The Best FIFA Women's Player
In-game article clicks load inline without leaving the challenge.
The Best FIFA Women's Player is a football award presented annually by the sport's governing body, FIFA, since 2016, to honour the player deemed to have performed the best over the previous calendar year. From 2001 to 2015, the award was known as the FIFA Women's World Player of the Year.
History
The selection criteria for the players of the year are: sporting performance, as well as general conduct on and off the pitch.
The votes are decided by media representatives, national team coaches, and national team captains. In October 2016, it was announced that the general public would also be allowed to vote. Each group has 25% of the overall vote.
At the 2017 awards, 2016 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup Bronze Ball and Bronze Shoe winner and amateur club player Deyna Castellanos was nominated. Professional players Megan Rapinoe and Sam Kerr criticized the nomination.
Winners
Wins by player
| Player | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spain Aitana Bonmatí | 3 (2023, 2024, 2025) | — | — |
| Spain Alexia Putellas | 2 (2021, 2022) | — | 1 (2025) |
| United States Carli Lloyd | 1 (2016) | 1 (2017) | — |
| Brazil Marta | 1 (2018) | 1 (2016) | — |
| England Lucy Bronze | 1 (2020) | — | 1 (2019) |
| Netherlands Lieke Martens | 1 (2017) | — | — |
| United States Megan Rapinoe | 1 (2019) | — | — |
| Spain Mariona Caldentey | — | 1 (2025) | — |
Wins by country
| Country | Players | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Spain | 2 | 5 |
| United States | 2 | 2 |
| Netherlands | 1 | 1 |
| Brazil | 1 | 1 |
| England | 1 | 1 |
Wins by club
FIFA Women's Player of the Year (including predecessors)
| Players | FIFA Women's World Player of the Year (1991–2015) | The Best FIFA Women's Player (2016–present) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil Marta | 5 | 1 | 6 |
| Spain Aitana Bonmatí | — | 3 | 3 |
| Germany Birgit Prinz | 3 | — | 3 |
| United States Mia Hamm | 2 | — | 2 |
| United States Carli Lloyd | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Spain Alexia Putellas | — | 2 | 2 |
| Japan Homare Sawa | 1 | — | 1 |
| United States Abby Wambach | 1 | — | 1 |
| Germany Nadine Angerer | 1 | — | 1 |
| Germany Nadine Keßler | 1 | — | 1 |
| Netherlands Lieke Martens | — | 1 | 1 |
| United States Megan Rapinoe | — | 1 | 1 |
| England Lucy Bronze | — | 1 | 1 |
Wins by player
| Player | Winner | Second place | Third place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil Marta | 6 (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2018) | 5 (2005, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016) | 2 (2004, 2013) |
| Germany Birgit Prinz | 3 (2003, 2004, 2005) | 5 (2002, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010) | — |
| Spain Aitana Bonmatí | 3 (2023, 2024, 2025) | — | — |
| United States Mia Hamm | 2 (2001, 2002) | 2 (2003, 2004) | — |
| United States Carli Lloyd | 2 (2015, 2016) | 1 (2017) | — |
| Spain Alexia Putellas | 2 (2021, 2022) | — | 1 (2025) |
| United States Abby Wambach | 1 (2012) | 1 (2013) | 2 (2011, 2014) |
| England Lucy Bronze | 1 (2020) | — | 1 (2019) |
| Japan Homare Sawa | 1 (2011) | — | — |
| Germany Nadine Angerer | 1 (2013) | — | — |
| Germany Nadine Keßler | 1 (2014) | — | — |
| Netherlands Lieke Martens | 1 (2017) | — | — |
| United States Megan Rapinoe | 1 (2019) | — | — |
| Spain Mariona Caldentey | — | 1 (2025) | — |
Wins by country
| Country | Players | Total |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 4 | 6 |
| Brazil | 1 | 6 |
| Germany | 3 | 5 |
| Spain | 2 | 5 |
| Japan | 1 | 1 |
| Netherlands | 1 | 1 |
| England | 1 | 1 |