U17 World Cup: Who was each team’s game-changer?

The FIFA U17 Women's World Cup is nearing its conclusion, with only the semi-finals and final left to play. But before we reach the final stages, let's take a look at the standout player from each team that made it to the knockout rounds. Who were the game-changers of each team that qualified for this round?

Argentina: Mercedes Diz

It’s no wonder that Argentina’s leading goalscorer is this team’s game-changer. In addition to her six goals, Diz has contributed to her team with the most shots per match, shots on target per match, and successful dribbles per match. 

Brazil: Nathália Borges Cardoso

Brazil’s goalkeeper Nathy has made the most saves of any goalkeeper that has qualified for the knockout stage in this tournament, with her 19 saves keeping Brazil at just five goals conceded. In the group stage, she faced 22 shots on target that amounted to 7.76 post-shot expected goals, and she prevented 2.76 of these goals from actually finding the back of the net. 

China: Yue Xu

China ended up topping their group in the initial stage of this tournament, aided by the goals they scored. Yue Xu has scored the most goals for this team, with three to her name so far. Because of her goals, China has avoided facing 2024 U17 Women’s World Cup runners up Spain in the first round of the knockout stage.

France: Léa Motyka

France’s Léa Motyka leads her team in goals as a midfielder. Her two goals secured the two wins that France needed to reach the knockout stage of this tournament.

Germany: Marie Kleemann

Germany won every game of the group stage, and Marie Kleeman scored and assisted in two of them, one of which ended up being the game-winning goal. Kleeman also led her team in shots per match in this tournament, all the way from the midfield. 

Ghana: Linda Achiaa

Linda Achiaa has only played 27 minutes so far in this tournament, but she made sure to make them count. Ghana needed a win in their final group stage game to make it to the knockout round, and she scored the game-winner within a minute of coming onto the pitch. 

Japan: Ito Fuki

Japanese midfielder Ito Fuki has notched two assists so far in this tournament, one of which was on a game-winning goal. She also ranks in the top three for accurate passes per match and successful dribbles per match on her team and will surely be a big part of their knockout stage campaign.

Kenya: Bakari Mwanakombo

Kenya needed a win in their final group stage match to have a chance at qualifying for the knockout stage, and Bakari Mwanakombo was able to deliver. In addition to scoring the game-winning goal, she secured the win by earning a brace.

Mexico: Bianka Arredondo

Mexico’s Bianka Arredondo was a key part of the defense that conceded only three goals across the three group stage matches. In addition, she notched two assists — one of which won the game — all the way from the defensive line. Her ability to contribute on both ends of the ball made her a very important player for Mexico in the initial phase of the tournament.

Morocco: Nessma Mouradi

Only one player on Morocco’s squad scored more than a goal in the group stage, and that was forward Nessma Mouradi. Her three goals ended up being the only goals that her side scored against first- and second-place Germany and Argentina in Morocco’s group. 

Nigeria: Oluebube Umejiaku

In the final group stage match, Nigeria stunned defending champions North Korea with a 3-1 victory. The winning goal was scored by no other than Oluebube Umejiaku as the African powerhouse side secured their berth in the knockout stage.

North Korea: Jong Hyang Yu

North Korea’s Jong Hyang Yu sits third in the Golden Boot race at the moment with her five goals across the group stage. She scored the game-winning goals in each of North Korea’s wins, as well as the lone goal in their only defeat. North Korea ended up topping their group on goal differential and Yu’s goals were undoubtedly a key contributor to that.

Poland: Zofia Burzan

Poland had an impossible group to get through in this tournament, having to face defending U-17 World Cup champions North Korea and the dominant Nigerian side. However, they managed to qualify for the knockout stage in third place with two wins after a huge 6-2 victory over Puerto Rico on the last matchday of the initial phase. Midfielder Zofia Burzan pulled out two goals and two assists in that game, ensuring that her team made it through.

Spain: Elena Vizuete Cano

Spain won all three matches of the group stage, and midfielder Elena Vizuete Cano scored or assisted in each of them, including scoring the game-winner against Australia. Spain ended up topping their table and will likely rely on Vizuete Cano in the knockout stage as well. 

United States: Maddie DiMaria

It’s a no-brainer that the player who has scored the most goals ever in the U17 Women’s World Cup group stage was the game-changer for the USA. DiMaria scored the game-winning goals in both of her team’s wins, with 11 goals across the three games. With her assist in the match against Samoa, she finished the group phase with a mind-boggling 12 goal contributions. If the USA achieves their goal of winning their first-ever U17 Women’s World Cup, a lot of credit will be due to this player.

Venezuela: Andrea Suárez

Venezuela won one game, by a one-goal margin, to qualify for the knockout stage of this tournament, and the match-winner was scored by none other than forward Andrea Suárez. The forward also managed 1.3 successful dribbles per match and led the team in shots on target per match.