From Mary Fowler to Vicky López: nine set to light up women’s football

T he buildup to a World Cup is full of anticipation and, with less than six months to go, there are many questions still to be answered. Who will book a seat on the plane? Who will miss out? Will there be any surprises?

One thing is for sure, there is an incredible number of impressive youngsters coming through and that was highlighted in 2022, a year of multiple youth tournaments. Here we pick out nine young players who could break through on to the biggest stage.

Vicky López (16): The Prodigy Madrid-born López is the talk of Barcelona since signing last summer. She made her debut for the Spanish champions in December and became their youngest goalscorer, against Levante. An attacking midfielder with an abundance of skill, she was the puppet master in Spain’s Under-17 2022 World Cup win, picking up the Golden Ball award. This year’s senior tournament may come too soon, but she is one to keep an eye on.

Lauren James (21): The Inevitable Talent Any WSL fan will be aware of James’s raw talent. It was clear from the moment she took to the field for Arsenal at 16. Her record-breaking move from Manchester United to Chelsea in 2021 was headline-worthy, but it is this season that patience has paid off. Her natural skill, quick feet and vision have left some of Europe’s best defenders lying in her wake. A place in the Lionesses’ World Cup team seems almost a certainty.

Mary Fowler (19): The Next Big Thing Fowler burst into Australia’s senior team at 15 years old and has never looked back. Joining Montpellier gave her a flavour of European football before making the move to Manchester City last June. An intelligent forward who is adept at finishing with both feet, she went to the 2019 World Cup before travelling to Tokyo 2020,