Women's World Cup: Who are the stars to watch out for?
The 2019 Fifa Women's World Cup is under way, but just how much do you know about the potential stars of the tournament?
Which player has scored the most international goals? Who collects trophies for fun? Who is the highest-rated female player on Fifa 19? Find out all you need to know below.
Nikita Parris: England's lucky charm
With 47 goals in 104 games, Nikita Parris is the all-time top scorer in the Women's Super League. Meanwhile, England have never lost a game in which she has scored.
Marta: The greatest ever?
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The captain of Brazil is the all-time Women's World Cup top scorer with 15 goals in 17 games.
Alex Morgan: A global icon
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Eden Hazard: Real Madrid's new signing presented in front of thousands at Bernabeu
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| Hazard performed tricks for the crowd |
Eden Hazard said he was "not a Galactico, but I'll try to be" as he was officially presented as a Real Madrid player in front of a reported 50,000 fans at the Bernabeu.
- Australia are just the second side in Women's World Cup history to win a match having been at least two goals behind, after Sweden beat Germany 3-2 in 1995.
- Brazil conceded more goals in this game than they did in their previous 13 group stage games at the Women's World Cup combined (two).
- Monica's own goal was only the second Brazil have conceded in a Women's World Cup game, after Daiane versus USA in 2011.
- Chloe Logarzo became the first Australia player to both score and assist in a Women's World Cup game since Leena Khamis against Equatorial Guinea in 2011.
- Marta became the first player to score in five different editions of the Women's World Cup, netting in 2019, 2015, 2011, 2007 and 2003.
The Belgium forward, 28, joined from Chelsea last week for a fee that could exceed £150m.
Hazard underwent a medical and then signed his five-year deal alongside Real president Florentino Perez.
"My dream ever since I was a child has been to play for Real Madrid," he said.
After signing his contract, Perez introduced Hazard, who first spoke in Spanish saying: "Hola todos" (hello everyone), before continuing with a short speech in French.
He then changed into the Real kit and walked onto the pitch, before kicking gold and white balls into the crowd and kissing the club's badge.
Later in a news conference, he said: "I'm going to try to become the best player in the world, but first I wanted to be in the best team in the world.
"I'm not a Galactico, but I'll try to be, for now I'm Eden Hazard."
Hazard did not have a number on his shirt, as the number 10 he wore at Chelsea and for Belgium is taken by Luka Modric at Real.
"I've been lucky enough to talk to Modric through Kovacic, I jokingly asked him to leave me number 10 and he said no," said Hazard. "The number for me is not important."
Hazard said Real had made a move to sign him after last summer's World Cup, but said now was "the best time" to join the Spanish club.
"I don't think it is too late, I am 28 years old, the best moment for a player," he said.
Zinedine Zidane returned to the club for his second spell as manager in March and Hazard said the Frenchman was a factor in his move.
"Everyone knows Zidane was my idol growing up," he said. "That he is the coach has been an important factor but not the only one. I already wanted to play here."
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| Hazard poses with his family and Real president Florentino Perez |
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Lionel Messi: Why does Argentina's captain struggle internationally?
He was too young, too shy, too special.
Argentina have always known that Lionel Messi is a rare gem, to be treated with extreme care.
But 14 years after his senior international debut, the Albicelestes still haven't succeeded in bringing out his best. And the clock is ticking.
When it comes to representing his native country, Messi, soon to turn 32, seems trapped in a time loop.
Every tournament raises massive expectations, every tournament ends in massive frustration. He lifted the Under-20 World Cup in 2005 and won gold at the Beijing Olympics three years later, but has never celebrated a major international title.
"I have to stand up and try again, no matter how many times I fall. This is a good message for the kids, not just in football, but in life. I want to retire having won something with Argentina," Messi said this month.
With the Copa America about to get under way in Brazil, captain Messi knows it will be one of his final chances to win a major trophy with Argentina. Some of his worst moments in football have been experienced pursuing this elusive prize.
Messi is Argentina's all-time top scorer with 67 goals, and is not far from becoming their most capped player. He has played 130 times, 17 less than the now retired Javier Mascherano.
But the eight major competitions in which he has appeared for Argentina (four World Cups, four Copa Americas) raised one major question each time: why couldn't he be the same player Argentines enjoy week in, week out, watching Barcelona on TV?
There have always been two Messis. On the one hand, there is the serial winner moulded by Pep Guardiola into a false nine who excelled in one of the world's finest club sides, having played with pals Andres Iniesta and Xavi since he was a kid in Barca's youth academy.
On the other hand, there is the outsider in a turbulent national team full of egos, an unsettled and uncomfortable presence who went an incredible 16 games over two years without scoring a goal, between 2009 and 2011.
Every Copa America brought crisis. Every World Cup raised doubts over his future. Battered, criticised, silent, stressed and stranded - just when Argentines thought they might have broken Messi, he would return to Spain and immediately appear miraculously healed.
Barca was his shelter, where footballing doubts perished and his leadership re-emerged unscathed. Every magical renaissance added nothing but more critics from the other side of the ocean. Why there and not here? What are we doing wrong? What does he need? With every renaissance, more expectations followed. The higher the hopes, the heavier the critics. Over and over again, the cycle would repeat.
But now there's finally a refreshing twist in this plot. Now, the broken Messi comes from Barcelona.
Defeat by Liverpool in the Champions League semi-final meant a shocking, unlikely exit from the competition for a second year in a row. Then there was another loss in the Copa del Rey final, to Valencia. Barca may have comfortably won La Liga, but expectations were higher and recent press rumours have criticised Messi and his best friend Luis Suarez as "not positive" leaders inside the dressing room.
What if the odds have finally changed? What if Argentina, finally, becomes Messi's healing clinic?
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| Gabriel Batistuta (left) and Diego Simeone (centre) were among Argentina's successful side at the 1993 Copa America
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Australia battled back from 2-0 down to beat Brazil in an extraordinary five-goal thriller and inflict a first group-stage defeat on the South Americans in 24 years.
The Matildas suffered a surprise loss to Italy in their opening game and their campaign looked in serious trouble when they trailed to a Marta penalty and Cristiane's fourth strike in two matches.
But the Matildas levelled through Caitlin Foord's poked finish and Chloe Logarzo's cross-shot either side of half-time, with Marta needing to be withdrawn with a knock at the interval, having earlier extended her record tally to 16 World Cup goals.
Defender Monica's unfortunate own goal - which was eventually awarded by VAR, with an offside Sam Kerr controversially judged not to have been interfering - completed Australia's remarkable comeback.
The Australians, who are ranked sixth in the world, are now level with Brazil and the Italians on three points in Group C, before Jamaica and Italy meet in their second match in Reims on Friday, in the most evenly poised group at the tournament.
Brazil, who beat Jamaica last time out through a memorable Cristiane hat-trick, had not lost a group stage match at the finals since 1995.
And the 2007 runners-up appeared to be in full control of Thursday's thriller in Montpellier upon entering first-half stoppage time, before Foord's close-range finish gave Australia hope.
Marta continues to make history despite defeat
Marta, who missed Brazil's first game through injury, arrived in France with a one-goal lead in the Women's World Cup goal standings over former Germany star Birgit Prinz and ex-USA forward Abby Wambach, who both retired with 14 goals at the finals.
And the Orlando Pride star's 16th saw her become Brazil's record scorer at senior World Cups as she surpassed iconic former Real Madrid forward Ronaldo's 15, while moving level with Germany's Miroslav Klose at the top of the standings.
She coolly converted from the spot after Australia's Elise Kellond-Knight had dragged back Leticia Santos in the box, before Cristiane's fine leap and header into the corner made it 2-0.
At that stage, the Brazilians were almost unrecognisable from the disappointing team that finished bottom of this year's invitational SheBelieves Cup in the United States in March.
Australia's spirit keeps their hopes alive |
Facing a second defeat from two matches, Australia were seemingly on the brink of elimination from a tournament they had entered with high hopes of challenging to win.
Some of their players appeared to display anger and frustration towards each other after conceding the second goal, but they defiantly rallied together - spurred on by a lively crowd - and showed their determination to stay in the competition.
Kerr's darting runs in to the box caused Brazil's defence significant problems, and she had a role to play in both of their second-half goals.
She attacked the six-yard box as Logarzo's cross bounced towards goal and, although she did not get a touch on it, her intent was enough to distract the goalkeeper.
VAR has a say once again
Moments before initially falling behind, Australia wanted a penalty of their own, after Tameka Yallop was brought down by Thaisa, but after studying VAR, it became clear that Yallop's hand had made contact with the ball seconds earlier.
And the VAR drama continued with the game's decisive goal, as a long, dangerous ball forward - aimed towards the offside Matildas captain Kerr - flicked off Monica's head and dropped in to the far corner of the net, but the officials felt Kerr's role was not sufficient to disallow the goal, even though Monica had been trying to track Kerr's run.
Nevertheless, the Australians - who have serious ambitions to go beyond the quarter-finals of this competition for the first time this summer - deserved praise for their fighting spirit as they pulled off a controversial but terrifically entertaining comeback.
'Hopefully this brings Australia together' - what they said
Australia coach Ante Milicic: "Tonight is one of the finest Australian performances that I've seen. The players deserve all the rewards they were given. They never stopped believing. Hopefully this brings our country together.
"As the game went on we looked very strong. Physically, we're in great condition. Recovery is going to be important for us and then we move forward to the Jamaica game."
Australia midfielder Chloe Logarzo: "The Australian mentality is to be able to come out swinging when our back is against the wall. We finally found our composure, kept the ball on the ground and were able to connect our passes."
Brazil goalscorer Marta: "It was supposed to be a very competitive match, and that's what we had. We came here to win and advance to the next stage. Now, it's worthless to lament the result. We are still fighting for our spot and should focus on that."
Brazil's other goalscorer Cristiane: "The plan was to wait for them, looking for counters. But we had a blackout and suffered some silly goals that, honestly, can't happen."
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