Top 100 Women’s Footballers of All Time Ranked

Putting together a list of the greatest women’s football players of all time was no easy task. Led by FourFourTwo’s Women’s Football Editor Sarah Rendell, with input from football experts, the selection considered not only trophies but also technical skill, stats, and pioneering influence globally.

The list aims to showcase the depth of talent across eras and continents, though naturally, some fans might disagree with certain choices. The countdown starts at number 100 and ascends to the player deemed the very best to have ever played.

Players Ranked 100 to 91

• 100. Lily Parr: A trailblazer known for powerful shooting and passing, scored 986 goals by 1951.
• 99. Ji So-Yun: Key to Chelsea’s trophy haul (13 trophies), South Korea’s standout midfielder.
• 98. Gilly Flaherty: Arsenal legend with 22 trophies; WSL Hall of Fame inductee.
• 97. Jordan Nobbs: Arsenal stalwart with 11 trophies, record-holder for most WSL appearances.
• 96. Lauren James: Rising star with three titles and a World Cup final appearance by age 23.
• 95. Karen Carney: England’s highly capped player and quadruple winner with Arsenal.
• 94. Mayra Ramirez: Strong forward making waves at Chelsea and Colombia’s national team.
• 93. Lianne Sanderson: Won 14 trophies including Juventus titles; England Euro 2009 runner-up.
• 92. Fran Kirby: Chelsea legend with multiple league titles and a key part of England’s Euro 2022 win.
• 91. Leah Williamson: Arsenal one-club player and England’s Euro 2022 captain.

Players Ranked 90 to 81

• 90. Jess Fishlock: Wales’ top scorer and instrumental in club successes including two Champions League wins.
• 89. Lena Oberdorf: Germany’s strong midfielder, recovering from injury, with five trophies at Wolfsburg.
• 88. Alex Greenwood: Manchester City captain and vital defender for England’s Euros 2022 and World Cup 2023 runs.
• 87. Formiga: Brazilian legend renowned for longevity, playing internationally until age 43.
• 86. Briana Scurry: US goalkeeper with two Olympic golds and 1999 World Cup-winning penalty save.
• 85. Bente Nordby: Norway’s great shot-stopper, World Cup and European Championship winner.
• 84. Fara Williams: England’s most capped player with an exceptional goal-scoring midfield record.
• 83. Camille Abily: French midfielder with five Champions Leagues at Lyon and coaching role at Chelsea.
• 82. Mary Earps: England goalkeeper, Golden Glove winner at 2023 World Cup, with multiple domestic and international honors.
• 81. Keira Walsh: Barcelona midfielder and Euro 2022 Player of the Match in final.

Players Ranked 80 to 71

• 80. Rachel Yankey: Part of Arsenal’s historic quadruple-winning side; awarded MBE and CBE.
• 79. Katie Chapman: Decorated English midfielder with 28 club trophies and 94 caps.
• 78. Ellen White: England’s third-highest scorer who retired after winning Euro 2022.
• 77. Ann Kristin Aar nes: Norway striker and 1995 World Cup Golden Boot winner.
• 76. Kim Little: Arsenal legend and Scotland’s prolific scorer before retiring in 2021.
• 75. Dzsenifer Marozs n: German midfielder with five Champions League titles and UEFA Player of the Year awards.
• 74. Rachael Kundananji: Zambia’s record-breaking striker and key figure in their famous 2023 World Cup upset over Germany.
• 73. Patri: Influential Barcelona player and Spanish international with 22 trophies.
• 72. Barbra Banda: African football’s highest-ranked FIFA Best nominee, 2024 BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year.
• 71. Carolina Morace: Italy’s top scorer with 105 goals and first World Cup hat-trick scorer.

Players Ranked 70 to 61

• 70. Therese Sj gran: Sweden’s most capped player alongside Birgit Prinz, five domestic titles.
• 69. Pernille Harder: Danish captain and league winner at every club since 2016.
• 68. Hanna Ljungberg: Sweden’s former top scorer and FIFA World Player of the Year finalist.
• 67. Irene Paredes: Barcelona defender and Spain captain, 13 club trophies including two Champions Leagues.
• 66. Bunny Shaw: Jamaica’s leading striker and WSL golden boot winner.
• 65. Sissi: Creative Brazilian forward and joint top scorer at 1999 World Cup.
• 64. Carla Overbeck: USA defender with multiple World Cups and Olympic gold medals.
• 63. Christie Pearce: USWNT captain with two World Cups and three Olympic gold medals.
• 62. Pia Sundhage: Swedish forward and later world-class coach, won first official European Championships in 1984.
• 61. Silvia Neid: German midfielder and coach with three European Championships as player.

Players Ranked 60 to 51

• 60. Kelly Smith: Arsenal legend known for skill and goal-scoring prowess.
• 59. Mia Hamm: US icon with 158 international goals and two FIFA World Player of the Year awards.
• 58. Perpetua Nkwoch: Nigeria’s leading scorer and four-time African Player of the Year.
• 57. Jess McDonald: US forward and 2019 World Cup winner.
• 56. Alexandra Popp: Germany striker with seven Bundesliga titles and three Champions Leagues.
• 55. Lucy Bronze: England's iconic right-back with five Champions Leagues and FIFA best player award.
• 54. Homare Sawa: Japan’s World Cup-winning captain and FIFA Player of the Year.
• 53. Vivianne Miedema: Netherlands’ all-time top scorer and record WSL goal scorer.
• 52. Brandi Chastain: Known for iconic 1999 World Cup celebration and two Olympic golds.
• 51. Ada Hegerberg: Norwegian forward and first-ever women’s Ballon d’Or winner.

Players Ranked 50 to 41

• 50. Bettina Wiegmann: Germany midfielder with five major international titles.
• 49. Mapi Leon: Barcelona defender noted for defensive mastery and passing ability.
• 48. Alex Morgan: US forward with two World Cups, Olympic medals, and viral celebrations.
• 47. Ali Krieger: US defender with back-to-back World Cups and NWSL title.
• 46. Megan Rapinoe: Cultural icon and 2019 Ballon d’Or winner with World Cups and Olympic gold.
• 45. Sam Kerr: Australia’s top scorer and multiple golden boots across leagues.
• 44. Patrizia Panico: Italy’s top scorer and 14-time Serie A Golden Boot winner.
• 43. Caroline Seger: Sweden’s most-capped European player with 240 appearances.
• 42. Christen Press: US forward with World Cups and club success including record shirt sales.
• 41. Caroline Graham Hansen: Norway’s gifted winger with 29 club trophies.

Players Ranked 40 to 31

• 40. Shannon Boxx: US midfielder with late career start but major trophies including World Cup and Olympics.
• 39. Julie Ertz: US midfielder with two World Cups and Olympic bronze.
• 38. Salma Paralluelo: Young Spanish star with World Cup and youth World Cup wins.
• 37. Cristiane: Brazil’s long-serving forward with Olympic silvers and Champions League win.
• 36. Eugenie Le Sommer: Lyon and France’s top scorer with multiple trebles.
• 35. Lauren Holiday: US midfielder with World Cup and two Olympic golds.
• 34. Amandine Henry: Lyon midfielder with seven Champions Leagues and international trophies.
• 33. Wendie Renard: Dominant Lyon defender with eight Champions League titles.
• 32. Crystal Dunn: Versatile US player with World Cup and Olympic gold.
• 31. Aya Miyama: Japanese midfielder and AFC Footballer of the Year thrice.

Players Ranked 30 to 21

• 30. Doris Fitschen: German defender with four Bundesliga titles and five European Championships.
• 29. Sandra Minnert: Technical German defender with World Cups and European titles.
• 28. Tobin Heath: US winger with World Cups and Olympic golds, known for flair.
• 27. Melanie Behringer: German midfielder with World Cup, European titles, and Olympic gold.
• 26. Joy Fawcett: US defender with two World Cups and Olympic gold, scored 27 international goals.
• 24. Hege Riise: Norwegian midfielder with World Cup, European Championships, and Olympic gold.
• 23. Carli Lloyd: US forward with 134 international goals and memorable World Cup final hat trick.
• 22. Hope Solo: US goalkeeper with 202 caps, World Cup and Olympic gold medals.
• 21. Tiffeny Milbrett: US striker with 100 international goals and two Olympic gold medals.

Players Ranked 20 to 11

• 20. Inka Grings: German striker, Bundesliga top scorer six seasons in a row.
• 19. Nadine Angerer: Germany goalkeeper, two World Cups and five European Championships.
• 18. Ariane Hingst: German midfielder with multiple European and World titles.
• 17. Carin Jennings: US winger known for World Cup semi-final hat trick and Olympic gold.
• 16. Abby Wambach: US striker, FIFA Player of the Year 2012, World Cup winner with 184 goals.
• 15. Alexia Putellas: Barcelona and Spain midfielder, back-to-back Ballon d’Or winner and 2023 World Cup champion.
• 15. Lotta Schelin: Sweden’s top scorer with eight league titles and two Champions Leagues.
• 14. Kelley O'Hara: US defender with two World Cups and Olympic medals.
• 13. Kerstin Garefrekes: German midfielder with back-to-back World Cups and European Championships.
• 12. Renate Lingor: German midfielder with two World Cups and three European titles.
• 11. Julie Foudy: US midfielder and leader with two World Cups and three Olympic golds.

Players Ranked 10 to 1

• 10. Aitana Bonmati: Spain midfielder, 2023 World Cup winner, two-time Ballon d’Or recipient.
• 9. Heidi Støre: Norway captain of 1995 World Cup-winning team with multiple European titles.
• 8. Anja Mittag: German striker with two European Cups and a World Cup.
• 7. Birgit Prinz: Germany’s prolific striker with five European Championships and two World Cups.
• 6. Sun Wen: China’s greatest player, FIFA Player of the Century co-recipient, 1999 Golden Ball and Boot winner.
• 5. Michelle Akers: US legend with ten goals in 1991 World Cup and two FIFA Female Player of the Century awards.
• 4. Heidi Mohr: Europe’s Player of the Century, Germany forward with multiple Bundesliga Golden Boots.
• 3. Christine Sinclair: Canada’s all-time leading scorer and top international goal scorer.
• 2. Kristine Lilly: Record holder for most international caps (354) and US midfielder with 130 goals.
• 1. Marta: Brazilian forward, six-time FIFA World Player of the Year, top World Cup scorer with 17 goals.