The Women’s World Cup will undoubtedly showcase a number of stars in the women’s game, many of whom are only just embarking on their international careers.
Jessie Fleming of Canada, Germany’s Cinzia Zehnder and Costa Rican defender María Coto will all hope to feature in the tournament at the tender age of 17, alongside Emily Alvarado, Jessica Aby and Kerly Real, all of whom are just 16-years-old.
These youngsters will all be hoping to forge careers from their performances on the international stage, however, Costa Rica will walk out to face Spain in their opening game with 15-year-old Gloriana Villalobos in their ranks who is already a regular on the international scene.
Villalobos made her senior debut for Costa Rica at the age of 14 back in 2014, and has already netted twice in 12 appearances. Ranked as the 37th best team in the world, the Central American nation are preparing for their first ever World Cup appearance, having failed to qualify in their last five attempts. Part of this success comes down to their 5 foot 2 midfield sensation, who made her club debut for Saprissa at the tender age of just 12. Villalobos featured in all five games at the 2014 CONCACAF Under-20 Women’s Championship, still aged just 14, and saw her side finish third in the Cayman Islands, following a 7-3 thriller with Trinidad & Tobago.
Her performances were soon recognised, and with the 2014 FIFA Under-17s World Cup hosted on home soil, Costa Rican supporters took a keen interest in the youth tournament. With Villalobos featuring in all three games, she soon received her first senior call-up for the 2014 Women’s Championship qualifiers – which acts as the inaugural step to qualification for this year’s World Cup in Canada.
It didn’t take long for Villalobos to score her first senior goal either, as she netted in the final group game to help Costa Rica advance. After also featuring in the play-off to determine which team went on to feature in the Pan American Games, Villalobos cemented her place in the international squad.
Nonetheless, she remained a prominent figure in the youth set-up, and played in every minute of her nation’s campaign at the Under-20 Women’s World Cup in August last year. She will now hope to go one better in Canada, and not only play – which would be an achievement in itself for any 15-year-old – but also score against the likes of Spain, South Korea or World Cup veterans Brazil.
Villalobos is just one of four midfielders in the Costa Rica squad so regular appearances are to be expected, even if they are off the bench.
The teenager is being tipped for greatness in the world’s largest league in women’s football, the infamous National Women’s Soccer League in America, and a string of impressive performances on the grand stage this summer could prove paramount for the youngster in the future.
