Future Queens

The San Diego Wave are in red hot form right now as they sit near the top of league standings and teenager Kimmi Ascanio has played a part in four of their 15 goals in the NWSL this year. The 18-year-old Florida native signed her first professional contract with the Wave in 2024 at the age of 16, and since then has made her mark on the team with five goals and five assists in just over two seasons.

It took less than one season to cement her name in OL Lyonnes’ best starting XI. Lily Yohannes is on her way to start a UEFA Women’s Champions League final at 18-years-old. The American-born and Amsterdam-bred attacking midfielder was one of Jonatan Giraldez’s first signings with the eight-time UWCL champions. She scored on her debut for the club and was awarded player of the match, she wasted no time making her stamp with the French champions.

Hammarby is one of the biggest talent factories in European women's  football. The club has already produced stars such as Smilla Holmberg, Cathinka Tandberg and many more. And now, another star is in the making.

Pau Comendador broke into Real Madrid as one of the greatest pearls of La Fábrica, Real Madrid's youth academy. The player won the European U19 Championship twice and made her debut as a player of the Real Madrid women’s first team in the 25/26 season, getting the first team card and a her first professional contract in the elite of the football. Before that, she had already managed to add some minutes with Real Madrid’s first team, but it wasn’t until 2025 when she established herself in the elite.

The name of Aiara Agirrezabala has appeared strongly in the elite of Spanish football after her great breakthrough in Liga F. The young Real Sociedad academy player broke the ceiling of the elite and made her debut in the 25/26 season with a brace in less than 45 minutes on his first matchday league against Madrid CFF. In addition, this made Aiara the youngest player to score a brace in the history of the competition at the age of 16 years and 133 days.

At just 18 years old, the Catalan gem Clara Serrajordi Díaz has captured the attention of many women’s football fans this season. The newly crowned two-time Spanish league champion is proof that Barcelona’s bet on youth is paying off.

Vicky Lopez won her fourth league title with FC Barcelona on Wednesday night, a feat that many footballers look to achieve over their career. Lopez has done it at just 19-years-old. Should the blaugrana club clinch the two remaining trophies they’re still in the run for, by the end of this season, Lopez can have 14 titles with the first team to her name.

The Netherlands has produced some of the world’s finest footballers — Vivianne Miedema, Kerstin Casparij... and the honorable mention is of course coach legends Sarina Wiegman and Renée Slegers, to name just a few. European champions in 2017, their legacy is undeniable. And their future looks to be in safe hands.