The top 10 players to watch at the Women's World Cup

 

An expanded 32-team World Cup means more quality than ever for the world to watch as the 2023 edition of the tournament down under in Australia and New Zealand grows ever closer. In what will possibly be the most open World Cup to date as nations queue up to stop the USA making it three in a row, the growth of the women’s game means there are more stars than ever ready to light up the biggest stage. With the tournament now just mere days away, we select 10 players who could be worth keeping an eye on come Thursday. 

 

Frida Maanum - Norway 

 

The Arsenal midfielder enjoyed the season of her life last time out in the Barclays Women’s Super League. Despite plenty of attacking talent – albeit several who were injured – Norwegian Maanum was the Gunners’ top scorer in the league last season and was in the reckoning as one of the best players of the whole season, scoring nine goals and assisting four more. Norway endured a painful Euro 2022, but with Maanum in fine form and playing behind an attack of Guro Reiten, Ada Hegerberg and Caroline Graham Hansen, she could be set to light up 2023. 

 

Kyra Cooney-Cross - Australia 

 

The sky is the limit for the 21-year-old Aussie coming into her first World Cup and one where she will get the chance to light it up on home soil. A technically gifted midfielder who reads the game so well, Cooney-Cross’s ease of play allows her to link up with Australia’s flying wingers and full-backs as well as attackers in front of her. An ability to break the lines also allows her to get forward and create in the final third as she has become a pivotal part of Tony Gustavsson’s style of play with the Matildas. Coming off the back of a very good first half of the season in Sweden in Hammarby, Cooney-Cross is one to keep an eye on. 

 

Evelyne Viens - Canada 

 

Striker Evelyne Viens will be a really intriguing watch during the tournament, for several reasons. While Canada have always had a reputation for being a solid defensive unit that rarely put teams to the sword in attack, Viens’ form in Sweden over the past 18 months might just change all that. 20 goals in Sweden for Kristianstad last season saw her finish as the second top scorer in the league and she already has 12 this season, just one goal shy of the Golden Boot at the World Cup break. Viens has a genuine eye for goal and alongside the likes of Cloe Lacasse and the legendary Christine Sinclair, should bring more potency to the Olympic champions. If she does, Canada could be a tough nut to crack. 

 

Rasheedat Ajibade - Nigeria 

 

There’s a lot to be excited about Ajibade when it comes to her role in a stacked Nigeria attack. The Super Falcons haven’t had the easiest build-up to the tournament off the pitch, but Ajibade comes in to the tournament in good form with nine goals for Atletico Madrid in Liga F last season. With pace, skill and an abundance of quality in the final third, Ajibade will prove to be a dangerous customer in a tough group, and her link with the likes of Asisat Oshoala, Uchenna Kanu, Iffy Onomonu and co. will be fascinating to watch. Still just 23, there’s so much more to come, too, from this forward player. 

 

Yui Hasegawa - Japan 

 

Hasegawa has come more into the public conscious in England and further beyond since her big move to Manchester City last summer. While the midfielder had impressed at West Ham United, she has gone to another level in Manchester and was already one of City’s best players after one season at the club. Able to control the ball with such ease, find teammates and start attacks from either a deeper or more advanced role, Hasegawa showed all her qualities in Japan’s warm-up win over Panama where she scored twice and assisted another in a 5-0 win. If Japan are to succeed this summer, Hasegawa will no doubt be at the heart of it. 

 

Alba Redondo - Spain 

 

You just have to look at Redondo’s stats last season to know what she is going to add to a Spain team finally looking to turn their golden generation of players into a major trophy. Redondo may not play for either Real Madrid or Barcelona, but she will surely play a huge part in any Spain success off the back of her 27 Liga F goals for Levante last season, seeing her win the Golden Boot just ahead of group rival Racheal Kundananji of Zambia. Spain have all the creative talent in the world to feed the striker too, whether it be the midfield of Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas, or flying winger Athenea del Castillo, Redondo has proven she knows where the net is if given the chances. 

 

 

Racheal Kundananji - Zambia 

 

Zambia’s Kundananji was the second top scorer in Liga F last season, just behind Redondo. With 25 goals, it was an incredible breakout season in a top league for the striker who swapped Eibar for Madrid CFF last summer. Kundananji is quick, skilful and can finish, and she laid down a marker for this tournament on the final day of the Liga F season, scoring twice against Barcelona to deny them a second successive unbeaten campaign. Kundananji has shown she can do it against the very best and if Zambia are going to be the dark horses for group progression some believe them to be, the Madrid CFF striker will be at the centre of it alongside strike partner Barbra Banda. 

 

Mayra Ramirez - Colombia 

 

Another Liga F striker who was in fine form last season. While all eyes where Colombia is concerned might be on young Real Madrid Linda Caicedo, it would be foolish of any Group H team to underestimate what Ramirez offers her nation. While she couldn’t match the tally of teammate Alba Redondo at Levante, Ramirez scored 14 goals last season, making her the sixth top scorer in the league. Colombia are in an open group where second place seems to be concerned, and if they are to progress, this hot-shot striker will have a big say in things, and her link-up with Caicedo should be a joy to behold. 

 

Naomi Girma - USA 

 

At the other end of the pitch, one of the most rapidly developing centre-backs in the world will take on extra responsibility for the world champions with captain Becky Sauerbrunn missing through injury. Girma’s first senior NWSL season with San Diego Wave last year was truly outstanding, leading her to being named the best defender in the league at the end of the season. Girma has taken that form into the national team and already looks well at home in the USA backline, where she’ll likely now form a partnership with OL Reign’s own talented young defender Alana Cook. It’s a big ask for USA to make it three in a row, but Girma has the undoubted quality to help them along their way. 

 

Kerolin - Brazil 

 

The classy Brazilian forward is in red hot form heading into the tournament and epitomises what this exciting, new-look and in-form Brazil is about. The North Carolina Courage star has been at the top of her game in the NWSL this season, challenging Sophia Smith for the Golden Boot and is starting to replicate those performances for the national team. Alongside former youth team strike partner Geyse, the two could make for a formidable pairing with plenty of top talent behind them too. There’s a lot to like about this Brazil team coming into the tournament, and while they face a tough draw, Kerolin should be at the heart of any success this team has.

The top 10 players to watch at the Women's World Cup