Keira Walsh: Difference between revisions

Walsh missed the start of Barcelona's [[2023–24 FC Barcelona Femení season|2023–24 season]] with a lengthy injury, returning in October 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gascón|first=Javier|date=2023-10-07 |title=Vuelve Keira Walsh, pero cae Jana Fernández |url=https://www.mundodeportivo.com/futbol/fc-barcelona/20231007/1002082941/vuelve-keira-walsh-cae-jana-fernandez.html |access-date=2023-10-08 |website=Mundo Deportivo |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Barça 3-0 Real Sociedad: Big win on Alexia's day |url=https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/football/womens-football/news/3730655/barca-3-0-real-sociedad-big-win-on-alexias-day |access-date=2023-10-08 |website=FC Barcelona}}</ref> Used as a substitute [[attacking midfielder]] in her first match back, she provided an assist within minutes of entering the pitch.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pérez|first=Ángel|date=2023-10-08 |title=Barça - Real Sociedad resultado, resumen y goles {{!}} Liga F de fútbol |url=https://www.mundodeportivo.com/futbol/fc-barcelona/20231008/1002083402/barca-real-sociedad-directo-jornada-4-liga-f-vivo.html |access-date=2023-10-08 |website=Mundo Deportivo |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Pérez|first=Ángel|date=2023-10-08 |title=Alexia y el Johan hacen historia en un nuevo triunfo culé |url=https://www.mundodeportivo.com/futbol/fc-barcelona/20231008/1002083712/cronica-fc-barcelona-real-sociedad-liga-f.html |access-date=2023-10-08 |website=Mundo Deportivo |language=es}}</ref> She then had a successful season in her role as [[Midfielder#Defensive midfielder|pivot]], cementing her strength within the team<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Tikas |first=Maria |date=2024-05-30 |title=El 1x1 de una temporada perfecta |url=https://www-sport-es.translate.goog/es/noticias/futbol-femenino-barca/1x1-temporada-perfecta-103107077 |access-date=2024-07-07 |website=Diario Sport |language=es}}</ref> and excelling personally.<ref name=Jornada7>{{cite web|url=https://www.mundodeportivo.com/futbol/femenino/liga-f/20231106/1002100908/once-ideal-jornada-7-liga-f.html|title=El once ideal de la jornada 7 de la Liga F|last=Reyes Calabia|first=Chantal|date=6 November 2023|website=Mundo Deportivo|language=es}}</ref><ref name=Jornada8>{{cite web|url=https://www.mundodeportivo.com/futbol/femenino/liga-f/20231113/1002105293/once-ideal-jornada-8-liga-f.html|title=Once ideal de la jornada 8 de la Liga F|last=Reyes Calabia|first=Chantal|date=13 November 2023|website=Mundo Deportivo|language=es}}</ref> In January 2024, ''The Guardian'' wrote that Walsh, Guijarro and [[Aitana Bonmatí]] "created one of the most formidable midfields the women's game has seen";<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Laverty |first=Rich |title=The 100 best female footballers in the world 2023 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2024/jan/09/the-100-best-female-footballers-in-the-world-2023 |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}</ref> the three were each given perfect 10 ratings for the season by ''Sport'', which described Walsh as "the orchestra director of this tetra-champion team."<ref name=":2" /> Barcelona won a continental quadruple of the [[2023–24 Supercopa de España Femenina|2023–24 Supercopa]], [[2023–24 Liga F|the league]], the [[2023–24 Copa de la Reina de Fútbol|2023–24 Copa de la Reina]], and the [[2023–24 UEFA Women's Champions League]]. Walsh again started in the [[2024 UEFA Women's Champions League final|Champions League final]], making vital recoveries as they defeated Lyon 2–0,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tikas |first=Maria |date=2024-05-25 |title=El Barça gana la Tercera en Bilbao y confirma un cambio de dinastía en Europa |url=https://www-sport-es.translate.goog/futbol-femenino-barca/barca-gana-tercera-bilbao-confirma-102901591 |access-date=2024-05-25 |website=Diario Sport |language=es}}</ref> her performance called a recital by [[Maria Tikas]].<ref name=":2" />

 

 

She again picked up a variety of accolades at the end of 2023, including a nomination for The Best FIFA Women's Player<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 September 2023 |title=Aitana y tres culés más, nominadas al FIFA The Best |url=https://www.mundodeportivo.com/futbol/fc-barcelona/20230914/1002069132/aitana-tres-cules-mas-nominadas-fifa-the-best.html |access-date=15 September 2023 |website=[[Mundo Deportivo]] |language=es}}</ref> and being voted the She's A Baller of the Year.<ref>{{Cite web |author=She's A Baller |date=13 January 2024 |title=The first EVER She's A Baller of the year is here 🤩 Your 2023 winner is… KEIRA WALSH ‼️ |url=https://www.instagram.com/shesaballer/p/C2DZXO-Npnx/ |website=Instagram}}</ref> Walsh placed fourth both in the IFFHS Women's World Best Playmaker ranking<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 December 2023 |title=IFFHS AWARDS 2023 – ALWAYS BONMATI |url=https://iffhs.com/posts/3285 |access-date=31 December 2023 |website=IFFHS}}</ref> and on The 100 Best Female Footballers list,<ref name=":1" /> while also featuring in the 2023 FIFPRO World 11,<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 January 2024 |title=Barcelona's World 11 connection: Bonmati, Bronze and Walsh |url=https://fifpro.org/en/supporting-players/player-influence/world11/barcelona-s-world-11-connection-bonmati-bronze-and-walsh |website=FIFPro}}</ref> on [[ESPN]]'s list of the 50 best women's footballers,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-12-14 |title=ESPN FC Ranking Femenino: Las 50 mejores futbolistas del mundo en 2023 |url=https://espndeportes.espn.com/futbol/nota/_/id/12988513/espn-fc-ranking-femenino-50-mejores-futbolistas-mundo-2023 |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=ESPNdeportes.com |language=es}}</ref> and being one of nine Barcelona players on the [[Goal 50|GOAL50]] list.<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 November 2023 |title=GOAL50 women's category: Lauren James, Sophia Smith, Aitana Bonmati & Sam Kerr all nominated {{!}} Goal.com UK |url=https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/goal50-women-list-lauren-james-sophia-smith-aitana-bonmati-sam-kerr/bltf9d44ad4323f7118 |access-date=8 December 2023 |website=www.Goal.com |language=en-GB}}</ref>