Web site designed & hosted by Paul Yarden © 2015 at Homestead™
Search My Football Facts & Stats
Article: The Top 5 Women Footballers at the 2015 FIFA World Cup
The Top 5 Women Footballers at the 2015 FIFA World Cup
On the 6th of June 2015, 24 nations from across the world will travel to Canada to participate in the 7th FIFA Women's World Cup. The event itself will be held in stadia with capacities varying from 10,000 to 66,000, where over 50 games will be played. Germany, who top the FIFA rankings in both male and female football, will go to the tournament as favourites. However, they will have to see off the talent of the United States, France, Canada and Sweden who make up the top 5 nations. England themselves as the sixth best nation, and quarter-finalist in 2011, also go into the tournament in an optimistic mood.
Ahead of the competition, here are the five of the best female footballers who will hopefully be on show in June.
5. Aya Miama (Japan)
The 30-year-old Japanese international plies her trade in her home nation, where she helps to make up the midfield at the Okoyama Yunogo Belle. She has obtained over 130 caps for Japan, where she has won 5 trophies including the World Cup in 2011. Individually, she has won the L-League’s best 11 6 times since 2007, as well as being the best Asian player in both 2011 and 2012. Her career has spanned 251 appearances since 1999, where she also played in America for several league teams including Los Angeles Sol.
4. Nadine Angerer (Germany)
The 2013 World Player of the Year is the only footballer of both sexes to win the award as a goalkeeper, with fellow national Manuel Neuer only managing to finish third in his quest for the Ballon D’or. Having left Frankfurt in 2013 for Australia, the five time European Championship winner has also had a stint in America. At Turbine Potsdam, Angerer helped the team secure 6 trophies in 3 years. Currently, she is the German team captain and hopes that come June, she will lift her third World Cup and seventh national trophy.
3. Abby Wambach (United States)
The American international finished in third place at the annual Ballon D’or ceremony in Zurich earlier this year. The 34-year old forward has played over 239 times for her country, finding the net 178 times, in an international career spanning over 14 years. Having won the FIFA World Player of the Year earlier in 2012, she became the first American to lift the individual accolade in over 10 years. For her clubs Washington Freedom and Western New York Flash, her prolific goalscoring record propelled her to international stardom in the footballing world. After marrying her former international team-mate, the striker is now resting after sitting out the entire campaign to ensure she is injury-free ahead of what is likely to be her last World Cup.
2. Marta (Brazil)
She is the highest-earning female football player of all time, earning a meagre $400,000 a year. Whilst that might be a lot, it is not just considering the 5 FIFA World Player of the Year awards she has won. The 29-year-old has not finished outside the top 3 since 2003, where she was just 17 years old. Her career has seen her win 12 trophies across several leagues, and the striker currently plays in Sweden for the league-winning women’s team Rosengard. Having been an ambassador for the Brazil World Cup last year, Marta hopes to represent her nation again in June, where she hopes to build on her unbelievable goal to game international ratio, where she has netted 91 goals in 91 games.
1. Nadine Kessler (Germany)
The Wolfsburg captain picked up the ultimate individual accolade earlier this year as she collected her first FIFA Player of the Year award, adding to her previous trophies of the Champions League and Bundesliga which she had collected the season prior. The 27 year old has only been in the German frame for 5 years, yet her creative flair and leadership ability has seen her become a key figure in a dominant side who have won six consecutive trophies. She has won over 11 trophies in her career, including the Champions League on 3 occasions. Whilst her 29 caps might not exude the profile of the world’s best, her personal accolades suggest she is coming to find her best form.
Written by Matt Davis
