Weir would swap Ballon d'Or nods for World Cup

When a football pitch is in sight, there are few things Caroline Weir cannot do well.

But, leaning against a stand at St Mirren Park in her Scotland training gear, the back-to-back Ballon d'Or nominee struggles and squirms when she is forced to talk about herself.

The 31-year-old has again been named on the 30-player shortlist after an exceptional year for club and country - having swapped Real Madrid for eight-time European champions Lyon and been named Scotland captain - but she is not one for shouting about her achievements.

"Yeah, it's cool, I guess," said Weir, who has scored 11 international goals - including three hat-tricks - in a year she signed-off as the Galactica's all-time goalscorer.

"It's always cool to be included in a list where there are so many good players on it - that's a real honour but it's very subjective."

Downplaying the feat with the same ease she glides by defenders, Weir is much more at home discussing her determination and "desperation" of reaching the World Cup in Brazil next summer.

She says "it all means nothing if we don't achieve our goal of going to the World Cup".

Attention will swiftly shift back to that goal after the ceremony in London on Monday, with Sweden standing in the way of Scotland's major tournament return.

But for one night, the light will shine on the magical midfielder, whether she likes it or not.

It will not be first time she's been under the spotlight - and likely not the last.

Her outrageous ability and frequency of hauling Scotland over the line means Weir often writes the headlines herself.

She did not feature in the Scots' second leg against the Czech Republic in their World Cup qualifying round one play-off after pulling up injured in the warm-up, but she still dominated the back pages, such is her importance and influence.

Before that injury, which she has yet to return from, she did not have plans to walk the red carpet at the Palladium with a Champions League match at home to Inter Milan on Wednesday - but who knows if she will be able to now.

At last year's event in Paris - after checking "the list was legit" - she went all-out with her husband Josh in Paris and immersed herself in the "unbelievable" night.

"There were just superstars everywhere you looked," she recalled.

"We got on the plane from Madrid and Figo was sat right in front of us. That's how it started and how it went on.

"We were just loving every minute and we were so happy to be there."

As soon as the discussion shifts from the glitz and glamour of the Ballon d'Or, the Scotland skipper can re-emerge from her shell.

Despite both being the other side of 30, she and the "unbelievable multi-tasker" Emslie, who have been friends for 20 years, fall back into their old ways.

"When we're back together, we haven't grown up that much considering we're 31 and 32," Weir said.

"She's still my best friend, we're having a laugh and then she goes into mum mode, which is the most incredible thing to watch, and I'm just in awe, it's so special."

The pair are two of six current Scots who were part of the history-making squad at the 2019 World Cup, which arguably fuels their fire even more to return.

Since the heartbreak in Helsinki nearly two years ago when Pedro Martinez Losa's side failed to qualify for Euro 2025, Weir has never hidden her desire to make Brazil 2027.

In fact, she does not do many interviews without mentioning it.

In March, she admitted she was "borderline desperate". In April, it was a case of "I want nothing more this year than to qualify". In June, she said "I'm doing everything and anything to realise my dream". You get the gist.

Such comments were all made before it was confirmed back-to-back World Cup semi-finalist Sweden are in Scotland's way.

But it will take a lot more than that iconic yellow shirt to shift Weir's focus.

"It's my biggest objective," Weir said. "It's the most important thing for me.

"I want to be at a World Cup, I want Scotland to be at a World Cup.

"I'd swap everything, nominations, goals, for this team to get to a World Cup and that's all I can really think about."