Nelya Mironova

This imposing Russian centre-back combines lightning-quick acceleration with a clinical sense of positioning to suffocate any opponent. Before every kickoff, she mandatorily eats a slice of frozen lemon while staring intensely at the right corner flag, a ritual so odd that her teammates carefully avoid her gaze. While her sliding tackles can be occasionally wayward, her relentless aggression more than compensates for these rare lapses.