8. Pernille Harder
Last year’s number one was likely always going to suffer for Denmark missing out on the World Cup and a drop to eighth this year reflects that, but Harder has still had another superb year and is comfortably now well established as one of the finest attackers in the game. She’s already well out in front when it comes to the Bundesliga’s scoring charts this season with 12 goals to her name already, just six off last season’s tally. Harder has found the net in 13 out of 20 games this season for club and country at the time of writing, scoring back-to-back hat-tricks in the space of nine days for Wolfsburg and Denmark. Her ability to both create chances and score them marks her down as one of the best around. There are few better with the ball at their feet and few more deadly in front of goal. The fact she has four hat-tricks already since the summer shows just how good her current form is as she looks to return to a major tournament with Denmark at Euro 2021.
Ella Masar, former Wolfsburg player:
“Pernille is always in the right place at the right time because she really watches the game. What makes her so special is her understanding of where the players are around her. A ball will come to her and she’s so intelligent to know where to go because she knows where her opponents are. On the pitch she works so hard, she has a huge desire to win and she’s one of the most attacking intelligent players I’ve seen, she creates so many goals for herself. You can’t coach what she has, it’s given. You can mould it and I think you’d have to challenge her because she’s so incredibly gifted, so how can you make this 100% player a 110% player?”
Lars Sondegaard, Denmark head coach:
“Pernille has been a big influence in rebuilding the Danish national team this year both on and off the field. She still creates and score goals, but her leadership and work rate also deserves credit! Her only negative was that she didn’t take part in neither the World cup nor the Champions League final.”
| ⇐ 9. Wendie Renard | 7. Rose Lavelle ⇒ |
The Offside Rule 