Women's World Cup 2023 Golden Ball power rankings: Can Spain star Aitana Bonmati stop England's Lauren Hemp taking the crown?

France took a while to get going at this World Cup, limping to a goalless draw against Jamaica in their opener. After that though, they burst into life, with Kadidiatou Diani's performances playing a pivotal role.

She created Eugenie Le Sommer's goal against Brazil with a towering header and then helped herself to a hat-trick in a 6-3 mauling of Panama. Diani only got better in the knockout stages, opening the scoring against Morocco with a controlled header before setting up Kenza Dali and Le Sommer again in a 4-0 victory.

Unfortunately for the Lyon forward, she could not prevent Les Bleues crashing out to Australia in the quarter-finals. Diani's numbers - four goals and three assists - are mightily impressive, but you really need to be at least reaching the final four to be considered for the Golden Ball.

Japan defeated Zambia 5-0 in their opening game, with two of those goals being scored by Miyazawa. Operating in the top-left corner of her side's box midfield, she showed her off-the-ball intelligence throughout, timing her runs into the box perfectly for each of her well-taken goals.

This set the tone for a breakout tournament, with two more goals in Japan's statement demolition of Spain making her the outright World Cup top scorer ahead of some much bigger names. She netted again in the round of 16 against Norway, keeping her one goal clear in the Golden Boot charts.

However, like Diani, Miyazawa's chances of scooping the top individual prize were curtailed by her side's last-eight exit. She could still claim the Golden Boot, though.

After inexplicably being left out of England's tournament opener against Haiti, James had a point to prove against Denmark. And it took her less than six minutes to find the back of the net. This was nothing compared to her performance against China, though.

During that one James dropped an all-time great World Cup performance, netting two absolute stunners and registering a hat-trick of assists. She should've had three goals too, if not for a controversial offside call.

However, James' tournament threatens to be tainted by her petulant stamp on Nigeria's Michelle Alozie in the last 16. England still made it through, but like David Beckham and Wayne Rooney before her, the moment of madness might have cost her country dearly. She is at least back for the final and James will need to put in another match-winning display in Sydney to get back in contention for the Golden Ball.

Australia were handed a potential banana skin in their much-anticipated opening game against Ireland, and for a time it seemed like the underdogs might spring a shock. However, the Matildas were gifted a lifeline when Hayley Raso was bundled over in the penalty area, giving captain Steph Catley the chance to put her side ahead. She made no mistake from the spot, putting the cherry on top of a composed defensive display.

It was more of the same against Canada, with the Arsenal star defending stoically and putting the gloss on a 4-0 victory by scoring another penalty in the 94th minute. Catley also breezed through her side's victory over Denmark in the last 16 and was typically solid as Australia vanquished France on penalties in the quarter-finals.

Usually reliable from the 12 yards, Catley missed her spot-kick against Les Bleues, but the Matildas still got the job done. Any realistic notions of her winning the Golden Ball ended with Australia's elimination at the hands of England, though.

Going into the tournament, Batlle would have been desperate to prove to new club Barcelona that she is worthy of a space in the starting XI over team-mate Lucy Bronze. There's little doubt that she's succeeded in this endeavour, continuing her fine form from the club season for Manchester United Down Under.

Going forward, Batlle has been irresistible at times, with no player at the tournament completing more crosses into the box heading into the semi-final stage. She registered an assist in La Roja's World Cup opener against Costa Rica, and Spain will need her at her penetrative best if they are to break down a stubborn England defence in Sydney.

Ilestedt just can't stop scoring! Arsenal's new signing opened her World Cup goal account against South Africa before notching a brace in Sweden's emphatic 5-0 victory over Italy.

She's scarcely put a foot wrong at the other end, distributing confidently from the heart of defence and marshalling the backline alongside Magdalena Eriksson. Sadly, her scoring run came to an end against Argentina, but she did help her side to a second successive clean sheet and then helped shut out the United States before the penalty drama unfolded.

After a bit of a goal drought, Ilestedt returned to the scoresheet in the quarter-finals, reacting quickest in a goalmouth scramble to put herself firmly back in contention to clinch the Golden Boot before Sweden's unfortunate World Cup exit in the semis. Still, Ilestedt can be proud of her performances.

Hermoso may have dropped off the radar of Europe-based onlookers following her move to LIGA MX Femenil side C.F. Pachuca in June 2022, but she has provided a timely reminder of her incredible talent in Australia and New Zealand.

The attacking midfielder has scored three times and registered two assists so far, with her standout moment coming against the Netherlands in the quarter-finals. Receiving a wicked, line-splitting pass from defence, Hermoso took it down expertly, spun her marker and laid on a perfect through ball for Salma Paralluelo to grab the vital winner.

Spain's midfield is filled to the brim with stars, but Hermoso has still managed to stand out during the tournament, even if she did underwhelm slightly in the semi-finals.

Two substitute cameos - two vital goals. It doesn't get much better than that, particularly when you're only 19 years old. Paralluelo has already made an impact at club level for Barcelona and now she's recognised all over the world thanks to her breakout performances at this tournament.

After failing to net in successive group-stage starts, she has settled into her role as super-sub nicely, first netting an extra-time winner against the Netherlands in the quarter-finals before grabbing another in the semi-finals against Sweden to give her side lift off. England have reason to fear if they spot her warming-up on Sunday.

With Alexia Putellas still working her way back to form after nine months out injured, Spain needed Aitana Bonmati to be firing on all cylinders in Australia and New Zealand - and she has not let them down. She finished superbly in their opening game against Costa Rica and was instrumental in their victory over Zambia too.

Then, after struggling to deal with Japan in La Roja's third group game, she returned with a bang against Switzerland in the last 16, scoring twice and grabbing two assists before playing 87 minutes of La Roja's epic win over the Netherlands.

Bonmati's creativity has been a joy to watch - and you get the feeling she might be saving her best for England in the final.

After being used as a sub at Euro 2022, Greenwood has emerged as England's most important defender at the World Cup. With Leah Williamson injured and Millie Bright starting slowly due to her own recovery from a fitness problem, the 29-year-old has been the Lionesses' true lynchpin.

Starting off the tournament at left-back, Greenwood has since been used in the middle of the defence, catching the eye with her unflappable approach both with and without the ball. She's gone under the radar slightly, but England would not be in the final without her. And those set-pieces too. Sublime.

Teresa Abelleira is not the best known player in the Spain squad, but she made a strong case to be one of their most important during the tournament with her fine display against Costa Rica.

Abelleira was brave on the ball, completing 21 progressive passes during her 77 minutes on the pitch. She was at her creative best too, racking up 15 shot-creating actions. She was similarly influential against Zambia, though struggled to deal with the well-organised and energetic Japan midfield in La Roja's final group game.

The Real Madrid star made up for that by helping her team control proceedings during their knockout stage victories over Switzerland and the Netherlands. The fact she played all 120 minutes against the Dutch - and a further 90 in the semi-finals where she grabbed an assist - sums up her emergence as an indispensable cog in La Roja's machine. If Spain lift the trophy, Abelleira's sublime displays deserve recognition.

After a modest group stage, Hemp stepped up massively towards the business end of the competition. Her dynamic performance as a roaming centre-forward against China showed her potential to excel in the position and against Colombia in the quarter-finals she netted her side's vital equaliser on the stroke of half-time.

However, this was just her warming-up for a career-defining display against Australia. Other Lionesses have received more credits for the team's historic rise over the past few years, but there could be no overlooking Hemp in the semi-finals - her goal and assist made sure of that.

If she can replicate these antics against Spain in the final, the Golden Ball is hers.