Abby Wambach loses out on FIFA Women's Player of the Year to Nadine Kessler

Abby Wambach did not win FIFA Women's Player of the Year. The United States forward, who along with Marta was one of three finalists, lost out to Nadine Kessler.

Kessler has been the star of Germany and also captured UEFA Best Women's Player. Toss in leading Wolfsburg to the UEFA Women's Champions League and the Bundesliga and it's not hard to see why she won the award. She is the best player on the No. 1 ranked international team and on the club team most believe is the best in the world.

Wambach didn't really have a claim to win the award. She had a down year by her standards, scoring just six goals in NWSL and doing most of her international damage against overmatched teams. The aging forward has been resting her body to make sure she will be at her best for the Women's World Cup and it showed. That she was even nominated for the award was a surprise, especially considering she lost out on U.S. Soccer Women's Athlete of the Year to Lauren Holiday.

Congratulations to Kessler. Your honor is well-deserved. The U.S. will have a much better claim to it next year if one of their players has the World Cup trophy in one hand.