Ranking all the best female soccer stars in history is a tough ask for a few reasons. First, women’s soccer has only been taken seriously by sports leagues in recent years, and even then, it’s nowhere near as developed as men’s soccer. Second, even countries with established women’s teams have experienced periods of lacking funds, lack of support, and even the disbanding of some clubs and leagues altogether.
So, while the concept of ranking in women’s soccer is relatively new and has an uneven history, we can try to bring the top talents to light for those who are interested to learn. Read on to discover just a handful of the many talented women in soccer since it started gaining earnest attention in the 1970s.
1. Aitana Bonmatí
Bonmatí is considered the top female soccer player in the world right now. She is hitting her stride, despite multiple injuries and still being early in her athletic career. Over the years, she has secured many individual achievements, like UEFA Player of the Year, the Ballon d’Or, and being named in the BBC’s “100 Women” list.
Like many other mentions on this list, she can also be found in “The 100 Best Female Footballers in the World” list, first put together in 2016 by The Offside Rule podcast and now sponsored by The Guardian.
In the 2022-23 season, Bonmatí took over for Putellas due to an injury, and simply excelled as the attacking midfielder, so much so that Nike described her year as “The best season. Of any footballer. Ever.”
Nationality: Spanish
Pro Years: 2013-Present
Team(s): Barcelona (2016-present), Spain (2017-present), Catalonia (2017-2019)
Top Achievements: UEFA Women’s Champions League (2020-21, 2022-24), Copa de la Reina (2017-25), FIFA Women’s World Cup (2023)
2. Sun Wen
If Sun had been playing soccer later on, when it had become more popular globally, she would surely have more fame tied to her name.
As it is, Sun’s achievements were as well-popularised as they could have been at the time, with interest in international female athletes growing due to the increasing spread of the internet.
She was an immediate star on the international soccer stage, appearing in the inaugural FIFA Women’s World Cup in China in 1991, where she started in all four matches and scored in the draw against Denmark. Her subsequent appearances kept impressing spectators, such as when she helped her team easily surpass Denmark and Sweden to make it to the semi-finals at the 1995 FIFA WWC, and when she performed marvellously at the 1996 Olympics.
Sun retired from playing permanently in 2006, after winning the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, and transitioned into management and coaching as the vice-president of the Chinese Football Association.
Nationality: Chinese
Pro Years: 1989-2006
Team(s): Shanghai (1989-2000), Atlanta Beat (2001-02), Shanghai SVA (2003, 06), China (1990-2006)
Top Achievements: FIFA Female Player of the Century (2002), Women’s World Cup Golden Ball (1999), adidas Golden Boot at the FIFA Women’s World Cup (1999)
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3. Alexia Putellas
Always drawn to the sport even as a child, Putellas originally thought she didn’t have a future in soccer because of the very limited opportunities for women. Thankfully, Putellas was able to continue to find ways to play and train. She personally developed as a player and teammate, winning the youth Copa Catalunya, Copa de la Reina, and learning how to play with both feet.
In her adult career, Putellas simply keeps on winning, showing no signs of slowing down. She is considered to be one of the best players in women’s soccer today (and ever) due to her relentless successes. She is frequently recognised for her teamwork and contributions as a member of the highly successful Barcelona club.
Nationality: Spanish
Pro Years: 2008-present
Team(s): Levante (2011-12), Barcelona (2012-present), Spain (2013-present), Catalonia (2014-present)
Top Achievements: Winning every major club and individual award available to a European player by 2022, FIFA Women’s World Cup (2023), Ballon d’Or (2021, 22)
4. Pernille Harder
Named “best footballer in the world” by many different sources over the years, including The Guardian and British football magazine Four Four Two, Harder set a record in 2020 as the most expensive trade in women’s soccer history.
The astronomical sum? €280,000.
You’ll notice this is not a very high number compared to the vast majority of trades in men’s soccer.
Since the start of the new decade, thanks to players like Harder, administrative and managerial staff, and sponsors, women’s soccer has exploded in popularity and funds. Now, the top transfer fee is held by Lizbeth Ovalle, who fetched €1,285,000 in 2025.
Throughout her career, Harder has been recognised as a stand-out, “hyper-talented” player. She has overcome injuries on several occasions, coming back just as strong as before, and maintaining her presence as a world-class talent.
Nationality: Danish
Pro Years: 2007-present
Team(s): VfL Wolfsburg (2017-20), Chelsea (2020-23), Bayern Munich (2023-present), Denmark (2009-present)
Top Achievements: UEFA Women’s Player of the Year Award (2018, 2020), Women’s FA Cup (2020-23), Bundesliga (2016-2020, 2023-25)
5. Sam Kerr
Kerr earned the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) 2022 for her services to football (soccer). As a professional soccer player, Kerr has participated in numerous championships, such as the FIFA Women’s World Cup, the NWSL Championship, and the Olympics.
She is known for her teamwork and scoring crucial goals, leading to many victories. Despite suffering a few injuries during her career, she has managed to return to the game. Most notably, Kerr is a prolific scorer, having scored all 4 of her team’s goals in the 2019 Women’s World Cup match vs Jamaica and scoring 6 out of 11 goals in the 2020 Olympic Games.
She dedicates a lot of time and resources to organisations designed to help more girls find opportunities in sports.
She plays in one of the best women's soccer leagues as a member of the Chelsea club.
Nationality: Australian
Pro Years: 2008-present
Team(s): Perth Glory (2008-11, 2014-19), Sydney FC (2012-14), Chicago Red Stars (2018-19), Chelsea (2020-present), Australia (2009-present)
Top Achievements: Women’s FA Cup (2020-23), FA Women’s Community Shield (2020), AFC Women’s Asian Cup (2010)
6. Lucy Bronze
Bronze’s list of personal awards is a testament to her soccer skills and influence. She earned the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (2023), UEFA Women’s Player of the Year Award (2019), and the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year (2018, 2020), just to name a few.
Her early career was already promising; her time with the North Carolina Tar Heels was formative in both her playing and her approach to the sport.
There, she won both the ACC tournament and the NCAA Cup (and was the first British player to do so!).
Her time with Barcelona was another exciting challenge, as Bronze said she looked forward to training with a renowned team slightly above her previous experience. At Chelsea, she managed to score the winning (and only) goal in the April 2025 match against Manchester United, securing the WSL title.
Nationality: English
Pro Years: 2007-present
Team(s): Manchester City (2014-17, 2020-24), Barcelona (2022-24), Chelsea (2024-present), England (2013-present)
Top Achievements: NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship (2009), FA WSL Cup (2016, 2021-22), Copa de la Reina (2023-24)
7. Ada Hegerberg
Hegerberg is known for her participation in the 2013, 2017, and 2022 UEFA European Championships and the 2015 FIFA World Cup, among other achievements.
Due to her spectacular soccer-playing skills, she was also named the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year twice, in 2017 and 2019. On top of all of that, she was the first recipient of the Ballon d’Or Féminin in 2018 and holds the record for the most goals in a UEFA WCL season (15).
Hegerberg first gained wide recognition as a prolific scorer in her 2014 season with Lyon, where she netted 26 goals in just 22 games, as well as securing the tying goal in the final, which allowed her team to eventually win.
Nationality: Norwegian
Pro Years: 2010-present
Team(s): Lyon (2014-present), Norway (2011-present)
Top Achievements: Trophée des Championnes (2019, 2022-23), Coupe de France Féminine (2014-20, 2022-23), UEFA Best Women’s Player in Europe (2016)
8. Lieke Martens
Martens has been a critical supporting player in her various teams over the years. In Barcelona, she helped hype the team’s reputation, contributing to a match with a record-breaking 60,739 attendees. Her cooperation helped the team score many crucial goals in critical situations, getting them frequently to the semi-finals, finals, and ultimately becoming the winners in several league championships.
In her international career, Martens helped the Netherlands team reach the finals in the 2020 Olympics. In 2024, she retired from internationals, and in 2025, she announced her retirement from PSG as well.
Nationality: Dutch
Pro Years: 2009-2025
Team(s): Rosengård (2015-17), Barcelona (2017-22), Paris Saint-Germain (2022-25), Netherlands (2011-2024)
Top Achievements: Svenska Supercupen (2016), Copa de la Reina (2018-22), Coupe de France (2023-24)
9. Marta Vieira da Silva
Best known simply as Marta, the powerhouse player holds the record for the most World Cup goals (17) and the most goals of any Brazilian player (124).
She was also the first player ever (man or woman) to score at five consecutive Olympic Games, and is the first player to ever score at five different World Cups.
Unsurprisingly, she won the Golden Ball and Golden Boot at the 2007 Women’s World Cup for being the top scorer. She continues to dominate in the NWSL, being named the league’s Best XI in 2024.
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Nationality: Brazilian
Pro Years: 2000-present
Team(s): Western New York Flash (2011), Tyresö (2012-14), Rosengård (2014-17), Orlando Pride (2017-present), Brazil (2002-present)
Top Achievements: FIFA World Player of the Year (2006-10, 2018), Olympic Silver (2004, 08, 24), NWSL Championship (2024)
10. Mia Hamm
Even before women’s sports hit the wave of popularity we are seeing today, Mia Hamm was a household name (at least in the US) due to her prolific achievements, especially in the Olympics and as the legendary North Carolina Tar Heels player. In her college days at the University of North Carolina, she won four out of five possible Division I Women’s Soccer Championships, losing just 1 out of 95 games in her entire career there.
Nationality: American
Pro Years: 1987-2004
Team(s): Washington Freedom (2001-03), United States (1987-2004)
Top Achievements: Olympic Gold (1996, 2004), FIFA World Cup Champion (1991, 99), NCAA National Champion (1989-90, 1992-93)
11. Birgit Prinz
Prinz achieved the titles of FIFA World Player of the Year three times, in 2003, ‘04, and ‘05.
She scored 128 goals in 214 appearances with Germany, leading the team to two World Cup titles and even scoring the winning goal on her debut.
She still holds the record as the youngest player to play in a World Cup Final.
Nationality: German
Pro Years: 1993-2011
Team(s): 1. FFC Frankfurt (1998-2002, 2003-11), Carolina Courage (2002-03), Germany (1994-2011)
Top Achievements: Olympic Bronze (2000, 2004, 2008), FIFA World Cup (2003, 2007), German Cup (1998-03, 2006-08, 2010-11)
12. Abby Wambach
Wambach’s list of awards and achievements stretches far past the typical soccer accolades.
In addition to being named WPS Player of the Week a record seven times, earning the 2011 ESPY Award for Best Play, and Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year, she and the rest of the US team were welcomed home to New York City with a Ticker tape parade and given keys to the city before being honoured at the White House with President Obama.
She was included in the 2015 list of Time 100 most influential people in the world for her contributions to women’s sports, which is also evident by her being named U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year six times (2003, 04, 07, 2010, 11, 13).
Nationality: American
Pro Years: 2002-2015
Team(s): Washington Freedom (2002-03, 2009-10), Western New York Flash (2013-14), United States (2001-15)
Top Achievements: Olympic Gold (2004, 2012), FIFA World Player of the Year (2012), FIFA Women’s World Cup (2015)
13. Christine Sinclair
As the all-time international leader in goals for any gender (190), Sinclair has a long list of championships under her belt, including FIFA Women’s World Cups, WPS Championships, and CONCACAF. Her multi-merit status proves her commitment and accomplishments in the sport as well as her impact on her community and the world. In 2013, she was inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame and in 2017, she was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada. More recently, in 2022, she was appointed to the Order of British Columbia.
Her years with the Thorns were extremely successful, and this year, it was announced that Sinclair will be the first player inducted into the Portland Thorns Hall of Fame.
Nationality: Canadian
Pro Years: 1999-2024
Team(s): FC Gold Pride (2009-10), Western New York Flash (2011-12), Portland Thorns (2013-24), Canada (2000-23)
Top Achievements: NWSL Championship (2013, 17, 22), Olympic Gold (2020), The Best FIFA Special Award for Outstanding Career Achievement (2021)
14. Michelle Akers
A member of the inaugural international USWNT in 1985, Akers is known for scoring the team’s first international goal against Denmark.
Her scoring abilities led the team in many of their international matches, such as when she scored a record 39 goals in 26 games in one season (1991).
In the 1991 FIFA Women’s World Cup, she scored 10 goals throughout the tournament, leading the team to the championship.
As a participant in the 1996 Olympics, Akers and the US team made history as the first winners of the Olympic women’s soccer category. In recognition of her successes, Akers was awarded the Female Player of the Century award along with Sun Wen.
Overcoming a chronic health issue and acute injuries throughout her career, Akers is known for her dedication to her team and the game, both on and off the field.
Nationality: American
Pro Years: 1985-2000
Team(s): United States (1985-2000)
Top Achievements: Co-Winner FIFA Female Player of the Century (2002), Olympic Gold (1996), FIFA Order of Merit (1998)
15. Homare Sawa
At just 12 years old, Sawa was considered one of the top female soccer players in Japan and debuted with NTV Beleza.
Her career remained strong, earning her positions such as captain of the Japan national team for the 2011 World Cup and the 2012 Olympics.
For her efforts, she was named FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year in 2011 and was the first Asian person to receive the title.
At the end of her career, Sawa retired with 11 league titles, 8 domestic cup titles, and was named the league’s Best XI for 11 seasons.
Nationality: Japanese
Pro Years: 1991-2015
Team(s): Nippon TV Beleza (1991-99, 2004-09, 2010), Washington Freedom (2009-10), INAC Kobe Leonessa (2011-15), Japan (1993-2015)
Top Achievements: Asian Games Gold Medal (2010), FIFA Women’s World Cup (2011), Olympic Silver (2012)
Women's soccer is an exciting sport that has seen a surge of popularity in recent years. Do you want to practise your soccer skills and join this incredible sport? Find a personal coach on Superprof who can help you learn the techniques you need to succeed in the game!
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