FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup- Five players who made a mark

FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup 2022: From Vicky Lopez and Mara Alber to Ajakaye Opeyemi, here are five players who impressed with their performances in the tournament in India this year.

Here are five players from the recently concluded FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup who made a mark with their performances:

1. Loreen Bender

- Golden Boot winner in the tournament

- Joint-highest goal scorer with four goals in the tournament

- Had a goal every 62.5 minutes – the best goal-per-minute ratio in the tournament

- Helped Germany complete a comeback in regulation time against Nigeria, scoring the third goal in the 90th minute, forcing the match into penalties

2. Vicky Lopez

- Golden Ball winner in the World Cup

- The young forward has already become the youngest debutant in La Liga Femeni as well as in Barcelona’s senior team

- Was the pivot in attack for Spain as it defended its U-17 World Cup

- Had direct contributions to four of Spain’s seven goals in the tournament – including two crucial late strikes against Japan in the quarterfinals

3. Linda Caicedo

- Silver Ball and Bronze boot winner in the World Cup

- Made her professional debut at the age of 14

- The attacking engine of Colombia in the U-17 team

- Led the team to its first-ever final in a FIFA tournament – men or women

- Joint-highest goal scorer with four goals

- Also played in the Copa America for Colombia’s senior team and in the U-20 World Cup in Costa Rica this year

4. Mara Alber

- Winner of the Bronze ball in the World Cup

- The architect of attack for the German team

- Involved in seven of Germany’s 16 goals in the tournament – scored two and assisted five, including one in the final

- Was one of the highest scorers at the U-17 European Championship in May 2022, with three goals

- The Hoffenheim forward has looked menacing in set-pieces and looks set for a bright future in the senior team

5. Ajakaye Opeyemi

- Nigeria’s highest goal scorer in the U-17 World Cup qualifiers

- Started in all but one match for Nigeria – the one which Nigeria lost to Colombia in the semifinal

- Won two Player of the Match Awards in Nigeria’s run-up to the third place match, where she was, again, the Player of the Match – three in six matches for the Flamingoes in the World Cup

- Scored Nigeria’s opening goal against Germany in the third-place match