2023 FIFA WWC: Brazil’s Ary Borges Scores Tournament’s First Hattrick on Her Debut

• Brazil opened their 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup campaign with a 4-0 win over Panama
• Young striker, Ary Borges stole the headlines with a hat-trick on her World Cup debut
• She lifted the Brazilians in place of veteran and captain, Marta, who started off the bench due to an injury

A new star was born in the Brazil women's team as they opened their 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup campaign with a dominant 4-0 win over Panama.

Brazil came into the tournament as one of the favourites even though they have yet to win the Mundial. Their best outing came in 2007 with a second-place finish.

There were doubts about the starting berth of veteran striker and captain, Marta, who has just recovered from a long-term injury, but she made the squad for the tournament.

They are drawn in Group F, alongside France and Jamaica, both of whom played out a goalless draw yesterday, which earned the North American nation a historic point at the tournament, as reported by CNN.

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Football

Borges scores first hat-trick

According to ESPN FC, young attacker, Ary Borges became the star of the Selecao Feminina as she stepped up with a hat-trick to help the soccer-loving nation to a flying start.

She completed her three-goal haul on 70 minutes before she was hauled off in the 75th minute and replaced by Marta to see out the rest of the game.

Borges earned her first call-up in 2020 and made her debut in 2021 in the 3-1 friendly win over Argentina. She was part of the 2022 Copa America Feminina winning squad.

According to Indian Express, the first hat-trick of the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup was also scored by a debutant - Portugal's 21-year-old striker, Goncalo Ramos.

Most popular women footballers

Sports Brief analysed the top 7 most popular women footballers based on Instagram follower counts. Five of them are present at the tournament in Australia and New Zealand.

Switzerland and Aston Villa star, Alisha Lehmann leads the way with over 13 million followers, while there are spots for veterans Marta, Megan Rapinoe, and Alex Morgan.