Women's Football Team of the Year named after memorable 2023
It's the most wonderful time of the year - and when the clock strikes midnight we'll have to bid farewell to 2023.
And with that there is no better time to look back on what has been a truly unique 12 months in women's football. From Brisbane to Borehamwood, we've seen another remarkable year for the game, with the biggest World Cup ever thrown in for good measure.
The necessary caveat to start this piece off with is that this impossible task of selecting 11 of the best players in a 12-month period is entirely subjective and largely dependent on the day. Because in 24 hours, there’s a high likelihood that we will completely disagree with what we’ve put together.
2023 was defined by unprecedented success, competition levels and quality. Which, naturally, makes choosing an ultimate XI a nightmare. There is a genuine argument to be made that the 2023 team of the year could really just be transfused with the entire Barcelona squad–you don’t win the treble without being stupendous on all fronts.
Even so, the Mirror Football women's writers have attempted the impossible, cobbling together a world class team in something of a 4-2-3-1 formation. You can agree or disagree. But if you disagree, let us know why in the comments.
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Mary Earps - Goalkeeper
Contrarians, we dare you. Mary Earps claimed, devoured and defined 2023. In a year in which Manchester United reached a first-ever FA Cup final and pushed reigning champions Chelsea to the brink, more than a fair share of credit is owed to Earps, whose 14 clean sheets in the league not only marked a new club record but earned the Lioness the WSL’s Golden Glove for the 2022/23 season.
The 30-year-old ratcheted up the ante when she laid claim to the Women’s World Cup Golden Glove after denying Spain’s Jennifer Hermoso from the spot in England’s 1-0 final loss. Earps' future at club levels remains mired in uncertainty, with plenty of admirers eager to employ her services for any splash of cash. Only the Lioness’ off-the-pitch exploits come close to competing with her feats between the sticks.
Mary Earps with the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award (David Davies/PA Wire)Olga Carmona - Defender
Carmona will forever be known as Spain's World Cup winner, but many will forget that Carmona was an unused substitute in Spain's last-16 win over Switzerland, or an extra-time sub against the Netherlands. Not until Spain's semi-final against Sweden did Carmona re-join the starting XI, wearing the captain's armband and securing Spain a first senior major final appearance with a looping 89th-minute goal from the edge of the box.
The goal was nothing if not portent, not only for the 1-0 final victory but for Carmona's burgeoning career. Against Chelsea in this season's Champions League, Carmona continued to crop up with big moments.
Scoring the winner in the World Cup final is difficult to eclipse, but at just 23 years old, the Real Madrid left back has ample quality and time to continue her meteoric rise.
Millie Bright - Defender
Few, if any, centre-backs are as synonymous with unflappable poise as Millie Bright. The Chelsea defender's inimitable quality was put into sharp focus when Chelsea were forced to navigate the final stages of their double-winning season earlier this year without her due to injury, eventually losing out on a place in the Champions League final.
Millie Bright helped Chelsea to a double and led England to a World Cup final (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)Bright's return to fitness for England's World Cup was both improbable and paramount, with Bright instrumental in helping England to a first-ever World Cup final. After understandable rustiness was eventually shaken off (Bright hadn't kicked a competitive football in four months), the defender returned to her usual commanding presence, moving into a back three that reaped immediate dividends.
Another knee injury forced Bright once again to the side lines, and Chelsea have struggled for it. But in another year of unprecedented success for the Blues and England, Bright's influence is a non-negotiable.
Irene Paredes - Defender
Any treble - or World Cup - winning squad brimming with generational talent is nothing without a rock-solid defence. Enter: Irene Paredes.
Considered one of the best defenders in world football, the 32-year-old played an integral role in both Spain's historic triumph on the world stage and Barcelona's incredible treble-winning season. A physical presence and aerial threat, Paredes' experience with both club and country has made her a highly-intelligent, commanding and mature centre-back .
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Over the summer, Paredes featured in every match on Spain's route to the final, while for Barcelona, she clocked 36 appearances and three goals across all competitions as Barcelona claimed the league title, the Spanish Super Cup and the Champions League. She recently clocked 100 appearances for the Spanish national team, though a computer glitch threatened to steal the moment away.
Alex Greenwood - Defender
When you need a classy display with a dash of sacrificial blood, one player always delivers.
Greenwood's ability on the ball is largely unrivalled, a fact that was underscored as Greenwood completed the most passes in the tournament. Toss in the 30-year-old's set-piece quality, and only Spain's Teresa Abelleira managed to create more chances than the Lioness Down Under.
Alex Greenwood was selected in the Mirror Football World Cup Team of the TournamentThe City star's defensive work is what deserves heralding, however. Greenwood's intelligence and positioning consistently cut her one of the world's best centre-backs, while her sheer tenacity and passion for the game make her a menace for opposition teams.
In the current WSL campaign, City only sit second behind perennial league leaders Chelsea. A successful campaign with no doubt feature Greenwood heavily.
Keira Walsh - Midfielder
That Walsh didn't feature in this year's Ballon d'Or shortlist verges on a criminal act.
Following her move from Manchester City to Barcelona last summer, Walsh lived up to the hype her £350,000 price tag and has continued to do so. The 26-year-old claimed the league, Supercopa and Champions League trophies in her first season. It was her potential injury that sent shockwaves through the Women's World Cup., the spectre of England losing her passing range, vision and intelligence almost unthinkable.
Keira Walsh has had another stellar year for England and Barcelona (Photo by Naomi Baker - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall, in his role as an analyst for the BBC, said Walsh is "almost irreplaceable", adding that replacing her abilities on and off the ball would require two midfielders. The Swede is not remotely guilty of hyperbole. Walsh has become one of the world's most exciting and effective midfielders with a limitless ceiling. A guarantee on any starting XI.
Aitana Bonmati - Midfielder
Where do you even start with Aitana Bonmati? 2023 was simply her year.
Professional football? She's completed it mate. Producing one of the best individual seasons in history at club level, the midfielder was integral to Barcelona winning the treble, which included a second Champions League title.
Not satisfied with dominating the European game, the Catalan creative then conquered the World Cup. Bonmati played in every round as Spain won a first major tournament, instrumental to La Roja's success. She was awarded the FIFA Golden Ball award - given to the best player in the competition - after the 1-0 win over England in the final.
What are your thoughts on our Team of the Year for 2023? Share your response in the comments below
Naturally, Bonmati also claimed the Ballon d'Or Feminin and the UEFA Player of the Year award. Expect her to succeed Alexia Putellas as the winner of the FIFA Best Women's Player award at the ceremony next month in London. She was the first name on this teamsheet.
Guro Reiten - Midfielder
The problem with a calendar team in a World Cup year is how much weight do you give to performances across those four weeks in Australia and New Zealand. Guro Reiten's Norway performed way below par, only sneaking through the group stage with a win over lowly Philippines before crashing out to Japan.
Reiten wasn't at her best in New Zealand, like a lot of her international colleagues. But she spent the first half of 2023 cementing herself as one of the most influential players in the WSL, playing a major role in Chelsea retaining their title.
She has spent the latter part of the year sidelined with injury, but Reiten has still been one of the best wingers around this year. For this team she'll have to play a little deeper, but the Norwegian has the versatility to do it.
Guro Reiten celebrates her late equaliser against Man City in October (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)Lynn Williams - Forward
Again including players from countries who flopped at the World Cup is problematic. But we couldn't leave out Lynn Williams after top scoring for NJ/NY Gotham as they claimed a second NWSL title.
The 30-year-old forward was about more than just goals. Her work rate, tactical flexibility and leadership was crucial to helping coach Juan Carlos Amorós implement an effective style of play.
Gotham only finished sixth in the regular standings but battled through the play-offs to reach the Championship match against OL Reign. Goals from Williams and Esther Gonzalez sealed a dramatic 2-1 win for Gotham. In a soul searching year US women's football, Williams was one of the few players to come out with credit in the bank.
Salma Paralluelo - Forward
Where on earth would Spain be without Salma Paralluelo? 2023 might have looked a lot different without her timely interventions. The 20-year-old forward wrote her name into the global history books when she scored a late winner against the Netherlands in the World Cup quarter-finals.
Salma Paralluelo of Spain celebrates after scoring her team's first goal in the semi final match against Sweden (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)Within a week, after another huge goal in the semi-final, the wonderkid had a her hands on a winners medal. Only 19 at the time of the tournament, Paralluelo was a game changer for La Roja, her direct, powerful running a useful weapon when Spain were dominating possession but struggling to penetrate.
Paralluelo only signed for Barcelona in the summer of 2022 but has already netted 23 times in 35 appearances and won everything there is to win in the club game, including the Champions League. Lauren James and Caitlin Foord run her close, but Paralluelo gets the not as our other wide forward.
Khadija Shaw - Forward
Who else could lead the line for our 2023 all-star squad? Khadija 'Bunny' Shaw has continued her ruthless goalscoring form throughout the year.
The Jamaican was only narrowly pipped to the WSL Golden Boot last season when a ridiculous campaign from Rachel Daly, 22 goals in 22 games, denied her. In total this year, Shaw has found the net 19 times for City in the league, to edge out Daly and Sam Kerr as the in-form striker in the league.
City may not have won any silverware this year, but once again they look like they'll be firmly in the title race in 2024. The front three of Shaw, Chloe Kelly and Lauren Hemp is a big reason why.
Khadija Shaw led the line for Jamaica at the World Cup, with the Caribbean side knocking out Brazil (Elsa - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)Honourable mentions
Because even the best starting XIs need substitutions. Katie McCabe and Fridolina Rolfo, were particularly unlucky not to make the cut. Had Sweden beaten Spain in the World Cup semi-final, Rolfo would now be enjoying the acclaim and recognition Bonmati is receiving, while McCabe was critical to Arsenal's Champions League charge last season.
Meanwhile, Sam Kerr and Lauren James, always turned up in the big moments for Chelsea, in a year the Blues lost only a handful of matches and claimed two trophies. James has all the ability to become the best player in the world in 2024, while Kerr continues to set the standard for her club and country.
The Million dollar Matilda had her home World Cup disrupted by injury, but her goal against England in the semi-final was one of the sporting moments of the year.
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