilly 30 years from now,” she explained. “They’re players that have earned that privilege. I was simply proud to be able to stand on the same stage with such magnificent footballers. It’s also great to be able to meet up with these people away from the pitch every once in a while."

The event was a fantastic experience that I will remember for many years to come.

The truth of the Karlsruhe-born retired midfielder’s words is proven by the fact that Marta is once again on the ten-strong shortlist for this year’s award, with the Brazilian set to find out on 2 December whether she has managed to make the final three. The winner of The Best FIFA Women’s Player accolade will be revealed to the public when the best of the best are crowned in Zurich on 9 January 2017.

"All of the players in that top 10 have earned the right to be there," Lingor said. "When I think of the Germans in particular, Melanie Behringer, for example, had a remarkable Women’s Olympic Football Tournament and scored some vital goals. That’s always a good sign of a true leader."

While Behringer is joined by compatriots Sara Dabritz and Dzsenifer Marozsan on the list of nominees, the shortlist for The Best FIFA Women’s Coach also includes three candidates from Germany – Silvia Neid, Martina Voss-Tecklenburg and Thomas Worle – and the 41-year-old is in no doubt about who is most deserving of this particular accolade. "In my opinion, Silvia Neid should definitely win the award,” she said. “To have a career like hers behind you and then to win an Olympic gold medal to boot - there’s no beating that kind of achievement."

Lingor is also keen to underline the undeniable significant of The Best Awards for women’s football. "It’s very important, as prizes like these put the women’s game in the spotlight,” she explained. “Although the focus is primarily on three players in particular, that’s the way it should be. They’ve earned that recognition and it serves as inspiration for everyone else," added the team manager of Germany’s U-20 women, who are currently seeking to retain their title at the U-20 Women’s World Cup in Papua New Guinea.

"While everyone obviously talks about the world’s best players like Messi and Ronaldo, the same is increasingly the case in women’s football. The title of The Best FIFA Women’s Player makes the whole game more interesting. It’s broadcast all around the world, and everyone knows about it and talks about it. That’s fantastic."