FIFA’s The Best Ceremony tonight will see the world’s best player crowned and the World XI named. Both The Best award and the FIFPRO World XI take into account performances for the 2022/23 season – from 1 August 2022 to 20 August 2023 inclusive. To be eligible, players must have made at least 25 appearances for club or country over the course of the season. The World XI has been voted on by over 6000 professional footballers from around the world. Naturally, players from teams who performed well at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup feature heavily in the nominees, and you can expect the final XI to be the same. Barcelona also dominate the 23-player shortlist, with 7 of their players featuring after a season which saw them win the Champions League and run away with the Liga F title after 28 wins in 30 games.
Per FIFA, the goalkeeper, three defenders, three midfielders and three forwards who have received the most votes will be selected for the World XI. The final spot in the World XI will be assigned to the remaining outfield player with the next highest number of votes. Our World XI will be in a 3-4-3 formation.
Goalkeeper
Mackenzie Arnold (West Ham United, Australia).
Mary Earps (Manchester United, England).
Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars, USA).
Mary Earps is the obvious choice for the goalkeeper spot. Earps won the Golden Glove at a World Cup where there were a number of standout goalkeepers. Having played every single minute of Manchester United’s WSL campaign, Earps kept 14 clean sheets in 22 appearances and only conceded 12 goals. At the World Cup, she achieved a ridiculous save percentage of 85.7 on the way to only conceding 4 goals in the seven matches. She also saved a penalty in the final to keep England in the match.
Defenders
Lucy Bronze (Barcelona, England).
Olga Carmona (Real Madrid, Spain).
Alex Greenwood (Manchester City, England).
Amanda Ilestedt (Paris Saint-Germain/Arsenal, Sweden).
Ashley Lawrence (Paris Saint-Germain/Chelsea, Canada).
Maria (Mapi) León (Barcelona, Spain).
Irene Paredes (Barcelona, Spain).
Mapi León and Irene Paredes formed a formidable centre-back partnership for Barcelona as they romped to their Liga F title. Conceding just 10 goals across the whole Liga F season, León and Paredes made 25 appearances each. Mapi León contributed offensively as well, with almost 5 shot-creating actions per-90 in the Champions League – from centre-back. Irene Paredes carried her imperious form into the World Cup, marshalling a defence that never conceded more than one expected-Goal in a game.
Lucy Bronze flanked this impressive pairing, providing attacking impetus from the back. Her attacking numbers put her amongst the top fullbacks in Liga F, including for shot-creating-actions and progressive passes. She was also crucial as England made a run all the way to the World Cup Final. Bronze was once again a leader when it came to shot-creating actions and expected-Assists. She was also constantly getting into good positions, with a high volume of touches in the attacking third and penalty area.
Midfielders
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona, Spain).
Claudia Pina (Barcelona, Spain).
Fridolina Rolfö (Barcelona, Sweden).
Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich, England).
Ella Toone (Manchester United, England).
Keira Walsh (Barcelona, England).
Aitana Bonmatí was the easiest pick of this whole XI, having had possibly the best season of any player ever. Bonmatí claimed a treble with Barcelona, winning Liga F, the Supercopa, and the Champions League. She was instrumental in Spain’s World Cup win, especially in the Round of 16 when she provided 2 goals and 2 assists against Switzerland. Individually, Bonmatí has won the UEFA Women’s Player of the Year, the World Cup Golden Ball, and of course the Ballon d’Or for her exploits in the 2022/23 season. It seems almost certain she is set to add FIFA’s The Best award to her list of accolades.
Claudia Pina bossed it for Barcelona in 2022/23, racking up 10 goals and 9 assists in just 17 starts in Liga F. Her 7.09 shot-creating actions per-90 in the league per her in the 99th percentile of all midfielders in Liga F. Pina also provided three goals and two assists as Barcelona claimed the Champions League title. She achieved an unreal 1.51 goals and assists per-90 across this campaign.
Fridolina Rolfö was similarly important in Barcelona’s Champions League win, on both sides of the ball. A constant outlet for her teammates, Rolfö received over 12 progressive passes per-90 in the European competition. Showing her defensive prowess, she was also making more than 10 ball recoveries per-90 in the UWCL. At the World Cup, Rolfö scored in each of Sweden’s group games as well as the third-place playoff as they claimed the bronze medal.
Keira Walsh is England and Barcelona’s perennially underrated midfield anchor. A key possession recycler, Walsh averaged about 90% pass completion in every competition she competed in. A constant touchpoint for Barcelona, she received the ball more than 60 times per-90 in Liga F. The concern around her injury at the World Cup should tell you all you need to know about her importance for both England and Barcelona.
Forwards
Jennifer Hermoso (Pachuca, Spain).
Lauren James (Chelsea, England).
Sam Kerr (Chelsea, Australia).
Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave, USA).
Salma Paralluelo (Barcelona, Spain).
Alexandra Popp (Wolfsburg, Germany).
Alessia Russo (Manchester United/Arsenal, England).
Jenni Hermoso hit the ground running in Mexico before earning herself the Silver Ball award for being the second best player at the World Cup. Hermoso helped lead Pachuca to the Clausura final, scoring 18 goals in 20 games along the way. For Spain, she provided three goals and two assists as Spain won the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time.
While Sam Kerr perhaps didn’t hit the heights she is used to, she once again proved why she is one of the best players in the world. Her 17 goals and 6 assists were crucial as Chelsea claimed yet another Women’s Super League title and reached the semi-finals of the Champions League. It was the WSL where Kerr was at her prolific best for Chelsea, with an average of more than a goal or assist per-90. An injury limited her participation at her home World Cup, but she showed her quality with an absolute stunner to level the semi-final against England.
Germany may have had a disappointing World Cup, but Alexandra Popp still had her best season yet for Wolfsburg. Across both the Frauen Bundesliga and the Champions League, Popp averaged more than a goal or assist per-90. Like Kerr, she was at her best in the league with a combined 21 goals and assists in just 16 starts. Despite Germany’s group stage exit at the World Cup, Popp still managed four goals in the three games.
Notable Omissions
With the World XI being voted by players, there are always some notable omissions from the squad, as well as some players who make it based on past reputations. Just this year you could make an argument for any one of the following to make the XI, let alone the 23-player shortlist – Caroline Graham Hansen, Asisat Oshoala, Racheal Kundananji, Khadija Shaw, Jill Roord, Zećira Mušović, Millie Bright, Sophia Smith, and plenty of others.
Do you agree with our World XI? Who do you think should have made it? Would any of the omissions make your XI? Let us know in the comments below.
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