23: Kim Little

There will always be questions as to whether a world-class player can remain the same after a serious injury, but Little answered them emphatically in 2018. She had scored in her last seven games for club and country before a setback ended her year early, but four league goals early on proved crucial in helping Arsenal forge a gap at the top of the WSL. She played a key role for Scotland, scoring in her country’s final three qualifiers as they reached the World Cup for the first time, and has remained the same top-class player she always was.

Joe Montemurro, Arsenal manager: