Lucy Bronze wants to see one of Roy Hodgson's England stars nominated for next year's BBC Sports Personality of the Year award - because it will mean the Three Lions roared at Euro 2016.
Ryan Giggs took the trophy six years ago, reward towards the end of a stellar Manchester United career, but typically success for footballers at the annual awards event has come after outstanding performances on the international stage.
Bobby Moore won the vote in 1966 after England's World Cup triumph, Paul Gascoigne's tears and trickery at Italia 90 saw him land an emotional victory, before Michael Owen in 1998 and David Beckham in 2001 - fresh from his famous Old Trafford free-kick rescue act against Greece - were given the accolade.
Bronze earned a nomination after a string of outstanding performances for England over the summer, scoring vital goals against Norway and hosts Canada as Mark Sampson's team finished third at the Women's World Cup.
Eyebrows were raised by some when she was the only footballer included on the list, with the likes of Tottenham and England striker Harry Kane missing out.
The BBC award benchmark, with rare exceptions, appears to be achievements that bond a nation, rather than club feats.
"I think it has to be - international success is the highest form of success within sport," said 24-year-old Bronze.
"And to play at that level, let alone to be successful at that level, is a lot harder than people might think.
"Players who do well internationally are always going to get nominated for these things. I want the men to do well next year and they've got a great team.
"Hopefully what we did maybe does rub off on them, and the nation can support them the way they supported us. I think it makes the difference.
"The men get put under a lot of pressure, and of course they should because they're that good, and hopefully the nation can support them in the Euros and they can bring back a Euros medal.
"That would light up the nation even more. Hopefully the men do well next year and we can follow in their success in the year after."
The Lionesses have Euro 2017 glory in their sights, having finished the World Cup as Europe's top team by beating Germany 1-0 in the third-place play-off.
Bronze, for Bronze, was reward enough.
For the Manchester City Women player to then learn she was a contender for arguably the most prestigious individual award in British sport capped her remarkable year.
"I got a phone call three weeks ago, when there was an inkling that one of the England girls might be nominated," Bronze told Press Association Sport.
"Steph (Houghton) and Fara (Williams) were already going to the awards and I was asked if I was nominated would I come, and I said that of course I'd come.
"I was meant to be on holiday, but I said, 'Yes that's fine, I'll come back'.
"I was thinking that I wasn't going to get nominated, but later I got a call saying, 'Lucy, you have been nominated, are you going to come back from your holiday?'. I said, 'What? Yes, I guess I'll have to'.
"You can't predict if you'll ever get the nomination again. I was overwhelmed. I had to change the holiday because I've got to go to these awards, even though I probably won't win.
"I was meant to be going to Mexico for two weeks but now I'll be coming home three or four days early.
"I've always looked at the people who have been nominated over the years, like David Beckham, an absolute global superstar, Lewis Hamilton - all these people who are recognised all over the world for what they do in their sport.
"It never crossed my mind to think a women's footballer would ever be up, let alone think of myself in that category."
Source: PA
