Midfield is likely to be where the 2023 Women’s World Cup will be won and lost, with whichever team best commands the centre of the pitch set to go all the way in the tournament.
Technical skill is starting to define the women’s game, particularly in Europe. That is reflected no more than in a generation of midfielders arguably better than any that have ever come before.
Even with a handful of really big names – Amandine Henry, Catarina Macario and Fran Kirby – sidelined as a result of injury, there is no doubting the ability that will be on show this summer.
Country: England
Club: Bayern Munich
Age: 24
Position: Central midfield
There is a feeling that Georgia Stanway has developed from rough diamond to polished gem over the last couple of years. But she has still retained some of the rough edges that make her a born competitor.
She made her mark on Euro 2022 in superb fashion when her starting place could have been under threat, while a move to Germany at club level last summer has opened up new opportunities and experiences.
Country: United States
Club: OL Reign
Age: 28
Position: Central midfield
Rose Lavelle walked away from the last World Cup with a winner’s medal and the Bronze Ball award as the third best player – she would have had reason to feel aggrieved, arguably outshining even teammate Megan Rapinoe.
A spell in the WSL with Manchester City curiously didn’t go particularly well, but the now 28-year-old has been back to her best since joining OL Reign and helped the club top the regular seasons standings.
Country: France
Club: PSG
Age: 26
Position: Central midfield
Chelsea were willing to break the world transfer record to sign Grace Geyoro last summer. She has been with Paris Saint-Germain for a decade already and is the beating heart of a France expected to do well at the World Cup.
As far as a midfielder goes, she is pretty complete and a classic box-to-box type who will do a bit of everything and do it all extremely well. She will always chip in with a goal and even scored a hat-trick at Euro 2022.
Country: Norway
Club: Arsenal
Age: 23
Position: Central midfield
Arsenal had to play more than half of last season without Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema, while they finished it without Kim Little and Leah Williamson. Yet the Gunners still finished in the WSL top three to qualify for the Champions League because Frida Maanum carried them through.
After taking a year to find her feet in England, Maanum has now established as one of the best in the world. She is full of tireless running, possesses tremendous power and is capable of the spectacular.
Country: England
Club: Barcelona
Age: 26
Position: Deep-lying playmaker
Barcelona saw fit to make Keira Walsh the most expensive female player in history off the back of her performances for England at Euro 2022. She helped the Catalans to European glory and makes the Lionesses tick.
Fitting the Barcelona mould perfectly, Walsh controls virtually every game she plays in and can often see passes that no one else can. That much was true when she put Ella Toone through on goal in the Euro 2022 final.
Country: United States
Club: Lyon
Age: 29
Position: Central midfielder
Lindsey Horan is a relatively rare example of a player who has conquered both North America and Europe at club level, despite the contrasting styles. It highlights her incredible skillset, versatility and adaptability.
Now with Lyon in her second stint in France after a hugely successful time with Portland Thorns, she is the United States’ primary captain at this World Cup and will share overall duties with Alex Morgan.
Country: Spain
Club: Barcelona
Age: 29
Position: Attacking midfield
Alexia Putellas is back. The Barcelona superstar is over the ACL injury that so cruelly ruled her out of Euro 2022 and Spain couldn’t afford for her to sit it out in protest amid the ongoing strife within the squad.
The only reason that Putellas, the Ballon d’Or winner from both 2022 and 2021, isn’t higher up this list is that she hasn’t started a competitive game for club or country in more than a year. But her ability is undoubted.
Country: Germany
Club: Wolfsburg
Age: 21
Position: Defensive midfield
She may well pick up a yellow card or five over the course of the tournament, but that take absolutely nothing away from Lena Oberdorf or her status as one of the very best midfielders in the world.
It is remarkable that the Wolfsburg star was still a teenager barely more than 18 months ago given both the level of maturity with which she plays and intelligent game-reading. This is only really the beginning too.
Country: Norway
Club: Chelsea
Age: 28
Position: Left midfield
Not so much a winger or wide forward, Guro Reiten is a more traditional wide midfielder. From that position, she is hugely influential and an incredible creator, racking up assists for fun.
Consider that for all of Chelsea’s superstar forwards, it was Reiten that made them all tick as the Blues continued to dominate in England. If Norway are to end a disappointing run of tournaments, she has to step up here.
Country: Spain
Club: Barcelona
Age: 25
Position: Central midfield
International audiences were introduced to just how good Aitana Bonmati is when she was central to the way Barcelona tore Chelsea apart in the 2021 Champions League final. The Catalans again conquered Europe in 2023.
It would have been a complete disaster for Spain had the 25-year-old, who was among the group that ruled themselves out of international selection last September in protest, not been on the plane to New Zealand.
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