For the first time since it's inception back in 1956, a female football will be awarded this prestigious prize.

With the upcoming Ballon d'Or prize being not far off, France Football will launch two new awards for 2018. This new addition will recognize the best women's player in the world of football.

Since the French magazine began their prestigious award back in 1956, only the most talented names in men's football have been honored. France Football has now revealed that this will change this year.

Editor-in-chief Pascal Ferre stated that the rising popularity in women's football made the addition of this prize a no-brainer. He told the Associated Press (as per Sky Sports):

"Women's soccer is a booming discipline that deserves the same respect as men's soccer. It's coming to maturity and growing bigger.

"More than 760m TV viewers watched games at the last women's World Cup in 2015. This did not happen by chance."

Firstly, the top 15 female players of 2018 will be shortlisted for this accolade on October 8, the same day the men's final 30 nominees are confirmed. After that, "40 journalists from countries where women's soccer is growing" will choose the very first female Ballon d'Or winner, with the recipient set to be crowned on December 3 in an event in Paris.

Carli Lloyd and Lieke Martens are two female stars that have been named Women's Player of the Year in The Best FIFA's Awards. Brazilian icon and Orlando Pride ace Marta is nominated for FIFA's prize and will likely be a top candidate for the Ballon d'Or.

Lyon stars Dzsenifer Marozsan and Ada Hegerberg are two other favorites for the inaugural award after leading their French club to a third straight UEFA Women's Champions League crown. Of those two, the latter was instrumental, scoring 15 goals en route to the title while finishing the season as top scorer. 

Lyon Feminin will likely dominate the upcoming 15-woman shortlist, having won Europe's biggest prize for three straight seasons. Wendie Renard, Saki Kumagai, Amandine Henry, and Lucy Bronze, all of which play for the French club, were also candidates for The Best FIFA Women's Player and will thus be in consideration for France Football's reward.

The other category that France Football has announced will honor the best young player of the year. This new award, which will be named after Raymond Kopa, will be given to the best U21 footballer of the year.

Ten young talents will be shortlisted before a group of former Ballon d'Or recipients chooses one lucky winner. The likes of Kylian Mbappe would have a fair shot at winning this individual accolade after winning the domestic treble in France and the 2018 World Cup in what had been an outstanding year for the 19-year-old.