The 100 Best Female Footballers in the World

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.

Top 10

As of 2025, 51 individual players have been included in the "top 10" of the Top 100 list.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

See also

• List of sports awards honouring women
• The Best FIFA Women's Player
• Ballon d'Or Féminin
• FIFPRO Women's World 11
• BBC Women's Footballer of the Year
• The Guardian 100 Best Male Footballers in the World
• The Guardian Footballer of the Year