Revealed: USWNT stars Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe pipped to top spot in list of biggest Instagram influencers heading to the 2023 Women's World Cup

Instagram followers: 1.2 million

Average brand value per post: £17,776 / $22,565

Starting off this list is one of the poster girls for the Women's World Cup, Sam Kerr.

The Chelsea star has seen her profile grow immensely since her move to England from the Chicago Red Stars, as she regularly delivers trophies for one of the women's game's biggest clubs.

Back home in Australia, one of this tournament's co-hosts, she is one of the biggest names in sport, even given the honour of bearing her country's flag at the coronation of King Charles III earlier this year.

Instagram followers: 726,000

Average brand value per post: £23,238 / $29,499

One of the best full-backs in the game, Sakina Karchaoui has been part of France's senior national team for seven years now, winning over 50 caps for her country in that time. At last summer's Euros, she was named to the Team of the Tournament after starring in Les Bleues' run to the semi-finals.

At club level, Karchaoui won the Champions League with Lyon in 2020 and the Coupe de France at Paris Saint-Germain in 2022.

Such success on the pitch has helped her to secure some top brand deals, resulting in her landing her ninth on this list.

Instagram followers: 457,000

Average brand value per post: £14,016 / $17,792

Set to join Arsenal after leaving Manchester United, Alessia Russo ranks eighth on Gracenote Nielsen's list thanks to an impressive follower growth rate of 280 per cent.

The England forward was thrust into the spotlight at last summer's Euros, scoring four goals in six substitute appearances as the Lionesses won the tournament. The most notable of those four was her backheel against Sweden, which was nominated for the Puskas award.

This summer, Russo could be her country's starting No.9, too, as her profile continues to grow.

Instagram followers: 198,000

Average brand value per post: £11,397 / $14,467

Another name who ranks highly on this list thanks to an incredible follower growth rate, standing at a huge 580 per cent, Jule Brand is one of the rising stars in the women's game.

Still only 20 years old, the Germany international started the Euro 2022 final as a teenager and then returned home to sign for Wolfsburg, two-time European champions and the biggest club in the country when it comes to women's football.

Brand's engagement rate on posts stands at 30 per cent, which is the highest number of any player on this list.

Instagram followers: 2.1 million

Average brand value per post: £12,998 / $16,500

One of the biggest names in the sport, Megan Rapinoe is a two-time World Cup winner and an Olympic gold medallist. The USWNT star is not just known for her talent on the pitch either, but also her activism and important work off it, all contributing to a huge number of social media followers.

She's one of two Americans on this list, making the U.S. the most represented nation, and one of four players who play their domestic football in the country, too.

Instagram followers: 2.6 million

Average brand value per post: £10,070 / $12,783

Widely recognised as the greatest player in the history of women's football, it's not surprising that Marta has one of the highest follower totals on Instagram, then.

The Brazil icon has scored at each of her five previous appearances at World Cup tournaments and could be the first ever to score at six if she finds the back of the net in Australia and New Zealand.

Instagram followers: 1.6 million

Average brand value per post: £59,836 / $75,957

Another rising star in the game, Jordyn Huitema made her international debut at 15 years old and chose to forgo college and turn pro just three years later. Now 22, it's no surprise that she has such a high profile given how long she has been playing at the top level.

The forward was part of the first Paris Saint-Germain team to win a league title on the women's side and she also has an Olympic gold medal to her name.

Instagram followers: 10 million

Average brand value per post: £43,752 / $55,540

Previously the most followed female footballer on Instagram, Alex Morgan is one of the biggest names in the game and her social media numbers certainly illustrate that.

A two-time World Cup winner and 2012 Olympic gold medallist, Morgan has shown no signs of slowing down at 34 years of age, winning the Golden Boot last year for the first time in the NWSL, the women's top flight in the United States.

She will lead the line once again for the USWNT this summer as it aims to do what no other nation has done before and win a third successive Women's World Cup.

Instagram followers: 2.8 million

Average brand value per post: £88,853 / $112,793

Alexia Putellas has exploded into the limelight in recent years, winning back-to-back Ballons d'Or in 2021 and 2022 thanks to her title-winning contributions at Barcelona.

Her profile off the pitch has grown with that increased recognition, with only one name on this list topping her average brand value per post - and that is the player up next, the one that takes top spot...

Instagram followers: 13.4 million

Average brand value per post: £241,314 / $306,307

It is Alisha Lehmann who takes top spot as the 2023 Women's World Cup's most influential footballer on Instagram.

No one on the list has more followers or a higher average brand value per post than the Aston Villa forward, who will represent Switzerland at this summer's tournament.

In fact, she is her nation's most followed sportsperson on social media, surpassing tennis icon Roger Federer to become as much.

Lehmann's profile has grown so much that she actually released an official calendar for 2023, one which was reported to have resulted in her relationship with fellow Villa star Douglas Luiz coming to an end.