3️⃣ Barcelona stars who could light up the Women's World Cup | OneFootball

With the 2023 Women’s World Cup almost upon us, it’s time to look at who will be the game-changers in Australia and New Zealand.

After impressing at club level, here are three Barcelona players to look out for.

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Fridolina Rolfö (Sweden)

Rising to the occasion during the biggest moments on football’s biggest stages is where the Swedish forward thrives.

At both club and country level, the versatile 29-year-old always seems to be part of the action, and with 22 goal contributions for Barcelona (12 goals and 10 assists) she’s ready to keep impressing.

The Spanish giants walk all over the league, but in their Champions League success, Rolfö was a particularly vital member scoring twice in the quarter-finals and the winner in the final for more Barça history.

Often at left-back at club level due to Barça’s embarrassment of riches, Rolfö always plays further forward for her national team and helped them claim third in the 2019 World Cup, silver at the 2020 Olympics and reach the semi-finals of Euro 2022.

Rolfö currently has six goals and one assist for her country in 2023’s 12 matches and is coming off an impressive club season, so expect her form to continue down under.

The Nordic side are currently ranked third in the world and may very well be sleeping giants to go ahead and win it all.

Aitana Bonmatí (Spain)

Spain enter the tournament in their Golden Era and with captain Alexia Putellas only just returning from her ACL injury, the spotlight falls on another Barcelona name to lead the way.

The leader on the pitch for Barcelona all season was the 25-year-old midfielder, and her command of the game and team-mates led her to a rightful UEFA Women’s Champions Player of the Year title.

Technically superb, Bonmatí works hard and conducts play in the middle of the park but has end product too, scoring 14 goals and providing 18 assists for Barcelona last season.

With Putellas’ fitness up in the air, it will be down to Bonmatí to dominate and determine games if Spain are to fulfil their potential.

Barcelona are known for their Ballon d’Or winners and this may be another, depending on if she hits top gear in Australia and New Zealand.

Keira Walsh (England)

The most expensive women’s player of all-time — Walsh joined from Manchester City for a world record €400k fee last summer — the midfielder dictates the tempo from the base of the midfield.

After departing Manchester City for a world-record fee of €400k last September, Walsh’s ability to maintain the game’s tempo for both club and country has been vital.

Four years ago Walsh admitted after losing to the USA in the 2019 Women’s World Cup semi-finals that she contemplated leaving football for good.

Now she has another chance at winning it all as England enters the tournament as Euro 2022 champions, thanks to the ever-present defensive midfielder. She notably was named Player of the Match in the 2-1 final win over Germany.

Playing in a game-changing position which rarely gets the recognition it deserves, the Barcelona star will be the link from back to front that England need to advance upfield and keep things ticking against stubborn backlines.

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