10 stars at the 2023 Women's World Cup

The Associated Press has listed 10 players expected to shine at the 2023 Women's World Cup, including Alex Morgan and Marta.

This is Alex Morgan's fourth World Cup appearance, but she has already won twice with the USA, an Olympic gold medal, and is considered one of the greatest players of all time. The tournament in Australia and New Zealand will give her the chance to set a record of three consecutive World Cup titles, a feat no other male or female player has achieved. The 34-year-old forward has won 11 international titles and the Champions League with Lyon. A World Cup title could be Morgan's farewell to the biggest tournament on the planet.

Another record holder heading to the 2023 World Cup is striker Christine Sinclair , who will represent Canada. No player has scored more goals for a national team than Sinclair, either men's or women's, with 190 goals in 319 appearances for Canada. The 40-year-old striker will be participating in her sixth World Cup and has no intention of retiring. Sinclair has won eight international titles with Canada, including a gold medal at the 2021 Olympics.

The 2023 World Cup boasts many renowned strikers, but Sam Kerr is the most anticipated contender for the Golden Boot, as she is at the peak of her career. The 30-year-old striker is the first Australian player to score a hat-trick at the World Cup, regardless of gender. She was the top scorer in the 2022 Asian Cup with seven goals, becoming Australia's all-time leading scorer, surpassing Tim Cahill. The Chelsea star has been England's best player for the past two seasons, scoring the winning goal against Manchester United in the FA Cup final. Playing at home, Kerr could help Australia go far in the tournament.

Wendie Renard is a key player for Lyon, a team that has won the French league 16 times and the Champions League eight times. The 33-year-old, 1.87m tall center-back is considered one of the greatest French players of all time. Renard took a break from playing for the national team in February 2023 because she "did not support the current environment." But after coach Corinne Diacre was sacked and Herve Renard took over, she returned to the national team and participated in the World Cup with her teammates.

Another player at Lyon who has attracted even more attention is striker Ada Hegerberg – considered the Lionel Messi of women's football. In the last nine seasons with Lyon, the 28-year-old striker has averaged 1.1 goals per game, scoring 243 goals in 219 matches. The Norwegian center forward has won the Champions League six times and was the 2018 Ballon d'Or winner. Hegerberg's team also drew a relatively easy group at the 2023 World Cup, alongside hosts New Zealand, the Philippines, and Switzerland.

Alexia Putellas rose to prominence after Hegerberg, but is considered the best player in Europe right now. The Spanish international won the Ballon d'Or twice in a row in 2021 and 2022, when she helped Barca win the Champions League twice. However, Putellas suffered a knee ligament injury last year, sidelining her for about 10 months. Returning in time for the World Cup is already a success for Putellas, but can she help Spain reach the quarter-finals for the first time?

Also returning from a long-term injury is Marta – a legend of women's football, although she has never won the World Cup. The Brazilian international holds the record for six FIFA Player of the Year awards, double the number of awards won by second-place Birgit Prinz. However, the 37-year-old forward's form is not good as she has just spent 11 months recovering from a knee ligament injury. Brazil's coach, Pia Sundhage, said that Marta might be a substitute at the 2023 World Cup.

Brazil's hopes will rest on the shoulders of forward Debinha , with his speed and creative play. The 32-year-old star was the best player in the 2019 North American tournament and was included in the 2022 All-Star team. Debinha is expected to help Brazil win their first World Cup, as they are expected to easily advance from Group F alongside France, Jamaica, and Panama.

Germany is also a contender for the 2023 World Cup title, and they will need striker Alexandra Popp to shine to achieve that goal. Last year, Popp was the first player to score in five Women's European Championships. She scored six goals in the tournament, helping Germany reach the final. However, an injury during warm-up forced Popp to sit out as her teammates lost to England. She also lost to Wolfsburg in the 2023 Champions League final, despite leading Barcelona 2-0. Nevertheless, the 32-year-old striker's career remains glorious, with three Champions League titles and a 2016 Olympic gold medal.

A key player in England's European champions is right-back Lucy Bronze , who is praised for her winning mentality and modern style of play. The 32-year-old has won seven national league titles in three different competitions and was a member of Barcelona's 2023 Champions League-winning team. England are also thriving after winning the Intercontinental Cup, aiming to conquer the World Cup.

Vnexpress.net