GOAL's World-Class Club 2024: USWNT star Alex Morgan loses elite status as Lionesses hero Mary Earps earns inclusion among the best women's footballers

Earps was the stand-out goalkeeper as England won the 2022 Women’s Euro and reached the 2023 Women’s World Cup final, with fantastic performances at events of that level going a long way to mark her out as a world-class player. Underpinned by real consistency at club level for Manchester United before joining Paris Saint-Germain this summer, Earps so often makes saves that both shock and amaze in equal parts.

Widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world, if not the very best, for at least the last five years, Endler shows no signs of slowing down. After representing perennial bridesmaids PSG for three years, a switch to French rivals Lyon in 2021 has given her a taste of the very biggest matches and she’s regularly delivered in them, especially in the Champions League.

Over the last three years, there’s been no goalkeeper in the NWSL as consistently brilliant as Sheridan. First with Gotham and now the San Diego Wave, the 28-year-old has not only excelled in every area of her game, but probably improved, too, to reach new levels. As such, she’s deservedly become Canada’s No.1, which is no mean feat given the competition there.

Remarkably still just 23 years old, Bacha continues to be one of the most consistent performers - and a game-changing one at that - for one of the best teams in the sport. Primarily a left-back for Lyon while playing her part in four Champions League triumphs, that she can also excel further forward only adds to her world-class quality. There are few, if any, with a better, more wicked left foot.

Having starred in the Women’s Super League with Manchester United for three years, Batlle asserted herself firmly into the ‘best right-back in the world’ conversation in her early 20s, and she only backed it up with her first season back in Catalunya. A product of Barcelona’s youth set-up, her return felt inevitable and it has not disappointed, with the Spain star also thriving on the international stage to underline her world-class status at 25 years old.

A new member, Carpenter has been steadily working her way towards world-class status ever since she broke through as a 15-year-old in her native Australia. The way she performed this past season for Lyon after recovering from a devastating ACL injury was incredibly admirable, and she hit an individual level even higher than the consistently top one she was at before.

Dubbing Girma world-class off the back of her rookie year in the NWSL felt a tad premature just because of her age, but we did so with confidence because of the level that the centre-back showed – and she has justified it since. Named Defender of the Year in both of her seasons to date in the top-flight with the San Diego Wave, she is already one of the United States' best players at 24 years old.

Greenwood used to be a solid left-back, but in the last few years, she has evolved into an even better centre-back - one of the very best around, in fact. No England player was more impressive when the Lionesses reached the 2023 Women’s World Cup final, and those performances were simply a translation from club level to the international stage from the Manchester City star with a wand of a left foot.

Arguably the very best centre-back in women’s football, Mapi Leon’s technical ability is what most focus on when it comes to discussing her quality. That’s no surprise given how good it is, her passing range key to Barcelona being so dominant on the ball, but the 29-year-old’s defensive nous shouldn’t be overlooked. That’s even more impressive given, in some games, she might only be tested once or twice – but she always comes out on top.

It was clear during her time with Paris Saint-Germain that Paredes was a top-class centre-back. In 2021, her composure in big moments and laser-focus helped the French side do what they had never done before and beat Lyon to the league title. She’s continued to showcase those qualities since a switch to Barcelona, a move which has also highlighted how talented a footballer she is.

There’s not much justification needed for the inclusion of a player surely set to become a two-time Ballon d’Or winner later this year. Be it for Barcelona or Spain, Bonmati always delivers when it matters – and not just in an attacking sense. There is arguably no more well-rounded midfielder in the women’s game, such is her tendency to come up big defensively and desire to contribute at both ends.

Geyoro is just one of those players who oozes class. She rarely looks rushed on the ball, she so often makes good decisions and she contributes brilliantly on both sides of the ball. Captain at PSG for several years now, and so often one of their very best players, the 27-year-old’s leadership is another element of her game that only adds to her wonderful calibre.

Anybody who has played with Patri understands that she is one of the most intelligent footballers in the game. As a holding midfielder, earning widespread plaudits is always tricky, but that she is trusted to play that position in Barcelona’s all-conquering team speaks volumes of her skill as, given the incredible brand of football the Catalans’ play, there is arguably no more difficult role to fill.

The women’s game is blessed with some real top quality holding midfielders, and Oberdorf is right there with them, despite only being 22 years old. When she went to the World Cup with Germany aged 17, she did so as an extremely versatile player, but she's settled into the role just in front of the defence in recent years and absolutely made it her own. Unfortunately, her first season at Bayern Munich looks set to be spent on the sidelines after she suffered a serious knee injury on the eve of the Olympics.

If anyone doubted Putellas’ ability to return to her Ballon d’Or-winning form after a difficult time with injuries, she answered them with aplomb when she put the cherry on top of Barcelona’s third Champions League triumph in May. A classy finish to seal victory over Lyon was a glimpse at the ridiculous talent that remains in her boots and has still been on show despite some recent struggles.

Many were already of the belief that Keira Walsh was a world-class talent before she joined Barcelona in the summer of 2022 – and those that didn’t think as much then, surely do now. The England midfielder has unsurprisingly got even better while playing for the European champions, fine-tuning her game to become a key member of the most technically gifted club side in the sport.

There are not many more electric, dynamic and productive forwards in the women’s game than Diani. Whether it’s her ability to beat a full-back and deliver perfect service to the striker, be on the receiving end of a ball in behind and be the goal threat herself or deputise as the focal point of an attack in a clinical way, the Lyon forward really can do it all - and has been for several years now.

Consistently one of the most outstanding wingers in the women’s game for so many years now, it’s criminal that Graham Hansen hasn’t got the individual accolades to sit alongside the many trophies she has played a key role in helping her clubs lift. That doesn’t bother her, though, as team success is paramount for Barcelona’s tricky forward, whose value is well-known among team-mates.

Fitness hasn’t been on Harder’s side in recent seasons, but when she has got on the pitch, she’s shown why they say form is temporary and class is permanent. The Bayern Munich forward's ability to change a game in an instant, even if she’s rusty or only just been introduced, is perhaps unmatched. There are certainly not many that can bring such dynamism, goal-scoring prowess and creativity to a variety of different attacking roles.

There are a few undisputedly world-class footballers in the women’s game, but Kerr is prime among them. Her goal-scoring exploits are well-documented, with her boasting Golden Boots from three different continents, but the all-round play she brings to Chelsea and Australia is also a big reason why she is one of the best players in the world, as is her remarkable leadership.

When Miedema left Arsenal this summer, she did so having scored 125 goals in just 172 appearances, while also registering 50 assists. It’s a statline that highlights how unique a No.9 she is. The Netherlands star is cold as ice in front of goal, with no man or woman having scored more for the Dutch national teams, but she is also a genius when it comes to creating for others. Manchester City's gain is the Gunners' loss.

There’s a reason why Barcelona have just paid a whopping fee to bring Pajor to the club, and that’s because she’s marked herself out as a world-class centre-forward during a nine-year stint with Wolfsburg. After arriving in Germany as a raw but promising 18-year-old, the Poland international has since mastered the art of goal-scoring in a way that only the very best can.

There are a lot of remarkable things about Popp’s career, but perhaps the most impressive is her longevity. It is some 16 years since, amid interest from Lyon, she joined Duisburg and won the Champions League in her first season. Back then, she was one of the most exciting forwards in the game. Today, the Wolfsburg star remains among the elite for her goal-scoring, yes, but also her selfless off the ball work and underrated creativity.

In the last five seasons, with Bordeaux and now Manchester City, Shaw has started 82 league matches and scored 82 goals. Those are world-class numbers. The 27-year-old is an incredibly clinical goal-scorer but, again, that’s not the only element to her game. Shaw’s defending from the front sets the tone and showcases the hard-working attitude that makes the Jamaican such a top quality team-mate.

Another world-class goal-scorer whose ability to create for others can go under the radar, Smith continues to go from strength to strength in the early stages of what looks set to be an extraordinary career. At 23 years old, her trophy cabinet already features MVP and Golden Boot awards from the NWSL, as well as every domestic honour on offer in the United States. That says a lot.

After starring for PSG for several years, Ashley Lawrence hasn’t been able to nail down a regular spot at Chelsea yet, and an up-and-down first season in England knocks her out of this club for the time being. In Germany, meanwhile, Merle Frohms has sadly seen a slight drop in level in recent times, and that cost her membership at the expense of Earps, whom she was neck-and-neck with as the best goalkeeper at the Euros two years ago.

Finally, across the pond, injuries mean we haven’t seen the best of Rose Lavelle for a while now, and there are signs that Alex Morgan is finally winding down, best highlighted by her omission from the USWNT’s Olympic roster.