Ranking the top 25 players at the Women's World Cup
The talent pool has never been so deep. The 2019 Women's World Cup will feature the greatest collection of players in tournament history. Below, we're ranking the 25 best who'll be showcasing their talents in France this month.
25. Khadija Shaw (Jamaica)
The 2018 Guardian Footballer of the Year, Jamaica's "Bunny" Shaw has overcome family tragedy to guide the Reggae Girlz to their first World Cup. With pace to burn and an eye for goal, Shaw will turn heads in France.
24. Ji So-Yun (South Korea)
A PFA Team of the Year inclusion in four of five seasons at Chelsea, Ji is the attacking abutment who sits directly behind the striker in a 4-2-3-1 formation. She is by some margin South Korea's most important player.
23. Marta (Brazil)
A six-time FIFA Women's Player of the Year honoree, and the tournament's all-time leading scorer with 15 goals, 33-year-old Marta is still a vital cog in a Brazilian wheel eyeing a maiden World Cup conquest.
22. Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria)
Winner of the Golden Ball and Golden Boot at the Under-20 World Cup in 2014, the three-time African Player of the Year scored seven in seven for Barcelona this season. Nigeria's "Superzee" is a difference-maker.
21. Wang Shuang (China)
Compared to Lionel Messi in her native China, midfielder Wang paired seven goals with eight assists in her debut season at Paris Saint-Germain. She's also a set-piece savant.
20. Caroline Graham Hansen (Norway)
Norway's hopes of reviving a once-thriving national team setup rely heavily on Hansen, a versatile attacker content to play anywhere across the frontline. The 24-year-old's skills on the ball are unrivaled.
19. Megan Rapinoe (United States)
With 13 goals and 17 assists for the United States since 2017, 33-year-old Rapinoe continues to play an integral role for Jill Ellis' lot on the left wing, both going forward and in ball recovery.
18. Danielle van de Donk (Netherlands)
Arsenal star van de Donk is tasked with providing service for clubmate Vivianne Miedema while sandwiched between the often unplayable Lieke Martens and pace merchant Shanice van de Sanden. A fortuitous duty.
17. Fran Kirby (England)
If Phil Neville gets his tactics right - and that's a major if - crafty Chelsea star Kirby will assume second striker responsibilities in a 4-2-3-1 flanked by Nikita Parris and either Toni Duggan or Beth Mead.
16. Kim Little (Scotland)
Scotland may be one of the shock teams of the tournament, and all success goes through Arsenal star Little. The midfield metronome controls the tempo for the World Cup debutants.
15. Sara Dabritz (Germany)
A pivotal member of Martina Voss-Tecklenburg's Die Nationalelf squad, Paris Saint-Germain-bound Dabritz is a tireless worker who does a bit of everything for a Germany side inexplicably flying under the radar.
14. Saki Kumagai (Japan)
What Japan lacks in attack, it makes up for elsewhere. Kumagai, a defender, leads the way courtesy of skills synonymous with slick-passing midfielders. Perhaps that's why she's proved useful playing in the middle of the park.
13. Nikita Parris (England)
Lyon-bound Parris set the Women's Super League alight for double winners Manchester City, and she'll do the same for England. Capable of playing a central strike role or out wide, Parris' technical abilities are among the best in France.
12. Tobin Heath (United States)
Like the prank in which a seemingly discarded banknote is ripped from the grip of an opportunistic bypasser, Heath is a nutmeg trafficker who makes a mockery of witless defenders, and she's an authority in one-on-one situations.
11. Lindsey Horan (United States)
Reigning National Women's Soccer League MVP Horan is a refined box-to-box player who, despite a slew of successive injuries, is set to play a massive role for Jill Ellis' charges. Few players boast the all-around skill set of the 24-year-old.
10. Christine Sinclair (Canada)
Canada's Sinclair is three goals shy of tying Abby Wambach's international record of 184, and at 35, she's still one of the best strikers in the sport for a side eyeing a deep World Cup run. She's also an underrated playmaker.
9. Alex Morgan (United States)
After injuries hampered her performance at the 2015 World Cup, Morgan arrives in France a more well-rounded and dangerous forward who exposes defenders with timely runs.
8. Amandine Henry (France)
Lyon difference-maker Henry has been brilliant since returning from the NWSL. Quite possibly the most well-rounded defensive midfielder in France, Henry fuels attacks and stymies breaks. She's Les Bleues' backbone.
7. Lucy Bronze (England)
Arguably the best full-back in football, Bronze is hoping to translate success with Lyon to the international stage. A two-way savant, Bronze is a threat in attack and an aware defender who is rarely beaten one-on-one.
6. Vivianne Miedema (Netherlands)
Arsenal record-smashing striker Miedema is spoiled for riches playing alongside Martens, van de Donk, and van de Sanden. Still just 22, the sky's the limit for the poised finisher. The World Cup could make her a star.
5. Eugenie Le Sommer (France)
A left-winger who shreds full-backs to pieces before making direct runs into the penalty area, five-time Champions League winner Le Sommer is as elusive as they come and an elite finisher. Golden Boot honors may await.
4. Wendie Renard (France)
Forget the fact that Renard is a 6-foot-2 fortress whose leaping ability makes her a threat on set-pieces, the Lyon standout is also a technically gifted, capable passer. She's the best center-back in the tournament by far.
3. Lieke Martens (Netherlands)
Like Miedema and van de Donk, Martens thrives in a potent Dutch attack. A principal reason for Barcelona's meteoric rise in women's football, the 2017 FIFA Player of the Year loves an incisive slash and dash.
2. Dzsenifer Marozsan (Germany)
Arguably the most technically gifted player in France, Germany captain Marozsan has won everything for club and country but the World Cup. The Olympic midfield hero makes it look far too easy.
1. Sam Kerr (Australia)
Winner of successive NWSL and Australian W-League Golden Boots, Matildas deity Kerr is a breathless runner and clinical finisher. Australia's World Cup hopes rest on the shoulders of football's unanimous best player.