But what is different is the growth in women’s football we’ve seen over the past four years and beyond — instead of all the best players in the world hailing from a few top teams, the sport is more competitive than it’s ever been, and that’s apparent in the 2023 edition of ESPN FC’s World Cup Rank. A panel of ESPN experts — including our writers who will be at the tournament delivering daily coverage (Caitlin Murray, Jeff Carlisle, Sophie Lawson, Tom Hamilton, Sam Marsden, Julien Laurens, Marissa Lordanic and Mark Ogden) — selected the top 25 players at the tournament.
– Meet the USWNT: What you need to know about all 23 players
– Group by group predictions, picks
– Women’s World Cup: Schedule | Rosters | News
These players come from all over the world, and they represent not just the best players at the World Cup, but the players who make for appointment viewing. Although someone like U.S. winger Megan Rapinoe is a player the panel considered based on her talent and ability to impact games, she is expected to play a substitute role during this World Cup and thus was left outside of the top 25 for that reason. This list comprises players we felt could make massive contributions if their teams go far this summer. (Editor’s note: All ages are as of the start of the tournament on July 20.)
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Rapinoe admits she’s happy with substitute role at the World Cup
Megan Rapinoe recalls a conversation she had with USWNT coach Vlatko Andonovski about her role at the World Cup.
25. Kosovare Asllani
Country: Sweden
Age: 33
Club: AC Milan
Position: Midfielder/striker
Having grown into a leader on the pitch between the 2015 and 2019 editions of the FIFA tournament, Asllani has flourished in her more mature role under manager Peter Gerhardsson. With the focus more heavily on attackers such as Fridolina Rolfö, Stina Blackstenius and Madelen Janogy, Asllani remains key in advancing the ball into dangerous positions for Sweden and taking on players one-on-one to set up her teammates. –Lawson
Group stage games:
• July 23 vs. South Africa (1 a.m. ET)
• July 29 vs. Italy (3:30 a.m. ET)
• Aug. 2 vs. Argentina (3 a.m. ET)
24. Racheal Kundananji
Country: Zambia
Age: 23
Club: Madrid CFF
Position: Striker
Although Zambia are long shots to progress from their group, which features both Spain and Japan, the Copper Queens are likely to find the back of the net multiple times throughout the group stage. It’s Kundananji who’ll probably be the one celebrating. — Lawson
Group stage games:
• July 22 vs. Japan (3 a.m. ET)
• July 26 vs. Spain (3:30 a.m. ET)
• July 31 vs. Costa Rica (3 a.m. ET)
23. Linda Caicedo
Country: Colombia
Age: 18
Club: Real Madrid
Position: Striker
Heading into her fourth World Cup in 16 months after outings at the U17 Women’s World Cup in March 2022 and the U20 tournament five months later, attacking sensation Linda Caicedo has been tipped for big things.
She moved to Real Madrid earlier this year, and the goal scorer has been key in revitalising the Colombia senior team since her senior debut in 2019. With a delicate first touch and eye for a goal, the teenager plays with a freedom that her age allows and has rarely looked overawed against top-tier opposition. Drawn into an intriguing group with Morocco and South Korea as well as favorites Germany, there is plenty of room for Caicedo to dazzle and Colombia to progress. — Lawson
Group stage games:
• July 24 vs. South Korea (10 p.m. ET)
• July 30 vs. Germany (5:30 a.m. ET)
• Aug. 3 vs. Morocco (6 a.m. ET)
22. Wendie Renard
Country: France
Age: 32
Club: Olympique Lyonnais
Position: Center back
The French captain will turn 33 the day the World Cup begins, and perhaps that will a good omen as she plays in her third and likely final World Cup. The Lyon center back has had a fantastic career at club level (eight Champions League trophies, 16 French titles and nine French Cups) but with Les Bleues, it has been heartbreak after heartbreak. France, for all their talent and promise, have never made it past the quarterfinals of a World Cup and have never medaled in the smaller Olympics tournament either.
Once again this summer, Wendie Renard will be France’s leader in a team where her experience and height — she’s 6-foot-2 — are precious. With her reading of the game and her expert anticipation, she’s one of the best players in the world and one of the most feared center backs. She will relish the challenge of facing the best No. 9s in the world with the hope it’ll carry France all the way. — Laurens
Group stage games:
• July 23 vs. Jamaica (6 a.m. ET)
• July 29 vs. Brazil (6 a.m. ET)
• Aug. 2 vs. Panama (6 a.m. ET)
21. Ellie Carpenter
Country: Australia
Age: 23
Club: Olympique Lyonnais
Position: Right fullback
With a workhorse engine and a propensity to push higher up the pitch, Carpenter’s influence on this Matildas team in attack and defense will be pivotal. — Lordanic
Group stage games:
• July 20 vs. Ireland (6 a.m. ET)
• July 27 vs. Nigeria (6 a.m. ET)
• July 31 vs. Canada (6 a.m. ET)
20. Lauren James
Country: England
Age: 21
Club: Chelsea
Position: Right wing
She made her England debut in September but will vie for a star role when they open their World Cup campaign against Haiti. Leah Williamson, England’s injured captain, describes her as a “cheat code” and “incredible” and off the back of a season with Chelsea where James played a key role in their domestic double, she’ll be hoping for more silverware this summer. — Hamilton
Group stage games:
• July 22 vs. Haiti (5:30 a.m. ET)
• July 28 vs. Denmark (4:30 a.m. ET)
• Aug. 1 vs. China (7 a.m. ET)
19. Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw
Country: Jamaica
Age: 26
Club: Manchester City
Position: Striker
She’s developed her game across professional stints with Bordeaux and Manchester City, and the goal-getter has rounded out her game, taking responsibility not just for scoring but also luring defenders away to create space for her teammates to attack. With Jamaica not favored in their group, the Reggae Girlz will be relying on Shaw to occupy defenders as much as getting on the ball in the box. She’s a player to watch as much for her goals as her work off the ball, and if Jamaica are to get out of their group, they’ll need Shaw. — Lawson
Group stage games:
• July 23 vs. France (6 a.m. ET)
• July 29 vs. Panama (8:30 a.m. ET)
• Aug. 2 vs. Brazil (6 a.m. ET)
18. Marta
Country: Brazil
Age: 37
Club: Orlando Pride
Position: Forward
One of the greatest if not the greatest ever in the women’s game, Marta is back for her sixth World Cup. She has said this will be her last World Cup, and it’s the final chance to seal her legacy on the international stage having never won a major trophy with Brazil.
She’s already secured the record for the most goals in a World Cup, men’s or women’s, with 17, and she’ll be looking to extend that. Of course, Marta isn’t the same player who scored those 17 World Cup goals. At 37 years old, she doesn’t have quite the explosiveness she used to and she’s become increasingly injury prone — but her vision on the field and her skills on the ball remain world class. When Marta the magician has the ball at her foot, it feels like anything is possible. — Murray
Group stage games:
• July 24 vs. Panama (7 a.m. ET)
• July 29 vs. England (6 a.m. ET)
• Aug. 1 vs. Jamaica (6 a.m. ET)
17. Ashley Lawrence
Country: Canada
Age: 28
Club: Chelsea
Position: Right full-back/center back
Full-back, center back, occasional midfielder, Ashley Lawrence’s willingness to be deployed wherever she is needed is part of what’s made her so reliable for Canada over the years — even though she’s much more likely to stay in a full-back role at the World Cup.
Since her breakout at the 2015 World Cup, she has found a level of consistency playing at the highest level that few can boast. Whether it was her six years at PSG or her 100-plus caps for Canada, Lawrence rarely fails to deliver on the pitch. For a Canada team expected to lean more into their defensive strength in Australia, Lawrence will be a building block for the team, as important in helping the Canadians keep clean sheets as in sparking their attacks. — Lawson
Group stage games:
• July 20 vs. Nigeria (10:30 p.m. ET)
• July 26 vs. Ireland (8 a.m. ET)
• July 31 vs. Australia (6 a.m. ET)
16. Danielle van de Donk
Country: Netherlands
Age: 31
Club: Olympique Lyonnais
Position: Central midfielder
A tricky midfielder who delights in beating her opposition one-on-one, Danielle van de Donk shouldn’t be a new name to those who follow the women’s game. But her career has especially been given a shot in the arm since her return from a long-term ankle issue that culminated in a shin tendon rupture.
Although there is an overlap in the skills of Van de Donk and some of her Dutch teammates, like forward Lieke Martens and midfielder Victoria Pelova — all regulars in manager Andries Jonker’s team — it’s Van de Donk who comes into the tournament in better form that her compatriots and with more experience than the younger up-and-comers like Pelova and midfielder Jill Baijings. Expected to be key for the Dutch this summer, Van De Donk is likely to make new fans with her silky footwork. — Lawson
Group stage games:
• July 23 vs. Portugal (3:30 a.m. ET)
• July 26 vs. USA (9 p.m. ET)
• Aug. 1 vs. Vietnam (3 a.m. ET)
15. Kadidiatou Diani
Country: France
Age: 28
Club: Paris Saint-Germain
Position: Right wing
Now, she enters this World Cup having added a new dimension to her attacking abilities this year, and she can show Les Bleues how much her game as evolved amid the challenge of playing a new position. She is expected to return to her wide position under new head coach Hervé Renard, but in the absence of still-injured Marie-Antoinette Katoto, Diani will be France’s main goal-scoring threat up front. –Laurens
Group stage games:
• July 23 vs. Jamaica (6 a.m. ET)
• July 29 vs. Brazil (6 a.m. ET)
• Aug. 2 vs. Panama (6 a.m. ET)
14. Yui Hasegawa
Country: Japan
Age: 26
Club: Manchester City
Position: Central attacking midfielder
As the second-most-capped player in the Japan squad behind veteran captain Saki Kumagai, attacker Yui Hasegawa will face the onus to step up and be the key player in the heart of the Japanese midfield. A creative No. 10 with an eye for a defense-unlocking pass, Hasegawa will need to take more leadership responsibilities to help her team navigate the group stage and assist the squad’s younger members to navigate their first tournament.
Potentially one of the most exciting players in a team that could delight if they get everything right, Hasegawa should be on everyone’s radar. — Lawson
Group stage games:
• July 22 vs. Zambia (3 a.m. ET)
• July 26 vs. Costa Rica (1 a.m. ET)
• July 31 vs. Spain (3 a.m. ET)
13. Fridolina Rolfo
Country: Sweden
Age: 29
Club: Barcelona
Position: Left wing
For Sweden, she will be one of the main ingredients in their attack this summer. — Marsden
Group stage games:
• July 23 vs. South Africa (1 a.m. ET)
• July 29 vs. Italy (3:30 a.m. ET)
• Aug. 2 vs. Argentina (3 a.m. ET)
12. Pernille Harder
Country: Denmark
Age: 30
Club: Bayern Munich
Position: Attacking midfield
She was on top of the European game when she made the switch to Chelsea ahead of the 2020-21 season, but Pernille Harder’s past three years have been far more muted. The Danish captain has struggled for fitness and rhythm, but a new chapter appears to be ahead: A return from a lengthy injury layoff at the start of May revealed a player getting back to her best, and she made a move to Bayern Munich last month.
A natural leader in attack for Denmark, Harder will have her work cut out for her to help her team advance to the knockouts at this World Cup, but as much the architect as the bricklayer, she should still manage to dazzle when she gets on the ball. — Lawson
Group stage games:
• July 22 vs. China (8 a.m. ET)
• July 28 vs. England (4:30 a.m. ET)
• Aug. 1 vs. Haiti (7 a.m. ET)
11. Debinha
Country: Brazil
Age: 31
Club: Kansas City Current
Position: Playmaking central midfielder
The Brazilian team has its share of creative players who bring a signature flair on the field, but it’s not giving credit where it’s due to simply say Debinha’s style is Brazilian. It is, of course, but it’s also brilliant, and if Brazil is going to finally have success on the world stage, she will be the engine. — Murray
Group stage games:
• July 24 vs. Panama (7 a.m. ET)
• July 29 vs. England (6 a.m. ET)
• Aug. 1 vs. Jamaica (6 a.m. ET)
10. Alex Morgan
Country: USA
Age: 34
Club: San Diego Wave FC
Position: Striker
Morgan retains plenty of mobility, as well as a nose for goal, as evidenced by the fact that she led the NWSL in scoring last season with 15 goals in 17 games. In fact, she’s been so effective that players such as Sophia Smith, Trinity Rodman and Lynn Williams, who have played in central positions at club level, are shunted to the wing. If the U.S. is to claim its third straight World Cup title, you can bet Morgan will be at the center of the action. — Carlisle
Group stage games:
• July 21 vs. Vietnam (9 p.m. ET)
• July 26 vs. Colombia (9 p.m. ET)
• Aug. 1 vs. Portugal (3 a.m. ET)
9. Alexandra Popp
Country: Germany
Age: 32
Club: VfL Wolfsburg
Position: Striker
Seven-time Frauen Bundesliga winner, Champions League winner, Euro runner-up and Olympic gold medalist, Alexandra Popp’s trophy cabinet runneth over. A key player for both club and country, captaining both, Popp is heading into the World Cup off of the back of another impressive season, having scooped the German domestic double as well as leading Wolfsburg to another Champions League final, only to lose to Barcelona.
A force in attack but comfortable further back in midfield, Popp’s experience will be as important as her goals for a young Germany team this summer. A player who’s more than happy to put her body on the line and throw herself into challenges, you can expect to see her score plenty of headers, or endure her share of collisions trying. — Lawson
Group stage games:
• July 24 vs. Morocco (4:30 a.m. ET)
• July 30 vs. Colombia (5:30 a.m. ET)
• Aug. 3 vs. South Korea (6 a.m. ET)
8. Keira Walsh
Country: England
Age: 26
Club: Barcelona
Position: Defensive midfielder
England have been ravaged by injuries to key players going into the World Cup, with captain Leah Williamson, playmaker Fran Kirby and forward Beth Mead all ruled out of the tournament with serious knee injuries. But while the absence of the two Euro 2022 winners is significant blow for coach Sarina Wiegman, the one player the Lionesses really couldn’t afford to lose was Keira Walsh, and luckily she’ll be at the tournament leading the way.
The Barcelona midfielder is the glue which holds the England side together — a defensive anchor — but she is also capable of moments of creativity, as with the pass from which Ella Toone scored the winning goal in the 2022 Euros final against Germany. Walsh is at the peak of her career, and her form and fitness will be crucial for England. — Ogden
Group stage games:
• July 22 vs. Haiti (5:30 a.m. ET)
• July 28 vs. Denmark (4:30 a.m. ET)
• Aug. 1 vs. China (7 a.m. ET)
7. Lena Oberdorf
Country: Germany
Age: 21
Club: VfL Wolfsburg
Position: Defensive midfielder
Still just 21, combative and intelligent midfielder Lena Oberdorf has been a mainstay of the national team since locking down her place in 2019. Although playing a slightly more attacking role for club, Wolfsburg, the midfielder who earned plaudits for her displays during the 2022 Euros is much more of a disruptor for Germany, snuffing out opposition attacks before they happen.
Strong both on the ground and in the air, Oberdorf’s reading on the game is far beyond her years and her ability to see attacks unfolding ensures a near-watertight German midfield. — Lawson
Group stage games:
• July 24 vs. Morocco (4:30 a.m. ET)
• July 30 vs. Colombia (5:30 a.m. ET)
• Aug. 3 vs. South Korea (6 a.m. ET)
6. Ada Hegerberg
Country: Norway
Age: 27
Club: Olympique Lyonnais
Position: Striker
One of the brightest sparks in European women’s football, the past three years for Ada Hegerberg have been punctuated by injury, and before that was a five-year feud with her federation over conditions for the women’s national team, which left her refusing to represent her country. However, since her return to the Norway team ahead of the 2022 Euros, there has been a renewed sense of positivity with what the 2018 Ballon d’Or winner can add.
A determined and physically powerful attacker, Hegerberg doesn’t need anything more than a smart ball into the box to cause all sorts of trouble. In a Norway team that should be able to shine in attack, she could once again end up being the jewel in the crown for the Football Girls. — Lawson
Group stage games:
• July 20 vs. New Zealand (3 a.m. ET)
• July 25 vs. Switzerland (4 a.m. ET)
• July 30 vs. Philippines (3 a.m. ET)
5. Caroline Graham Hansen
Country: Norway
Age: 28
Club: Barcelona
Position: Striker/Right wing
One of the big mysteries at Barcelona is why Caroline Graham Hansen never appears on the shortlists for individual awards. Five Barca players made the Ballon d’Or top 20 this year, yet the Norwegian winger was not there. Ask any Barca player, though, and they will tell you she is among the top 10 players in the world at the very least.
Her speed, change of direction and decision-making have turned some of the game’s best left-backs inside out. Her ability to create for her teammates has also been complemented by the addition of important goals over the past 12 months. Her relationship in attack with Ada Hegerberg will be key to Norway’s World Cup hopes. — Marsden
Group stage games:
• July 20 vs. New Zealand (3 a.m. ET)
• July 25 vs. Switzerland (4 a.m. ET)
• July 30 vs. Philippines (3 a.m. ET)
4. Alexia Putellas
Country: Spain
Age: 29
Club: Barcelona
Position: Central playmaking midfielder
She returned for the last six matches of the season, making a late cameo in the Champions League final, and scored in her first start for Spain in a year against Panama recently. However, she has still not completed 90 minutes in a single game, and it is unclear if she is ready to compete at the very top level yet. If she is ready, Spain will benefit from her goals, link-up play and leadership, which are world-class. — Marsden
Group stage games:
• July 21 vs. Costa Rica (3:30 a.m. ET)
• July 26 vs. Zambia (3:30 a.m. ET)
• July 31 vs. Japan (3 a.m. ET)
3. Sophia Smith
Country: USA
Age: 22
Club: Portland Thorns
Position: Left wing/striker
Leading a generational shift within the U.S. women’s national team is Sophia Smith, the young forward who will likely score the bulk of the USWNT’s goals. As a striker in club play and primarily a winger for the U.S., Smith’s strength is in her confidence and audacity to go at goal. She’s not afraid to take on defenders, and she’s emerged as a ruthlessly incisive finisher as she has come into form for this World Cup. As she heads to New Zealand, she puts pause on a club season where she is the NWSL’s Golden Boot leader with 10 goals in 13 games.
The injuries to U.S. attackers Mallory Swanson and Catarina Macario only put more pressure on Smith to step up and take on the goal-scoring burden, but her recent form suggests she’s more than ready for it. Whenever Smith is on the ball, it figures to be must-see. — Murray
Group stage games:
• July 21 vs. Vietnam (9 p.m. ET)
• July 26 vs. Colombia (9 p.m. ET)
• Aug. 1 vs. Portugal (3 a.m. ET)
2. Aitana Bonmati
Country: Spain
Age: 25
Club: Barcelona
Position: Central midfield
A versatile midfielder, she told ESPN she feels more comfortable playing further forward, where she can better influence the game and contribute with goals and assists. In terms of her style, she is perhaps the best representation in the women’s game of the typical midfielder you associate with successful Barca and Spain sides: terrific technique, a wonderful touch and an ability to play in tight spaces. — Marsden
Group stage games:
• July 21 vs. Costa Rica (3:30 a.m. ET)
• July 26 vs. Zambia (3:30 a.m. ET)
• July 31 vs. Japan (3 a.m. ET)
1. Sam Kerr
Country: Australia
Age: 29
Club: Chelsea
Position: Striker
Sam Kerr is a big-game player. The bigger the stage, the more inevitable she becomes.
It’s a skill she’s honed over years and during her past three seasons, Chelsea fans have reaped the rewards of her innate love for the grandest stages. Her goals in FA Cup finals and on the final day of the season are stuff of legend. But now on home soil for the 2023 Women’s World Cup, it feels like it’s Australia’s turn to be treated to a Sam Kerr show unlike any they’ve seen before.
Fans, haters and neutrals alike will be treated to her killer instinct in front of goal, her intelligence in knowing when to lead and when to assist, supported by one the best Matildas’ attacking lines in history, and in front of an adoring home crowd. This is Kerr’s time. Enjoy the show. — Lordanic
Group stage games:
• July 20 vs. Ireland (6 a.m. ET)
• July 27 vs. Nigeria (6 a.m. ET)
• July 31 vs. Canada (6 a.m. ET)