History makers and record breakers: the top ten moments from women's football

With battles waged both on and off the pitch, it’s been a hard-fought 12 months for women’s football (Picture: EPA/Getty Images/PA)

2023 was described as the ‘golden age’ of women’s football, and it’s only going to shine brighter in the years to come.

Fresh off the back of England’s Euros 2022 success, all eyes turned to Australia and New Zealand last year for a Women’s World Cup like no other. Stadiums sold out across the host nations while millions across the world navigated time differences to watch the games from home.

According to the Women’s Sport Trust, a record 46.7 million people watched women’s sport on television in 2023. Of that, 70% of the content watched was football.

As Metro partners with the Women’s Football Awards – nominations for this year’s ceremony are open now – we look back over some iconic moments which have shaped the women’s game over the last 12 months.

Just Do it! Big miss for Nike after Mary Earps farce

In July 2023, Mary Earps super-fan Emmy kick-started a campaign for Nike to stock her idol’s kit (Picture: Emmy Somauroo/Reuters)

As fans prepared to back the Lionesses in the 2023 Women’s World Cup, they were shocked to discover it was impossible to purchase Mary Earps’ shirt.

Nike had decided to ‘look into’ stocking the goalkeeper’s kit ‘for future tournaments’ instead.

Northamptonshire teenager Emmy Somauroo took matters into her own hands. The 16-year-old launched a David vs Goliath-esque battle to urge Nike to stock Earps’ kit. Soon, the likes of Spice Girl Mel B and ex-England player Rachel Brown-Finnis had backed her calls, along with 172,000 others on change.org.

Nike’s decision was described as ‘hugely hurtful’ by Earps, who offered to pay for the shirts herself.

Eventually, as public pressure became hard to ignore, the sport brand buckled and put Earps’ green long-sleeved Lionesses shirt up for sale.

The first batch – announced in October – sold out in a matter of hours. The second lot – released in December – were gone in minutes.

World comes together to back Spain’s Jenni Hermoso

A woman holds a sign reading ‘it’s over’ (‘se acabo’) in Madrid on August 28, 2023 in a protest held in response to the Rubiales scandal (Picture: Oscar Del Pozo/AFP/Getty Images)

The Lionesses’ World Cup dreams were shattered bafter Olga Carmona’s sublime first-half strike cemented the victory for Spain. It marked the first-ever win for the Spaniards on a global stage.

But their win, in turn, was shattered by the Luis Rubiales controversy when the Spanish FA president kissed Jenni Hermoso during the World Cup presentation ceremony. Calls for his resignation soon followed.

Spain’s women’s team, splintered even before the World Cup due to controversial former manager Jorge Vilda, demanded ‘immediate and profound changes’. Rubiales and Vilda were, eventually, shown the door after widespread outrage and protests.

In her column for Metro, Lucy Bronze had written: ‘Winning the World Cup is a life-changing moment for Jenni but it has been tarnished.

‘Her life has been changed more by this incident than by lifting the trophy.’

‘That could be me:’ History is made on a global stage

The defender sported the headscarf in Morocco’s World Cup match against South Korea (Pictures: Getty)

Morocco defender Nouhaila Benzina made history as the first player to wear a hijab during a Women’s World Cup match. The 25-year-old helped her side overcome South Korea and became an overnight inspiration to young girls in the process.

FIFA previously had banned players from wearing head covers for religious purposes in matches, citing concerns over player safety. That ban was lifted in 2014.

Assmaah Helal, the Muslim Women in Sports Network co-founder, said Benzina’s ground-breaking moment during the World Cup would address diversity concerns within the women’s game.

She had said: ‘Girls will look at Benzina [and think] ‘that could be me.

‘Also the policymakers, the decision-makers, the administrators will say, ‘we need to do more in our country to create these accepting and open and inclusive spaces for women and girls to participate in the game.”’

It wasn’t just Benzina making history. Morocco became the first Arab or North African nation to reach a Women’s World Cup.

USA legend retires, but football legacy will live on

Megan Rapinoe became the fourth player in US football history to reach 200 caps at the 2023 World Cup (Picture: AP)

2023 marked the last year of service for American legend Megan Rapinoe. The 38-year-old’s playing career is interwoven with the growth of women’s football worldwide.

While the USA’s World Cup journey ended with penalty woe in Australia, Rapinoe has a wealth of positive memories to look back on. Among her 63 goals for her country, her most iconic celebration perhaps comes in the 2011 Women’s World Cup.

After scoring in the second half against Columbia, Rapinoe darted to the corner flag where she stumbled upon an unattended TV microphone. She picked it up and belted ‘Born in the USA’ by Bruce Springsteen.

‘Looking forward, we have unfinished business and I know we are capable of even more, although nothing will come easy. Our game is becoming so competitive at the top level.’

The Lionesses still have their chance to shine in a series of international friendlies this year. The squad is currently in sunny Spain to take on on Austria on Friday, February 23 and Italy on Tuesday, February 27.

Metro partners with the Women’s Football Awards

Launched in 2023, the Women’s Football Awards are the biggest awards event in women’s football and Metro is proud to be a partner.

They celebrate the players, people, brands and organisations who are helping to grow the sport – from World Cup heroes to broadcasters to those working at grassroots level.

Last year’s winners included Arsenal forward Alessia Russo, Chelsea star Lauren James and Barcelona’s Keira Walsh.

Nominations for the 2024 awards ceremony are now open.

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