Following the announcement of England’s latest squad for the FIFA Women’s World Cup play-off fixtures against Greece, one notable omission has once again sparked debate: Ruby Mace.
Despite earning senior international recognition in 2024, when she made her debut in a 1-0 victory over Switzerland, Mace has struggled to establish herself in Sarina Wiegman’s plans.
Since that appearance, the versatile Everton defender has found herself overlooked for senior call-ups, despite continuing to impress at youth level and captaining England’s Under-23 side.
Although primarily deployed as a defensive midfielder throughout much of her youth career, Mace adapted seamlessly to a centre-back role at club level.
By the end of the season, her performances had earned widespread recognition, with official league assessments crediting her with more defensive contributions (225) than any other player in the division.
The statistics reinforce her impact. Across the season, Mace recorded 62 tackles, averaging 3.1 per 90 minutes, placing her among the league’s leading defenders.
She also registered 33 interceptions, around 1.7 per 90, while contributing to four clean sheets and making approximately 130 clearances.
When compared to some of England’s current centre-back options, Mace’s numbers become even more compelling.
She finished the campaign with almost double the tackles (62) recorded by Manchester United defender Maya Le Tissier (34), who is a regular in Wiegman’s squad, while also producing significantly more interceptions (33) compared to Le Tissier’s (15) despite playing fewer minutes and seeing less possession overall.
Her performances did not go unnoticed at club level. Mace was named Everton’s Young Player of the Season, recognition of her consistent development and influence throughout the campaign.
What makes her case even stronger is her versatility. While her defensive qualities are well established, Mace also offers considerable quality in possession.
During the 2025/26 season, she registered 13 shots, four of which were on target, as well as two assists. Her ability to switch play and progress the ball was reflected in her 46 accurate long passes and 12 successful crosses, impressive figures for a player operating primarily in defence.
That versatility has been evident again this season. In four appearances as a defensive midfielder, Mace has already recorded 201 successful passes at an accuracy rate of 85.5%.
She has also contributed five successful crosses, while continuing to influence matches defensively through tackles, interceptions and ball recoveries.
With England continually searching for balance, depth and competition across multiple positions, Mace appears to offer exactly that.
At just 23 years old, she has already demonstrated her ability to perform at a high level in both defence and midfield, while also showing leadership qualities as captain of the England Under-23s.
The question now is what the hell England are waiting for.
