We are just over two weeks away from the stars of the Women’s World Cup kicking off in Australia and New Zealand.
While we will undoubtedly be treated to some star-making and extraordinary moments on the field, there are plenty of footballers who have amplified their influence off of it.
These athletes have become instrumental to their communities and the people who look up to them in so many different ways beyond the football field.
Ahead of what will be a groundbreaking tournament for women’s football, we take a look at some of the stars who are doing massive things outside of the sport.
Hayley Raso
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Hayley Raso is one of the Matildas stars who will make a real impact for Australia on home soil.
She’s recently signed for Real Madrid after a stint at Man City and is a certified superstar on the football pitch - but off it, she’s making waves Down Under as well.
In 2021, she released the children’s book Hayley’s Ribbon which told the story of how football gave her strength and enlightenment in her life.
It talks about the power of the ‘ribbon’ which was gifted to her by her nan, and which she still wears for her football games today - and has become a trademark of hers.
The book was put together to give young girls and boys a message of belief, with 50 per cent of profit of the sale going to support HeartKids.
Nadia Nadim
The Danish international has had a harrowing journey to get to where she is today.
Born and raised in Afghanistan until her father, who was an Afghan National Army general, was executed by the Taliban.
Her family fled to Denmark where she began her journey and has grown into a permanent figure of their national team.
While a career in football is an outstanding achievement, Nadim has gone beyond that, studying to become a surgeon for when her playing days are over.
She qualified as a doctor in January 2022 after attending medical school remotely during the football season.
In 2018, her autobiography Min Historie looked delved into her life and journey and was nominated for Sports Book of the Year.
Megan Rapinoe
She’s one of the most prolific players in the world and has made a career of proving people wrong off and on the field.
Megan Rapinoe is a trailblazer in more ways than one.
Her tireless efforts for racial and gender equality, LGBTQ rights, and social justice have seen her face criticism by many. Whichin itself, must mean she’s doing something perfectly right to challenge the social norms.
She has spoken out on issues such as Colin Kaepernick taking a knee during the national anthem in 2016 and the recent overturn of Roe vs. Wade in 2022.
She has also been involved in United States Olympic & Paralympic committee and Juan Mata’s ‘Common Goal’, donating one per cent of their individual wages to support football-related charities.
A truly important figure in women’s football.
Asisat Oshoala
One of the most celebrated African footballers in the world, the Barcelona forward is set to star for Nigeria at this World Cup.
She became the first African female footballer to win the UEFA Champions League and the first to be nominated for the Ballon d’Or.
Away from the field, she has launched the Asisat Oshoala Foundation in 2015 that aims to provide access to sport and education for young girls in Africa.
It’s an academy in partnership with Nike and Women Win, designed to provide access to football and life skills to marginalised schoolgirls in Nigeria.
She’s embedded herself as an instrumental figure in her home nation.
Ada Hegerberg
Ada Hegerberg is as important for women on the field as she is off it.
At the age of 27, she is one of the most in-demand athletes in the world having become an ambassador and star for brands such as Hublot, Mastercard, Puma, and Nike over the years.
She has used her platform to utilise her voice to push her belief in equality and equal pay in women’s football.
She refused to represent the Norwegian national team following a dispute with the NFF in 2017 where she believed the remuneration for women should be doubled.
She missed the 2019 World Cup in protest and spent five years out of the national team in her fight for equal pay.
A great sacrifice for what she believes in.
Alex Morgan
The United States footballer is one of the best in the world - she is also one of the most well-known personalities in the world.
This is thanks to her contributions off the pitch as much as on it.
She has pencilled a four-book series called The Kicks that is aimed at middle schoolers and has also written multiple novels - with her books turned into a live-action kids comedy on Amazon Prime.
In 2016, she joined UNICEF Kid Power in an effort to fight global malnutrition.
Her likeness has appeared in the likes of The Simpsons while she starred in the film Alex & Me, portraying a poster of herself that comes to life.
She’s done some massive things away from the field and helped raise the process of women’s football in the process.
Topics: Womens Football, Womens World Cup, Football
Jayden Collins