Mariela Escalada

This Argentinian defensive general dominates the pitch with blistering pace and fierce aggression, even if her erratic passing often leaves everyone holding their breath. Before every kickoff, she forces her teammates to meticulously arrange their boots into a perfect circle, an odd ritual that the squad observes with a mix of patience and bemused head-shakes. She is a reserved force of nature who transforms the backline into an impenetrable fortress.