10 Women's World Cup 2019 Heroines To Champion Now

From minority pursuit to national obsession: the FIFA Women's World Cup 2019 has elevated the women's game both on and off the pitch. But who are the names taking the beautiful game into the 21st century? From the Brazilian legend for whom lipstick is war paint to the American force taking President Trump to task, meet the 10 most inspiring figures in women's football right now.

Marta, Brazil
A six-time FIFA World Player of the Year, Marta came to the tournament an all-time great and left even more exalted. The 33-year-old became the leading goal scorer in World Cup history with two goals taking her tally to a record 17, all executed while wearing her now-trademark blood red lipstick (she told a post-match assortment of press: "The colour is of blood, because we had to leave blood on the pitch. Now I'm going to use it in every game"). But it was her impassioned post-match interview after having been knocked out by France that sealed icon status. After extolling the virtues of hard work, she stared down the camera lens and said: "The women’s game depends on you to survive. Think about it, value it more. Cry in the beginning so you can smile in the end."

Megan Rapinoe, USA
Describing herself as "a walking protest", red hot, pink-haired Rapinoe - who readily spanked hosts France with two goals in the quarter-finals in their own back jardin - further endeared herself to the world when she declared, "I’m not going to the f***ing White House", when asked about a possible congratulatory trip to meet President Trump. A Twitter rant from the President and his MAGA cohort ensued, but Rapinoe remains unrattled. As America's co-captain readies herself for an historic World Cup final, we'll leave you with the testimony of her girlfriend, the basketball star Sue Bird: "Megan is at the boss level in the video game of knowing herself. You just cannot shake that girl. She’s going to do her thing, at her own damn speed, to her own damn rhythm, and she’s going to apologise to exactly no one for it."

Sam Kerr, Australia
Australia’s captain scored her country’s first goal of the tournament, against Italy, but then saw the Matildas go on to lose the game 2-1. Cue damning headlines and negativity back home. What followed in the next game was a lesson in how to answer critics in style, firstly, on the pitch, when Kerr’s side came from behind to beat Brazil 3-2 and, secondly, off-field, when in the post-game interview Kerr told haters to “suck on that one”.

Kanjana Sung-Ngoen, Thailand
Following a 13-0 world-record drubbing by USA, Thailand found themselves 4-0 down to Sweden in the following game and seemingly facing another relentlessly horrific day at the office… until captain Kanjana Sung-Ngoen chased down a lofted pass in the 91st minute. Outpacing two defenders, she struck beautifully to the side of the goalkeeper to score, causing tears of joy in the stadium (zero in on Madam Pang, the general manager of the Thai team, for peak waterworks) and lifting a nation, and an entire World Cup audience, along the way.

Alex Morgan, USA
The fresh face and co-captain of US soccer caused English hearts to break when she scored against the Lionesses in the semi-final, then marked it with the ultimate burn: a tea-drinking celebration. The unusual move was "in honour of those 13 colonies" that won independence in the 18th century, breaking away from British rule. History lessons and etiquette aside, Morgan's off-pitch behaviour is compelling: in March, she and her team mates filed a federal gender-discrimination lawsuit against the United States Soccer Federation, the national governing body for the sport, leading the fight for equal pay.

Bev Priestman, England
England head coach Phil Neville may get the Lionesses’ share of attention, with his big reputation and Southgate-identikit waistcoat, but it’s his assistant coach Bev Priestman who has won Vogue’s heart. A calming presence beside Neville in a tracksuit and with her cropped, bleached hair, Priestman is a master tactician and expert in women’s football having played for Everton, worked for the New Zealand team and been to a previous World Cup with Canada – and she’s still only 33 years old.

Jill Ellis, USA
The British-born Yoda behind the USA's well-drilled attack force, Ellis's tactical masterclass proved decisive in the dispatching of England in the semi-final when she left her co-captain and mascot Megan Rapinoe on the bench, unsettling her opponents and sharpening the resolve of her players. She credits her success to the sporting environment in the US, the country to which she emigrated with her family aged 15. "I truly think if I'd have stayed in England, I'm not sure I'd would be in coaching." Let's hope this World Cup proves a turning point in the British talent incubation stakes.

Lieke Martens, the Netherlands
The Barcelona midfielder has continued the long and glorious tradition of Dutch players executing the most beautiful, balletic moves in a World Cup. Holland’s No.22 scored with an audacious back-heeled nutmeg against Japan and, against New Zealand, pulled off a Cruyff turn even more elegant than those by the master himself. Mercifully, Lieke and her teammates have avoided that other great Netherlands World Cup tradition of all falling out with each other and going home in a sulk.

Lucy Bronze, England
Tough is Lucy Bronze's middle name. Seriously. (It was her mother's maiden name.) At 18, having suffered a knee injury that became infected, she was working two jobs at Dominoes Pizza and at a five-a-side football centre in Leeds alongside studying for a sports science degree at university when she decided to take her rehabilitation into her own hands. Three years later she was in the England team, and this year cemented her reputation as the "best player in the world" (in the words of England manager Phil Neville) when she scored a screamer in England's 3-0 quarter-final victory over Norway. Despite going out in the semi-finals, Bronze's legacy is secured: she and her teammates will inspire a generation of young Lionesses.

Jessica McDonald, USA
Although Jessica McDonald is the highest American goal scorer in NWSL history, the 31-year-old had never made the cut for the FIFA World Cup squad - until 2019. Lending new meaning to the "soccer mom" moniker, the girl from Phoenix has determination in spades: her side hustle to a career as a professional footballer has comprised packing boxes at an Amazon warehouse, as well as mentoring, coaching, and speaking appearances. A reunion with her 7-year-old, Jeremiah, in France made the world tear up.