In Focus: Veronica Boquete (Portland Thorns FC)

UEFA have released a list of players in the running for the 2013/14 UEFA Best Women’s Player in Europe Award. WNL.ie reporter Rachael Stack takes a look at each player on the list starting with Portland Thorns FC attacker Veronica Boquete.

Veronica Boquete is a 27 year old attacking player currently playing professionally in America for Portland Thorns FC. Known as Vero, she recently joined the Thorns at the start of National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) season.

Vero joined the club from Tyreso FF in the Swedish Damallsvenskan. During her time at Tyreso, Vero was named the 2012 Damallsvenskan Midfielder of the Year, won the Damallsvenskan league in 2012 and was runner up in the 2013 league. Vero also scored in the 2013 - 2014 UEFA Women's Champions League final to give Tyreso a 2 - 0 lead at half time against Wolfsburg of Germany. Unfortunately Tyreso FF were narrowly defeated on the night in a thrilling 4-3 game.

Since joining the Thorns from Tyreso, Boquete has begun making her mark on the NWSL having won NWSL Player of the week for her outstanding performances. Vero's skill both on and off the ball makes her a real threat in a team that already included star player's Christine Sinclair (Canadian Captain) and Alex Morgan (US Women's National team forward). Vero has a few goals to her name since joining the Thorns including a brace in last week's 7 -1 win against Kansas City FC.

Internationally Boquete is the captain of the Spanish women's national team. She helped secure their place in Euro 2013 when she scored the crucial winner on the 122nd minute in a 3-2 playoff versus Scotland. Vero was announced as captain for the Spanish side at the finals which was held last summer in Sweden and lead her country as far as the Quarter Finals stages where they were defeated 3 - 2 by finalists Norway.

Internationally Vero has won the 2004 UEFA U19 European championship and was named in the All Star team of the FIFA U19's Women's World Cup. She is also known for her commitment to a petition to EA Sports to include female players in the popular FIFA video games and for her biography "Vero Boquete: The princess of the King sport".

You can follow Vero on Twitter - @VeroBoquete and watch her NWSL matches live via YouTube on the NWSL Soccer channel.