FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023: Who will win the Golden Glove award?
With just four teams remaining at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, Olympics.com takes a look at which goalkeepers are in contention for the tournament Golden Glove award.
As the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 heads into its final week, we edge ever closer to an exhilarating finale.
Alongside naming a new champion nation of women’s world football, the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 will also offer up prestigious prizes for top goalscorer, best goalkeeper and a tournament MVP.
The best goalkeeper of this summer’s competition will be awarded the Golden Glove in recognition of their performances across the tournament.
When awarding the Golden Glove, a FIFA panel considers clean sheets, saves and overall performances of each contending goalkeeper.
In 2019, the Golden Glove was awarded to Netherlands’ Sari van Veenendaal who kept three clean sheets throughout the tournament. The Netherlands finished as runners-up in 2019 after losing the final to USWNT.
Prior to 2019, USA’s Hope Solo won the award in back to back tournaments.
As the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 draws to a close, Olympics.com takes a look at three of the best goalkeepers of the competition so far.
Australia's Mackenzie Arnold saved France's first penalty during their quarter-final clash
Mackenzie Arnold (6 games, 4 clean sheets)
Throughout the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, Australia’s Mackenzie Arnold has secured four clean sheets out of six games.
Her only mishap until the last four came in Australia’s shock 3-2 loss against Nigeria, and since then she is yet to concede a goal within 90 minutes of play.
Australia breezed past the Republic of Ireland, Canada and Norway leaving the West Ham United goalkeeper with little to do.
However, the 29-year-old was required to step up when France pushed Australia to penalties in their quarter-final clash.
Arnold pulled off four saves for the Matildas during their penalty shoot-out - including one that had to be retaken.
Despite missing her own penalty, Arnold’s composure in front of goal won her nation the fixture and saw through to the semi-finals of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.
The last four-clash with England saw her concede three, with *The Lionesses *running rampant on their way to the final, bringing *The Matildas *crashing back down to earth.
Their tournament is not done yet, though, with one more chance to secure the Golden Glove in their third-place play off game against Sweden.
Mary Earps (6 games, 3 clean sheets)
Although the Lionesses were named as early favourites to win the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, there have been several times that goalkeeper Mary Earps has single handedly kept her nation in the competition.
The Manchester United goalkeeper consistently denied attacking threats throughout England’s nervous group stage wins over Haiti and Denmark.
The European Champions would have made it through Group D with their tournament clean sheet intact if it wasn’t for China’s Wang Shuang converting a penalty in England’s 6-1 win over China.
In the Lionesses’ Round of 16 fixture against Nigeria, it was once again down to Earps to save the day. Nigeria were arguably the better team going forward, and without Mary Earps, England could have easily been sent home.
Despite not having to make a save during the penalty shootout, the 30-year-old walked away with yet another clean sheet from 120 minutes of play.
Earps stepped up yet again in England’s quarter-final against Colombia. Although she conceded Leicy Santos’ incredible strike in the first-half, the Nottingham-born goalkeeper kept a number of Colombian threats at bay which allowed the Lionesses to go on and win the game.
The experienced 'keeper was beaten just the once in their semi-final clash with Australia, by notorious rival Sam Kerr from range. The Chelsea forward often gets the better of Earps, but on this occassion it was the shot-stopper who advanced to the next round.
As goalkeepers go, Mary Earps has gone above and beyond to keep her side in this tournament.
WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND - JULY 23: Zecira Musovic of Sweden during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group G match between Sweden and South Africa at Wellington Regional Stadium on July 23, 2023 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
Zećira Mušović (5 games, 2 clean sheets)
Sweden’s Zećira Mušović has emerged as an unlikely contender for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Golden Glove.
Having only ten Swedish appearances to her name, the 27-year-old was called up as her nation’s number one for this summer’s tournament after veteran goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl was left out of the squad.
The Chelsea goalkeeper has often struggled for starts for both club and country, but has coolly demonstrated her ability in front of goal this summer.
Mušović kept clean sheets against Italy and the USWNT - with Sweden’s number two Jennifer Falk stepping in for their game against Argentina.
It was Mušović’s performance against reigning world champions USWNT that fired up her Golden Glove campaign.
In a game that the USWNT continually dominated, the 27-year-old pulled off 11 saves which forced the Americans to a penalty shoot-out.
Having denied the likes of Megan Rapinoe, Sophia Smith and Alex Morgan throughout 120 minutes of play, Mušović then didn’t even need to make a save in the penalty shoot-out to send her team through.
The Chelsea goalkeeper also impressed during Sweden’s quarter-final win over Japan.
Prior to their meeting with Sweden, Japan had managed an incredible 14 goals throughout the FIFA Women’s World Cup - even defeating semi-finalists Spain 4-0.
However, they only managed to put one last-minute effort past Zećira Mušović who again did all she could to keep her nation in the tournament.
Her tournament came to a half in the semi-finals, beaten twice by Spain to put her out of the running for this award, even if she keeps a clean sheet against Australia in the third-place play-off.