Future Queens

Various top female footballers share their first encounters with football as emerging from observing their older brothers playing football. And Jessie Gale, England's rising star, is no exception. 

In November 2025, centre-back and Swedish football legend Magdalena Eriksson brought her international career to an end. According to her own words, the decision was made by listening to her body. Eriksson could step away knowing the future of Sweden’s national team was in good hands. Stepping into her role is 19-year-old Bella Andersson, one of the most promising young defenders in the country.

Japanese women’s football is on the rise. Fresh off their SheBelieves Cup triumph, Japan arrive as strong favourites for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup title. One player to keep a close eye on is young midfielder Momoko Tanikawa, one of the brightest emerging talents in the squad.

This time, our Future Queen series heads to Denmark — a country that has given women’s football the likes of Pernille Harder, Signe Bruun or Nadia Nadim for example. And in Brøndby, another special talent may just be born.

As a young player, she was inspired by Ada Hegerberg. Years later, she started to play alongside her in the national team. At just 20, she won the Toppserien title with Brann, was named Player of the Season and earned a move to the Europe’s most competitive league. What else lies behind the story of Signe Gaupset?

Playing for Bayern Munich is a dream that many young football players, not only in Germany, dream of. Alara fulfilled this dream at the age of 17, and at 18 she scored a goal in the Champions League. 

She will turn 18 in a few days. Last year, she made her debut for the Czech national team, specifically for its U17 team, and plays for the Fulham academy. We are talking about the promising Czech footballer Adéla Čechová.