Beth Mead, Mallory Swanson and the superstars missing from the 2023 Women's World Cup

Katoto has endured a pretty miserable year after tearing her ACL during Euro 2022. The free-scoring Paris Saint-Germain star has not played for club or country since, only returning to the headlines when she, along with France team-mates Wendie Renard and Kadidiatou Diani, withdrew themselves from international selection due to "the current system [being] far from the requirements of the highest level".

While Renard and Diani have returned to the fray following the sacking of Corinne Diacre, Katoto will miss the World Cup as she still has not shaken off her injury.

Cascarino would have been a key member of France's squad this summer. Few players on the planet can humiliate defenders like the Lyon star, but her exceptional dribbling won't be on display this summer. Like her team-mate Katoto, the 26-year-old tore her ACL in May, leaving her unavailable for some time.

Chelsea fans hoping to catch a glimpse of their new signing in Australia and New Zealand this summer will be left disappointed. Macario is one of many absences the USWNT are dealing with at the tournament, with the attacker revealing that she would not quite be ready in time back in May. It's been a lengthy absence, with the Brazilian-born attacker suffering the injury over a year ago.

Two-time World Cup winner Press won't be adding to her trophy collection this summer. Back in June 2022, she sustained an ACL injury during Angel City's 3-2 victory over Racing Louisville. Like Macario, she worked hard to return in time, but it was in vain. Her absence was confirmed when Vlatko Andonovski named his squad.

Heath has had a lot to deal with recently, with injuries curtailing her spells at Arsenal and OL Reign early. She opted to have career-extending knee surgery in September 2022 but has not played since. Andonovski did leave the door open for her return, but it remains to be seen what the future holds for the veteran.

Dahlkemper picked up a painful-sounding back injury during San Diego Wave's 2-2 draw with Orlando Pride in September 2022. Although the World Cup has come too soon for the defender, she should make her NWSL return at some point this season.

Another 2019 World Cup winner who won't be lining up for the USWNT this summer is Mewis. The midfielder has endured two operations on a knee injury she sustained during the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, meaning she has not played anywhere near enough football to force her way into Andonovski's plans. She'll be cheering especially loudly for sister Kristie this summer, who made the final squad.

Of all of the injuries affecting the United States' squad, Swanson's is perhaps the biggest blow. She was in stunning form before tearing her patella tendon against the Republic of Ireland in April and leaves a gaping void in Andonovski's forward line.

The USWNT will also be without their captain this summer. Sauerbrunn has helped the Star and Stripes win two World Cups previously, but injury means she won't be completing a three-peat. She has made 216 appearances for her country, with Alex Morgan and Lindsey Horan set to split captaincy duties in her absence.

After helping Portland Thorns win the 2022 NWSL Championship, Beckie was tipped to go from strength to strength the following year. However, 2023 turned into a nightmare when an ACL injury sustained in March ruled her out for the entirety of the club season and the World Cup.

Italy are not blessed with too many stars, but Rosucci is one of them. The midfielder has won five Serie A titles with Juventus and earned 62 international, with her absence leaving a real leadership void in the Azzurri squad.

Piemonte enjoyed a breakout 2022-23 season for AC Milan, netting 13 times to finish third on the Serie A Golden Boot rankings. Just one Italian player, Cristiana Girelli, managed more goals but she was still overlooked by Azzurri coach Milena Bertolini. Piemonte will take some solace in the fact that she should have more eyeballs on her next season, having sealed a long-rumoured move to WSL side Everton.

Euro 2022 Player of the Tournament Mead had her chance of playing at a second World Cup cruelly ripped away when she suffered an ACL injury in November. She retained hope of making it back for the tournament against the odds, but time was always against her and the Arsenal star was not included in Sarina Wiegman's squad.

Mead's Gunners team-mate Williamson is also missing for the same reason. The defender would have been captaining the Lionesses in Australia and New Zealand if fit, having lifted the European Championship trophy with her country last summer. She has confirmed she will still be travelling to the tournament, albeit as a fan rather than a player.

Chelsea's double-winning 2022-23 season looks all the more impressive when you consider that Kirby was sidelined for the vast majority of it. A complex knee injury - not an ACL - was the reason for her absence, and corrective surgery came too late to get her ready for the World Cup. Ella Toone or Lauren James will be tasked with filling her attacking midfield position this summer.

Wiegman's boldest call since taking over as England manager has been dropping former captain Houghton. There were calls for her to return for the World Cup after she enjoyed a superb season for Manchester City, but the Lionesses head coach stood firm, much to the player's frustration.

Gio struggled to make an impact at club level last season, featuring sporadically while on loan at Everton and rarely earning a start when she returned to Arsenal despite the Gunners' injury problems. Ultimately, she has paid the price, being passed over for a spot in the Brazil squad.

Ludmila made a strong start to last season at Atletico Madrid, netting nine times in 16 La Liga matches. In a familiar story though, she was struck down by a knee injury in March, ruling her out of both the inaugural Finalissima and the World Cup.

The Netherlands' chances of replicating their run to the 2019 World Cup final took a huge blow when Miedema ruptured her ACL just before Christmas. The all-time leading WSL scorer will be laser-focussed on getting fit for the new club season after the Gunners bolstered their forward line with the signing of Alessia Russo.

Glas has a difficult history of ACL tears, suffering the injury on multiple occasions during her impressive career. The most recent of these occurred in September 2022 and despite, in her own words, "pushing herself in a way I've never done before," she won't be turning out for Sweden this summer. Glas should make her NWSL debut for new club Kansas City Current during the 2023 season.

Gwinn has suffered two ACL tears in a horrific three-year spell, one in each knee. Prior to her most recent setback, she had played close to every minute during Germany's run to the Euro 2022 final - where they lost to England. She is a big loss at right-back.

The appointment of Herve Renard as France manager convinced Henry to end her lengthy absence from the team. Typically, on the eve of the World Cup she suffered a tournament-ending injury in a friendly against the Republic of Ireland. Aissatou Tounkara was drafted in as her replacement.

Only a handful of players at the World Cup can boast more international caps than Scott, who has played 185 times for Canada. She currently turns out for Kansas City Current in the NWSL, but suffered a knee injury towards the end of the 2022 season. She'd been hopeful of making it back for the tournament but admitted defeat in July, describing the decision as "one of the hardest things I've had to do".

Leon is arguably the best centre-back on the planet and her absence reflects badly on the RFEF. The Barcelona star was one of the architects of the Spanish player strike that has dominated the headlines in the lead-up to the tournament and while some of those involved have since returned, including Alexia Putellas, Leon will not be present at the World Cup.

Guijarro is another huge loss for Spain. Like Leon, she has not bent after going on strike, even after scoring a quickfire brace in Barcelona's dramatic Champions League final victory over Wolfsburg. It's a crying shame the world will not be treated to her talents during the World Cup.

Cruz is Costa Rica's greatest ever women's player and had long targeted this World Cup as her final swansong before retirement. It was therefore a complete shock to see her omitted from the squad, with the former Lyon and Paris Saint-Germain star deciding to hang up her boots shortly after.

Iwabuchi has endured a difficult few years at club level, slipping down the pecking order at Arsenal before failing to reignite her WSL career at struggling Tottenham. Even still, she was expected to be a key member of Japan's squad this summer, so it was a real surprise to see her not included at all.