Women’s soccer is quickly becoming one of the most popular sports in the world. While many current players are enjoying the spotlight, the women’s game is packed with legendary names. These are the players who didn’t just win trophies, but changed the way we see the sport.
In this list, we take a look at the best women’s soccer players of all time. Whether they lit up World Cups, dominated club football, or left a lasting impact far beyond the pitch, each player here earned their place among the greats.
15. Kelley O’Hara
Kelley O’Hara was the heartbeat of one of the most dominant USWNT sides in history. Tough, versatile, and endlessly energetic, she could play anywhere down the flank and never gave less than her all. O’Hara earned over 150 caps for the United States and was a key figure in their 2015 and 2019 World Cup triumphs. She scored in the semi-final against Germany in 2015 and delivered a commanding defensive display in the 2019 final.
What made O’Hara special was her mentality. She thrived in high-pressure moments and embraced the physical battles that define knockout football. While she was never the flashiest name on the team sheet, her consistency and leadership were invaluable. O’Hara embodied resilience and adaptability, two traits that helped define an era of American superiority.
14. Lotta Schelin
Lotta Schelin was Sweden’s ultimate goalscorer and long-time talisman. With 88 goals in 185 appearances, she became her nation’s all-time leading scorer and carried Sweden through multiple major tournaments. Quick, direct, and clinical, Schelin had a knack for timing her runs perfectly and finishing with composure.
She played a pivotal role in Sweden’s run to the 2011 World Cup semi-finals and the 2016 Olympic final. Playing club football, she thrived with Lyon, winning multiple Champions League titles during their rise to European dominance. Schelin combined consistency with big-game impact, delivering on the grandest stages. She was not always prominent in global headlines, but her record and longevity place her firmly among the elite forwards in women’s soccer history.
13. Alexia Putellas
Alexia Putellas has been the driving force behind Barcelona’s modern supremacy. A technically gifted and intelligent midfielder, she dictates tempo with calm authority and contributes crucial goals from midfield. As a two-time Ballon d’Or winner, Putellas has cemented herself as one of the standout players of her generation.
She was central to Barcelona’s Champions League triumphs and domestic success, blending creativity with clinical finishing. Putellas has the rare ability to control a match while still making decisive contributions in the final third. Despite injury setbacks, she remains a symbol of Spain’s rise in women’s soccer. Putellas represents the modern standard of excellence in the game and could climb even higher on this list before her career is done.
12. Kerstin Garefrekes
Kerstin Garefrekes was one of Germany’s most lethal forwards and a constant threat on the international stage. Versatile, intelligent, and deceptively powerful, she could operate as a winger or striker, combining pace with pinpoint finishing. Garefrekes earned over 130 caps and scored more than 60 goals for her country, helping Germany dominate European women’s football for over a decade.
Her impact was particularly evident in major tournaments. She played a pivotal role in Germany’s 2003 and 2007 World Cup victories and contributed to multiple UEFA Women’s Championship wins. For her club career, she excelled with Frankfurt, winning league titles and a Champions League trophy. Garefrekes combined technical brilliance with tactical intelligence, always appearing in the right place at the right time. A leader on the pitch, she was decisive in crucial moments and remains one of the most influential German players of all time.
11. Julie Foudy
Julie Foudy was the engine and emotional leader of the United States during one of the most important periods in women’s soccer history. A tireless midfielder with exceptional vision and work rate, she controlled games from the centre of the park and set the tone with her intensity. Foudy earned over 270 caps for the USWNT, becoming one of the most respected and influential figures in the global game.
She was instrumental in the USA’s 1991 and 1999 World Cup triumphs, as well as their Olympic gold medals in 1996 and 2004. While she was not as prolific as some teammates, her intelligence, passing range, and leadership made her indispensable. Off the pitch, Foudy played a major role in advancing women’s soccer and advocating for equality. She wasn’t just a world-class midfielder; she was a pioneer who helped shape the future of the sport.
10. Aitana Bonmati
The fact that Aitana Bonmati is one of just three active players on this list is a testament to how dominant the Spaniard has been in recent years. The Barcelona midfielder is integral for both club and country, making her team tick and running games from the centre of the park. She has a boatload of silverware already, including the highest personal honours as a two-time Ballon d’Or winner. Bonmatí already boasts a glittering CV and is widely seen as the best player in the world right now.
Her 2022/23 season was the stuff of legend. Bonmatí led Barcelona to the Champions League title and Spain to their first-ever Women’s World Cup, winning the Golden Ball at both tournaments. Her technical precision, eye for a pass and metronomic control of midfield have drawn comparisons to Spanish greats like Xavi and Iniesta. She isn’t just a playmaker, she’s a controller of tempo and a consistent match-winner.
What is even more impressive about Bonmati is that she may not have even reached her peak yet. She has already achieved more than most pro players could dream of, and there is plenty more left to come on top of that. The Spaniard is one of the favourites to win the Ballon d’Or once again for anyone betting on soccer. If she maintains this level, she could rise even higher on this list in the years to come.
9. Sun Wen
Sun Wen was one of the leaders of a golden generation for women’s soccer in China. She was a star of the sport in the 1990s and 2000s, carrying her nation through multiple tournaments as a standout force. The retired forward reached the 1999 World Cup final before losing to the US in a thrilling penalty shootout. While she didn’t lift the trophy, she did win both the Golden Boot (which she shared with Sissi, of Brazil) and the Golden Ball.
Sun had the perfect mix of power, creativity, and finishing. She could drop deep to control games and dictate tempo while going forward and making an impact in the box. Her play in major tournaments was nothing short of electric, and she ranks as one of the most naturally gifted players ever to have played the sport.
She was jointly awarded FIFA Female Player of the Century alongside Michelle Akers in 2000, a fitting honour for a player who revolutionised the sport in Asia. Sun didn’t just dominate on the pitch; she helped put Asian women’s football on the global map and inspired a whole generation to follow in her footsteps.
8. Alex Morgan
Alex Morgan was at the forefront of one of the most dominant eras of women’s soccer for the United States. The centre forward combined incredible striking instincts with superb physical attributes, showcasing blistering pace and sharp finishing. Morgan led the line for the USWNT for nearly 15 years. Many soccer predictions had the USWNT as favourites for the World Cup, mainly down to the talent Morgan displayed up top.
She became a star in the early 2010s through her performances in the national team. Morgan starred for the US in the 2012 Olympic Games, guiding her nation to the gold medal in soccer. That is where she famously scored against Canada in the 123rd minute to send her team into the final. She would later lead them to two World Cup wins in 2015 and 2019, scoring six goals in the latter.
Morgan wasn’t just about the goals. She was a vocal leader in the fight for equal pay, a role model for young players everywhere. Her influence extended well beyond the pitch, and she is undoubtedly one of the best women’s soccer players of all time.
7. Homare Sawa
Homare Sawa is the best Asian soccer player of all time. The midfielder had incredible technique, boasting the ability to run games from deep and affect the game in attack. She was a calm and composed presence in midfield, but never let her diminutive stature get in the way of her physicality. Sawa was tenacious and combative while maintaining her technical excellence and flair.
The Japanese international spent the bulk of her career in her home country, making over 200 appearances for her nation. She also had a short but impressive stint in the NWSL, where she played for Washington Freedom between 2009 and 2010. Her starring performance came in the 2011 World Cup, where she captained Japan to their first-ever trophy and won the Golden Ball.
Sawa defined an era for Japanese soccer and the continent of Asia as a whole. She won the AFC Women’s Player of the Year twice and will always be remembered for leading Japan during their crowning moment at the 2011 World Cup. The midfielder is one of the greatest women’s soccer players of all time.
6. Abby Wombach
Abby Wambach was an absolute powerhouse. One of the most dominant strikers the women’s game has ever seen. She was known for her insane heading ability, physicality, and relentless drive. If the ball was floated into the box, you just knew Wambach was getting on the end of it. Her headers were legendary, and she had a habit of showing up right when her team needed her most.
She played over 250 times for the USWNT and scored a ridiculous 184 goals. More than any other American player ever, male or female. It may be a long time until anyone touches that record, if ever. For over a decade, she was the heart of the U.S. attack. She was a leader on and off the pitch who brought fire, focus, and fight every time she stepped out there. Her last-gasp equaliser against Brazil in the 2011 World Cup is the stuff of legend.
She picked up the FIFA World Player of the Year award in 2012 and finally lifted the World Cup in 2015, ending her international career on the highest possible note. Everything Wambach has done off the pitch is what really sets her apart. She’s become a major voice for equality, inclusion, and empowering athletes to use their platforms. She’s still making an impact today. Wambach wasn’t just a goal machine; she was a fearless leader, a true icon, and one of the most influential players the game has ever seen.
5. Carli Lloyd
Carli Lloyd was the definition of clutch. A big-game player through and through, she had a habit of showing up when it mattered most and delivering something unforgettable. Whether it was a last-minute winner or a screamer from 40 yards out, Lloyd had a flair for the dramatic and the work ethic to match. She stood out in a USA team that was full of stars and consistently favourites to win the World Cup with our online sportsbook.
She earned over 300 caps for the USWNT and scored 134 goals, many of them in the biggest games of her career. Her performance in the 2015 World Cup Final is still jaw-dropping. She scored a first-half hat-trick against Japan, including an outrageous goal from the halfway line. It was the kind of moment that instantly etched her name into football history.
But Lloyd wasn’t just about highlight reels. She was a tireless midfielder who could do it all, press, pass, score, and lead. Her drive and intensity were unmatched, and she trained like every day was a final. That mentality helped her win two World Cups, two Olympic gold medals, and two FIFA Player of the Year awards. Carli Lloyd wasn’t just a winner; she was a warrior, a leader, and one of the best female soccer players of all time.
4. Birgit Prinz
Birgit Prinz is one of the most deadly strikers to have ever played the game. The German has an incredible record for both club and country, with perhaps the keenest eye for goal of any women’s player ever. She utilised her physical attributes to fight off and power past defenders in the box, finishing with a level of technique and flair rarely seen before or since in the women’s game.
Prinz spent most of her career in her native Germany, playing for her hometown club Frankfurt, save for a short but successful stint in the WUSA with Carolina Courage. She dominated the Frauen-Bundesliga, terrorising defenders for the best part of two decades. Prinz finished her club career with an incredible record of 282 goals in 282 games. She was the most important part of the German squad during her 17-year international career, scoring 128 goals in 214 games.
Prinz’s goalscoring led Germany to back-to-back World Cups in 2003 and 2007 and an incredible five European Championship trophies on the spin. A three-time FIFA World Player of the Year, the German striker was arguably the dominant force of women’s soccer in the noughties. We may never see a striker as prolific as she was at club level again.
3. Michelle Akers
Michelle Akers is perhaps the biggest trailblazer the women’s game has ever seen and had the skill to match. She defined a generation for women’s soccer, dazzling fans with her quick feet and goalscoring ability. Akers famously scored 10 goals during the 1991 World Cup, a record that has not been and may never be broken. The forward was so good that she couldn’t be bound to one position. She moved deeper into midfield so she could dictate games, without ever losing an inch of her attacking excellence.
She finished her career with 155 appearances for the USWNT and 107 goals. A staggering 39 of those goals came in 1991. She led the US to two World Cup triumphs and in 2004 was one of only two women named to the FIFA 100. A list of the 125 greatest living soccer players selected by Pelé and commissioned by FIFA for the organisation’s 100th anniversary.
Akers is one of the best women’s soccer players of all time. If it were not for Michelle Akers, it is possible that the women’s game would not be in the position it is now. She inspired a generation of women and set the tone of women’s soccer for the next two decades.
2. Mia Hamm
Perhaps the first bona fide star of women’s soccer, Mia Hamm made her debut for the USWNT in 1987 at just 15 years old and continued to make appearances for her nation while playing college soccer for the North Carolina Tar Heels. She would be a mainstay on the side for 17 years, scoring 156 goals in 278 appearances. Hamm was comfortably the best women’s soccer player in the world during that time.
The striker helped the USA to the World Cup in 1991, gold at the 1996 Olympics and a second World Cup three years later. Her star power during this time was unlike anything women’s soccer had ever seen. She secured millions of dollars in sponsorship deals and even her own video game. However, none of this ever overshadowed her skill on the pitch, and she was nothing but business as soon as she tied up her laces.
Hamm is another trailblazer of the sport who helped grow women’s soccer exponentially. Her level of talent and fame took the sport to another level in the US. She has won a truckload of awards recognising her excellence, and in 2013, she became the first-ever woman to be inducted into the World Football Hall of Fame. To many, Hamm will be at the top of the list of the best women’s soccer players of all time.
1. Marta
Marta is the greatest women’s soccer player of all time. The Brazilian forward has dazzled fans for nearly two decades with her outrageous dribbling ability, lightning pace and eye for goal. She made a habit of doing the unthinkable with the ball at her feet. Marta could glide past defenders like they weren’t even there, twist and turn out of impossible situations, and finish with either foot. She was pure flair and elegance, but she also had end product in spades.
Marta burst onto the scene in the early 2000s and has been the heartbeat of the Brazil team ever since. She has played in six World Cups, scoring a record 17 goals in the tournament, more than any player in history, male or female. Her club career has taken her from Brazil to Sweden and the United States, where she has starred for clubs like Umeå IK, Santos, and Orlando Pride. Wherever she has gone, she has lit up the pitch and left defenders in her wake.
A six-time FIFA World Player of the Year, Marta dominated the sport in the 2000s and 2010s. While she never lifted the World Cup with Brazil, her performances at the international level have become legendary. She helped Brazil to a runner-up finish in 2007 and won two Olympic silver medals. More than just a generational talent, Marta has inspired millions around the world with her passion, skill, and fight for equality in the game. Her impact on women’s soccer is immeasurable, and no list of all-time greats is complete without her at the very top.
