FIFA Women's World Cup 2023: Who will be crowned best young player?
There have been plenty of young stars on show at the Women's World Cup over the last month, but who will be named the pick of the bunch?
Football
We’re edging closer to crowning the champions of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.
Spain are into their first final after beating Sweden 2-1 in Auckland on Tuesday (15 August), with Australia and England going head-to-head for the last spot.
As well as the coveted trophy being handed over to the winning captain in Sydney on Sunday, individual awards will also be awarded including the Golden Ball, Golden Boot, Golden Glove, and the award for FIFA Best Young Player.
The accolade crowns the most impressive player aged 21-or-under in the tournament.
Ahead of the final, below are some of the players in the running for the Best Young Player gong starting with four who still have roles to play in the tournament.
Mary Fowler waves to the crowd after Australia's FIFA Women's World Cup quarter-final win over France
Mary Fowler – 20 (Australia)
With Sam Kerr injured for the first three group games of Australia’s campaign, Mary Fowler was tasked with big shoes to fill up top and, at just 20, she took the responsibility in her stride.
Flanked by experience wingers Caitlin Foord and Hayley Raso, she has been a key cog in their attack from her involvement in goals to covering every possible blade of grass in pursuit of victories. If Australia achieves the ultimate dream, Fowler will be high in contention for this award.
The Matildas were knocked out of the competition by England at the semi-final stage, but Fowler could still yet help them to a third placed finish when they face Sweden on Saturday (19 August).
Salma Paralluelo celebrates scoring Spain's opener against Sweden in the FIFA Women's World Cup semi-finals
Salma Paralluelo – 19 (Spain)
Cometh the hour, cometh Salma Paralluelo.
Scoring a goal at a World Cup tournament is no small feat at any age, but the teenage FC Barcelona forward must have been in dreamland when she first hit the back of the net.
With La Roja in search of a winner against the Netherlands in the quarter-finals, the electric winger was sent on in the second half by coach Jorge Vilda before scoring the winner in extra time.
In the semi-finals against Sweden, Paralluelo played 'Supersub' again by opening the scoring in the 81st minute with Spain eventually winning out 2-1. Vilda may not want to change a winning formula, but the 19-year-old could take centre stage again in the final in Sydney.
Now into the final, where Spain will face England on Sunday (20 August), Paralluelo could have yet another important role to play as the aim for a historic victory. It remains to be seen whether or not she has earned a start yet, but whether it is from the bench or not, this exciting youngster still as every chance at taking this accolade home.
Australia's Kyra Cooney-Cross runs with the ball against Nigeria
Kyra Cooney-Cross – 21 (Australia)
Kyra Cooney-Cross is the second Australian in our list of Best Young Player award contenders.
Cooney-Cross has formed a commanding midfield partnership with veteran Katrina Gorry, showing maturity well beyond her 21 years og age.
Calm and composed under pressure, she has seamlessly linked defence with attack throughout the competition and created danger from corners and setpieces to make her one of the most admired youngsters in this tournament.
She and the Matildas were halted in ther race for glory by England in the semi-finals, but Cooney-Cross has one last chance to claim this accolade with the third-place play-off against Sweden.
Lauren James celebrates after putting England ahead against Denmark
Lauren James – 21 (England)
Lauren James brought England's campaign to life in the group stages, scoring a sensational winner against Denmark.
The younger sister of Chelsea and England men's star Reece James was just getting warmed up, producing a dazzling display in the 6-1 win over the People’s Republic of China in which she scored twice and laid on three assists.
The 21-year-old was frustrated in the round of 16 by Nigeria and sent off for a late stamp. Having received a two-match ban, she will return for England's last match which be the final against Spain on Sunday (20 August).
Ella Toone has done an excellent job in place of James, making for a pleasant team selection headache for Sarina Wiegman.
Helping the *Lionesses *to football's most coveted prize may see her clinch the accolade, even despite the two games missed.
Those are just the players still in the competition with a handful of others holding outside chances of picking up the award.
The first of those is Linda Caicedo. The 18-year-old has been one of the breakout performers in Australia and New Zealand and scored a Goal of the Tournament contender against Germany on the way to sending Colombia through to the last 16 as Group H winners.
While she could not prevent a quarter-final exit at the hands of England, the Real Madrid forward has shown she is very much a star on the rise.
Fujino Aoba also impressed for quarter-finalists Japan along with France's Vicki Becho of France and Esmee Brugts of the Netherlands.
While the likes of Marta, Megan Rapinoe, Christine Sinclair and Eugenie Le Sommer had their World Cup swansongs in this tournament, Fowler, Caicedo and co have shown that the future of women’s football is in safe and capable hands.