The 100 Best Female Footballers in the World is an annual global ranking of the best female footballers. The list was started by The Offside Rule podcast in 2016. Since 2018 it has also been published in association with the British newspaper The Guardian who have published the male equivalent since its inception in 2012.
The list is voted for by a panel of experts ranging from players and coaches to journalists and broadcasters from around the world. Judges are sent a longlist of 450 footballers and asked to rank their top 40 who are given a corresponding points value. The total across all judges determines the finish position. In 2019, the panel consisted of 93 judges from 44 countries across five continents including newly-appointed USWNT and reigning NWSL champion head coach Vlatko Andonovski, and FIFA Female Player of the Century and legendary China international Sun Wen.
Winners Number of wins in brackets. +YearPlayerClub(s)2016 Ada Hegerberg Lyon2017 Lieke Martens Rosengård / Barcelona2018 Pernille Harder Wolfsburg2019 Sam Kerr Perth Glory / Chicago Red Stars2020 Pernille Harder (2) Wolfsburg / Chelsea2021 Alexia Putellas Barcelona2022 Alexia Putellas (2) Barcelona2023 Aitana Bonmatí Barcelona2024 Aitana Bonmatí Barcelona2025 Aitana Bonmatí (3) Barcelona
Top 10 As of 2025, 51 individual players have been included in the "top 10" of the Top 100 list. RankPlayerYearsClub(s)1 Sam Kerr2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 20231Perth Glory, Sky Blue FC, Chicago Red Stars, Chelsea72 Lucy Bronze2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 20222Manchester City, Lyon, Barcelona63 Caroline Graham Hansen2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 20242Barcelona5 Pernille Harder2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 20211Wolfsburg, Chelsea Vivianne Miedema2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 20222Arsenal Wendie Renard2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 20204Lyon Aitana Bonmatí2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 20251Barcelona8 Ada Hegerberg2016, 2017, 2018, 20191Lyon49 Amandine Henry2018, 2019, 20205Lyon3 Dzsenifer Marozsán2016, 2017, 20205Frankfurt, Lyon Lieke Martens2017, 2018, 20211Rosengård, Barcelona Alexia Putellas2021, 2022, 20251Barcelona13 Eugénie Le Sommer2018, 20195Lyon2 Marta2016, 20172Rosengård, Orlando Pride Alex Morgan2017, 20187Lyon, Orlando Pride Salma Paralluelo2023, 20243Barcelona Alexandra Popp2022, 20236Wolfsburg Megan Rapinoe2018, 20193Seattle Reign Keira Walsh2022, 20234Manchester City, Barcelona20 Barbra Banda20247Orlando Pride1 Melanie Behringer20163Bayern Munich Delphine Cascarino202010Lyon Mary Earps20239Manchester United Julie Ertz20209Chicago Red Stars Naomi Girma202410San Diego Wave Tobin Heath20169Portland Thorns Jennifer Hermoso20216Barcelona Lindsey Horan20246Lyon Lauren James202310Chelsea Fran Kirby20217Chelsea Rose Lavelle20197Washington Spirit Mapi León20238Barcelona Kim Little20164Arsenal Carli Lloyd20167Houston Dash Beth Mead20222Arsenal Lena Oberdorf20225Wolfsburg Irene Paredes20218PSG, Barcelona Trinity Rodman20245Washington Spirit Fridolina Rolfö20235Barcelona Khadija Shaw20244Manchester City Christine Sinclair20166Portland Thorns Sophia Smith20243Portland Thorns Mallory Swanson20249Chicago Red Stars Mariona Caldentey20252Barcelona Alessia Russo20253Arsenal Hannah Hampton20255Chelsea Temwa Chawinga20256Kansas City Current Patri Guijarro20257Barcelona Ewa Pajor20258Barcelona Clàudia Pina20259Barcelona Leah Williamson202510Arsenal
Most Appearances As of 2025, out of the 317 players that have been included in the list, only 3 have been included in the Top 100 every year since it was first published in 2016. +AppsPlayerYearsPeakTeams10 Pernille Harder2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 20251Wolfsburg, Chelsea F.C., FC Bayern München Lucy Bronze2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 20252Manchester City, Lyon, Barcelona, Chelsea F.C. Wendie Renard2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 20254Lyon9 Jenni Hermoso2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 20246Barcelona, PSG, Atlético de Madrid, C.F. Pachuca, Tigres UANL Saki Kumagai2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 202411Lyon, FC Bayern München, AS Roma Caroline Graham Hansen2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 20252Wolfsburg, Barcelona Alexandra Popp2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, 20256Wolfsburg Irene Paredes2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 20258PSG, Barcelona8 Lieke Martens2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 20231Rosengård, Barcelona, PSG Lindsey Horan2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 20246Portland Thorns, Lyon Danielle van de Donk2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 202416Arsenal, Lyon Asisat Oshoala2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 202432Dalian Quanjian F.C., Barcelona, Bay FC Vivianne Miedema2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 20252Arsenal, Manchester City Kim Little2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024, 20254Arsenal Debinha2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 202513North Carolina Courage, Kansas City Current Stina Blackstenius2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 202517Linköping FC, Montpellier HSC, BK Häcken FF, Arsenal Millie Bright2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 202519Chelsea F.C. Ewa Pajor2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 20258Wolfsburg, Barcelona Tabitha Chawinga2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2023, 2024, 20256Kvarnsvedens IK, Jiangsu Suning L.F.C., Wuhan Jianghan University F.C., Inter Milan, PSG, Lyon, Kansas City Current Lindsey Heaps2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 20256Portland Thorns FC, Lyon7 Sam Kerr2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 20231Perth Glory, Sky Blue FC, Chicago Red Stars, Chelsea Amandine Henry2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 20225Lyon Eugénie Le Sommer2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 20235Lyon Christine Sinclair2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 20226Portland Thorns Christiane Endler 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 202412PSG, Lyon Ji So-Yun2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 202216Chelsea F.C., Suwon FC Lina Magull2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 202325SC Freiburg, FC Bayern München Lynn Williams 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2023, 202438Western New York Flash, North Carolina Courage, Western Sydney Wanderers FC, NJ/NY Gotham FC Alexia Putellas2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024, 20251Barcelona Patri Guijarro2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 20257Barcelona Khadija Shaw2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 20254Bordeaux, Manchester City Kadidiatou Diani2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 202512Paris Saint-Germain, Lyon Mapi León2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 20258Barcelona Fridolina Rolfö2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 20255FC Bayern München, VfL Wolfsburg, Barcelona, Manchester United Guro Reiten2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, 202522Chelsea F.C. Ellie Carpenter2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 202558Portland Thorns FC, Melbourne City, Lyon, Chelsea F.C.
Overall By nationality As of the 2025 edition, players from 39 nations have made up the Top 100. The United States has been the most represented nation in total (131) with a record 19 individuals in 2019. In 2020, Germany became the first nation other than the United States to be the most represented. Spain became the third nation to have the most selections with 15 in 2023, retaining top spot the following year. Mexico is the most recent nation to debut following the inclusion of Lizbeth Ovalle in 2024.
Nationality is defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality. RankNation2016201720182019202020212022202320242025Total1 United States161816199151171291312 England141111101010131214141193 Germany1071171310145106934 France126910101210678905 Spain344781010151513896 Sweden8259894625587 Netherlands4966845822548 Australia6852323833439 Brazil35454243564110 Norway34454133553711 Japan43442235423312 Canada34223653113013 Scotland30123232332214 Denmark24312111111715 Nigeria01111112141316 Switzerland12301111111217 Italy000122111210 Malawi111110012219 Poland0011121111920 Colombia0000001223821 Chile00111111107 Iceland1111100110 South Korea1111111000 Jamaica000111111125 Ireland00011101116 Zambia000001012227 Austria03000110005 Wales111001100029 Portugal11110000004 Venezuela1110010000 Haiti000000111132 Belgium11100000003 Mexico000000001234 China10100000002 Costa Rica0200000000 New Zealand0011000000 Serbia0000100100 Morocco000000000239 Finland00001000001 South Africa0000000100
Nationalities by continent The European confederation has had the most players selected every year.
Continent refers to the corresponding continental confederation of the player's nationality. RankConfederation2016201720182019202020212022202320242025Total1Europe645662627467686464626432North America192418221322181216141783Asia12121176571372824South America4666546689605Africa12222215510326Oceania00110000035
By club As of the 2025 edition, players playing for 98 clubs have been selected. French club Lyon has had the most players in the Top 100 with 126 selections in total. In 2022, Barcelona became the first club other than Lyon to have the most players selected in a single year and retained the top spot the following two years. The record for most players selected in a single year is 17, set by Barcelona in 2024. Clubs are counted when a player in the Top 100 played for that team in the same calendar year they were selected. Players may have played for multiple clubs per year. RankClub2016201720182019202020212022202320242025Total1 Lyon151214121215131013101262 Barcelona35481014141517121023 Chelsea77581191010915914 Arsenal5556911811914835 Wolfsburg87111110410551726 Paris Saint-Germain77579127753697 Manchester City8754788876688 Bayern Munich6444688864589 Portland Thorns57442441213410 North Carolina Courage04885221013011 Real Madrid000223474224 Orlando Pride464201013313 Seattle Reign44510540002314 Chicago Red Stars22452210202015 Manchester United00011145431916 Washington Spirit21131211241817 NJ/NY Gotham FC030102025316 Rosengård423132001019 Houston Dash52113110101520 Eintracht Frankfurt43111010111321 Montpellier33231000001222 Melbourne City41411000001123 Linköpings321310000010 Juventus000123210125 Atlético Madrid01132200009 San Diego Wave000000332127 Turbine Potsdam3320000000828 Kansas City Current0000000124729 Utah Royals0024000000630 Bordeaux00012200005 LSK Kvinner201200000032 Aston Villa00000112004 Canberra United1102000000 Essen0021100000 FC Twente0200001100 Freiburg0111100000 Levante0000010210 Roma0000000220 Sydney FC1210000000 Vålerenga011110000041 Angel City FC00000002103 BK Häcken0000210000 Brisbane Roar0111000000 Dalian1110000000 FSU Seminoles1110000000 Hoffenheim0100011000 INAC Kobe0011000100 Jiangsu Suning0011100000 Madrid CFF0000001110 Perth Glory0111000000 Tigres UANL0000001020 UCLA Bruins1101000000 Vegalta Sendai0200000100 West Ham United0000101100 Western New York Flash3000000000 Western Sydney Wanderers0002100000 Bay FC000000002159 AC Milan00000011002 Birmingham City0011000000 Changchun Zhuoyue0110000000 Corinthians0000000020 FC Kansas City1100000000 Hammarby0010000100 Kvarnsvedens1100000000 Pachuca0000001101 Paris FC1000000101 PSV Eindhoven0000100100 SC Sand0200000000 Stade de Reims0000001100 Wuhan0010000100 Brighton & Hove Albion0000100001 London City Lionesses000010000174 AC Nagano01000000001 Achilles '290100000000 Boston Breakers1000000000 Brøndby0100000000 Deportivo Cali0000001000 Everton0000100000 Inter Milan0000000100 JEF United1000000000 Liverpool0100000000 Newcastle Jets0010000000 Okayama Yunogo Belle1000000000 Örebro1000000000 Racing Louisville0000000100 Reading0000010000 Santos0000100000 São Paulo0001000000 Shanghai Shengli0000010000 Suwon FC0000001000 Tottenham Hotspur0000000010 Urawa Red Diamonds0001000000 West Virginia Mountaineers1000000000 AFC Toronto0000000001 Al-Hilal0000000001 Palmeiras0000000001 SK Brann0000000001
Clubs by nation For the first four years, the United States league system had the most players selected. Since 2020, England has been the most represented and set a new record of 42 players in 2025.