GOAL chose the 20 best women’s football wonderkids born on or after January 1, 2003, as we take a look at where are they now. Every year, renowned outlet GOAL publishes its NXGN lists, which highlight the best young players in the world. Following the publication of the men’s list in 2016, the first women’s football wonderkids list was published in 2020, with many of its alumni having already achieved incredible things.
Before the 2023 edition is revealed on March 21, here’s a look at where the 2022 women’s football wonderkids are today, with every NXGN list so far listed below.
Paulina Gramaglia (Houston Dash)
2022: Gramaglia joined the Houston Dash on loan from her Argentina club, UAI Urquiza, and made her debut in July. As a result, she became the club’s youngest player ever. Despite the fact that it would be her only appearance of the season, Houston chose to make her loan deal permanent at the end of the season.
2023: The Dash loaned Gramaglia to Brazilian club Red Bull Bragantino for the 2023 season in order to give the youngster regular game time, especially with the possibility of her making this summer’s World Cup squad.
Juliet Nalukenge (AMOK Chrysomolia)
2022: Nalukenge returned to parent club Apollon Limassol for the 2022-23 season after an impressive loan spell at AMOK Chrysomolia and was among the goals when the season began. Her progress was halted in December, however, due to an injury. She had a successful surgery just before Christmas.
2023: The Ugandan star is now working her way back from that setback and hopes to be back on the field soon.
Maya Hijikata (Tokyo Verdy Beleza)
2022: Hijikata was a member of Japan’s U20 Women’s World Cup team that reached the final in Costa Rica, making five appearances from the bench as her country finished runners-up. Hijikata made her WE League debut in 2022 for Tokyo Verdy Beleza against Omiya in March and scored her first goal against Sagamihara in May.
2023: The young forward is still trying to earn regular game time with her club’s first team, hoping to make an impact in whatever opportunities she is given.
Aemu Oyama (Tokyo Verdy Beleza)
2022: Oyama started all six of Japan’s U20 Women’s World Cup matches as they advanced to the final, including a successful penalty shootout against France in the quarter-finals.
2023: Her task now is to earn more minutes with Tokyo Verdy Beleza’s first team.
Avelina Abang (Malabo Kings)
2022: Abang helped Malabo Kings win another league title in 2022 after a strong performance in the CAF Women’s Champions League in 2021. However, the team was unable to compete at the continental level this time.
2023: In addition to returning to Africa’s premier club competition, Abang hopes to help Equatorial Guinea qualify for the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations this year.
Jana Gutierrez (Tigres)
2022: Gutierrez has established herself as a regular with Tigres after joining the club in 2021, and she was a member of the team that won the Apertura 2022 title. She also played in all six games for Mexico in their run to the U20 CONCACAF Women’s Championship final.
2023: Gutierrez will hope to be a key player for her team in the Clausura 2023, as Tigres seek a third consecutive title.
Tarciane (Corinthians)
2022: Tarciane became a more important player for Corinthians as they won another league title, as well as the Copa Paulista and Supercopa. Despite her position, the defender helped Brazil win the U20 South American Championship, scoring five goals in six games. She also made her senior international debut at the end of the year.
2023: Tarciane is building on her debut for Brazil, and she was part of the squad for the SheBelieves Cup in February. She has a good chance of making the plane for this summer’s World Cup.
Linda Caicedo (Deportivo Cali)
2022: In the busiest year of Caicedo’s young career, Colombia finished as runners-up at Copa America, earning her the tournament’s Golden Ball award. In addition, she was named Player of the Match in the final. Caicedo led her country to another final later that year, at the Under-17 World Cup, scoring four goals in six games.
2023: Caicedo made his long-awaited international move in 2023, joining Real Madrid. She also appears to be a lock for Colombia’s Women’s World Cup squad.
Esmee Brugts (PSV)
2022: Brugts was named to the Netherlands squad for Euro 2022, making three substitute appearances in her first senior tournament. In September, she had one of her most memorable moments, scoring a 93rd-minute winner for her country to ensure automatic qualification to the World Cup this summer.
2023: Brugts is likely to be at that World Cup as well, as she continues to be a key player for PSV and a regular in the Netherlands’ squads.
Rosa Kafaji (Hacken)
2022: Kafaji became Sweden’s most expensive signing when she joined BK Hacken at the start of the season, but her time with the club began disastrously when she broke her leg in pre-season. In September, the young striker made her competitive debut with the team.
2023: Kafaji hopes to make an impact with Hacken this year and demonstrate that her time on the sidelines has only strengthened her.
Gio (Barcelona)
2022: Gio was a member of the Brazil team that won the Copa America in 2022, appearing twice in the tournament. Her two-year contract with Barcelona was terminated shortly after when she signed with Arsenal. She was quickly loaned to Everton, where she scored her first goal in England in a 3-0 win over Tottenham.
2023: Gio was recalled from her loan by Arsenal in January 2023. She made her Arsenal debut against Leeds in the FA Cup. The young forward hopes to make Brazil’s World Cup squad this summer. Despite the fact that she will be only 20 years old when the tournament begins, it will be her third major senior tournament.
Camilla Kuver (Eintracht Frankfurt)
2022: Kuver suffered a serious knee injury in late 2021, effectively ending her season. She returned to the lineup for the start of the 2022-23 season.
2023: Having appeared to have nailed down a starting role in the Eintracht team prior to her time on the bench, Kuver is now working hard to get back into the lineup on a regular basis.
Andrea Medina (Real Betis)
2022: Following another successful season at Real Betis, Medina joined Atletico Madrid in the summer. With her country, she won the U20 Women’s World Cup, starting five games, including the final, which Spain won over Japan.
2023: Medina has made an immediate impact at Atletico, starting the majority of her appearances in her first season with the club.
Kathrine Kuhl (Nordsjaelland)
2022: Kuhl’s ‘dream came true’ as she told GOAL after she was selected by Denmark for Euro 2022. However, she was sent off late in the first game for a second yellow card, but she was the best player in the game for long stretches when she returned against Spain, despite Denmark’s defeat.
2023: Kuhl made her long-awaited move abroad in January, joining Arsenal. She scored her first goal for the club against Leeds in the FA Cup. The young midfielder is expected to be part of Denmark’s squad for the World Cup later this summer.
Alice Sombath (Lyon)
Sombath was a member of the Lyon team that won the Champions League for the eighth time in 2022, defeating Barcelona in the final. She became a regular starter at the start of the 2022-23 season as the European champions dealt with an injury crisis. Sombath displayed brilliant versatility, plying her trade in different positions and personnel around her.
2023: Despite players returning from injury, the young defender remains a fixture in this Lyon team, which is a testament to her performance.
Lisanne Grawe (Bayer Leverkusen)
2022: Grawe had an outstanding first season with Bayer Leverkusen, finishing the 2021-22 season with 19 of her 21 league appearances coming as a starter. Throughout the year, her maturity and ability to control a game were on display.
2023: The young midfielder remains a key player for her team and will hope to demonstrate form that will propel her through the ranks in the Germany set-up, with the goal of reaching the senior national team.
Alexis Missimo (University of Texas)
2022: Missimo set a single-season assist record at the University of Texas in 2022, tallying 15 despite missing six games due to injury. The midfielder won the U20 CONCACAF Women’s Championship with her country and was named to the tournament’s best XI after scoring three goals. Missimo chose to rest rather than compete in the U20 Women’s World Cup.
2023: It will be interesting to see what the young American does next. She has two more years of college eligibility but could go pro sooner. If she goes this route, she will have a lot of options.
Haley Bugeja (Sassuolo)
2022: Bugeja’s second senior season was frustrating at times due to injury, but she still scored three league goals for Sassuolo in only seven starts. She joined the Orlando Pride of the NWSL in the summer. Bugeja made three appearances in her first year in the United States after joining the show midway through the season.
2023: The Malta international is expected to see significantly more game time in Orlando in 2023, as the club does not want to throw her in too early in 2022.
Mary Fowler (Montpellier)
2022: After spending two and a half years with Montpellier in France, Fowler joined Manchester City in the summer of 2022. She also appeared in Australia’s underwhelming Asian Cup campaign, scoring twice in four games.
2023: The young forward has struggled to establish herself as a regular starter for City since her transfer, but she has impressed in flashes. She is without a doubt Australia’s most exciting young talent, and she will have the opportunity to play in a home World Cup this summer.
Melchie Dumornay (Reims)
2022: After starting the year by topping the NXGN list, Durmornay finished her first season in France with seven goals and four assists for Reims in 15 games. She represented Haiti at the CONCACAF Championship in the summer, making the best XI and being named the tournament’s best young player.
2023: Dumornay signed for Lyon, the eight-time European champions, in the January transfer window. A month later, the youngster scored twice against Chile in a play-off, propelling Haiti to its first Women’s World Cup.