2023 Women’s World Cup: Records that could be broken in Australia and New Zealand
The likes of Lionel Messi, Pele, Cristiano Ronaldo and Sun Wen could be relieved of records as Sam Kerr, Saki Kumagai, Alex Morgan, Casey Phair, Megan Rapinoe and Christine Sinclair pursue history.
73
Vietnam’s Mai Duc Chung, who turned 73 last month, is set to become the oldest coach in World Cup history. He will outrank Otto Rehhagel, who was 71 years and 317 days when he guided Greece against Lionel Messi and Argentina at South Africa 2010.
40
Players in their 40s have never competed against one another in an 11-a-side FIFA competition. That will change if Nigeria centre-back Onome Ebi and Canada forward Christine Sinclair – both 40 – simultaneously share grass in Melbourne.
22
There was 22 years and 65 days between Brazilians Formiga and Meg when they played together at Sweden 1995 – the biggest age gap between team-mates in Women’s World Cup history. It is under threat from not one but two duos Down Under. A gap of 22 years and 86 days exists between between Argentinians Lara Esponda and Vanina Correa, and 22 years and 256 days between South Koreans Casey Phair and Kim Jungmi.
19
Lionel Messi has made an unequalled 19 appearances as captain in the World Cup, while Sun Wen holds the female record at 16. Christine Sinclair has skippered Canada on 15 occasions in the world finals.
16
Casey Phair, who will be 16 years and 26 days when Korea Republic kick off their campaign against Colombia, will became the youngest player in World Cup history if she appears in one of the Taegeuk Ladies’ opening two games. The record presently belongs to Ifeanyi Chiejine, who was 16 years and 34 days when she ran out for Nigeria against Korea DPR in 1999. If Phair, a striker, is on target at any point during the competition, she will surpass Elena Danilova, who netted for Russia aged 16 years and 107 days in 2003, and become the youngest World Cup goalscorer of all time.
15
Norway scored in a record 15 successive Women’s World Cup games between 1991 and ’99. England and USA have netted in their last 13 and 12 matches respectively.
12
Pele is the only player to have won World Cups 12 years apart. Saki Kumagai, who scored the winning penalty in the Germany 2011 final shootout, could emulate ‘The King’ at Stadium Australia.
11
Germany midfielder Bettina Wiegmann registered 11 goals in the competition – a record for a non-forward. It’s a target USA winger Megan Rapinoe, who has nine to her name, has in her sights.
6
Marta, Cristiano Ronaldo and Christine Sinclair are the only players to have netted at five World Cups. The Brazilian and the Canadian will both get the chance to become the first to score at six.
3
The late, great Pele is the only players to have won three World Cups. Julie Ertz, Alex Morgan, Alyssa Naeher, Kelley O’Hara and Megan Rapinoe – all champions at Canada 2015 and France 2019 – will emulate ‘The King’ if USA triumph. Morgan and Rapinoe could also became the first players to appear in four World Cup finals.
2
No player has registered multiple hat-tricks in the Women’s World Cup. Ramona Bachmann, Cristiana Girelli, Fabienne Humm, Sam Kerr and Alex Morgan will all go into Australia & New Zealand 2023 with one to their name.
2
Lionel Messi is the only player to have seized the adidas Golden Ball twice at the global finals. Marta and Megan Rapinoe, who did so in 2007 and 2019 respectively, are out to repeat the feat.
0
Excluding the inaugural edition, not one of the 24 debuting nations has won a knockout-phase match at the Women’s World Cup. Haiti, Morocco, Panama, Philippines, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Vietnam and Zambia will attempt to become the first.
0
No foreign coach has won one of the 30 male or female World Cups. Tony Gustavsson, Bev Priestman, Pia Sundhage and Sarina Wiegman, who will lead Australia, Canada, Brazil and England respectively, appear to be in with the best chance of rewriting this piece of history.
