Women’s football is developing very fast, and it’s great to see. When I came through, it was very, very tough for a girl to start playing the game. There were so many barriers, particularly in certain parts of the world. But minds are opening now. Even in more ‘traditional’ countries, it’s becoming easier for girls to say to their parents, ‘I want to play football’. And I think players in my generation have helped pave the way for that. Unlike us, girls nowadays can now look around at women players who have achieved a lot and say, ‘I want to be like her’.

If you want to become a woman footballer you don't have to be a rebel these days. You can just follow your feet.

Women's football has such a platform now. It can only go from strength to strength. I just hope it encourages girls who might not have taken up the game to do it now.

I have never seen female footballers who are lesbians over the years as a footballer. It is untrue that female footballers are lesbians. I never saw my colleague footballers having any sexual encounters. So I will deny the claims and ask the public to rubbish them and treat same with the contempt it deserves.

I hope that women's football will become global as there are no longer any taboos surrounding it. The stereotype that "boys should play football and girls do gymnastics" is in the past. Now the norms have changed, and anything is possible.

Hopefully it triggers a chain reaction and more girls dream of becoming a footballer.

I hope people will look at women’s football as the norm.

It's important for young girls to see the sport succeeding. They can actually say, 'I'm gonna be a pro-footballer.'

It is very important for female footballers that we are role models.

Expectations and perceptions have changed around women's football, but they will know that they'll have to play their part in increasing the popularity of the game.

I think every female footballer can relate to a woman working in a male-dominated area and championing it. We need to make sure that we support each other.

Despondency then gave way to anger, and today they are in the process of taking a stand. They want to be respected, no longer feel in danger, and make their contribution to building a healthier women's football.

This generation of women who are now at the highest level of football also have another purpose that comes with their visibility: to try and make the world a better place for the next generation.

I know so many girls who used to be studying, working and playing football all at the same time. If you take that weight off then it means the female players can fully focus on being elite athletes.