10 Greatest Female Players In Soccer History

Female players have been making positive strides in the world of soccer, with the same set of laws applied to the beautiful game.

Soccer is a game that transcends gender and brings people together with teamwork, determination, and hard work as its backbone. Female players have proved remarkable perseverance and self-belief, shining like gems in the game.

Over time, they have continuously evolved with the game, achieving great success and breaking records along the way.

Despite the gradual progress, the ultimate goal is for women’s soccer to dominate the game, or at least hold equal importance to the men’s game.

Best Female Players Ever

The future of women’s soccer is promising, and there is much excitement surrounding it.

The beautiful game has already produced countless incredible female players who have taken the world by storm, proving that gender is not a barrier to success in soccer.

Our list includes players who have excelled in various positions and made huge strides in their respective teams.

Their achievements range from leading their countries to World Cup glory to winning numerous league titles and individual awards.

Marta (Brazil) 174 caps, 115 goals

If you’re an avid soccer fan and you do not know or haven’t heard of Marta (the Brazilian Pele), then you need to bury your head in shame,

With an astounding 115 goals in 174 international matches, Marta has surpassed Pele and all other Brazilian footballers to become the top scorer in international football.

She holds the record for the most goals in FIFA World Cup history, with an impressive 17 goals, and was the first soccer player, male or female, to score at five World Cup editions, a feat later matched by Christine Sinclair and Cristiano Ronaldo.

She was also the first female footballer to score at five consecutive Olympic Games.

Despite her small stature, Marta’s quick and tenacious play on the field has earned her a reputation as the greatest female footballer of all time.

Her quick feet and exceptional skill on the ball have drawn comparisons to Ronaldinho, and she is known for her flair and ability to act as a defender whenever necessary, with exclusive and extraordinary dribbling skills and scoring prowess.

One of Marta’s most memorable moments on the field was her finish at the 2007 Women’s World Cup, where Brazil finished as runners-up. She also earned silver medals at the Olympics in 2004 and 2008.

Marta’s impressive record has earned her the title of FIFA World Player of the Year a record-breaking six times, with five consecutive wins from 2006 to 2010, and another in 2018, making her the only female player to achieve such a feat.

In short, the 37-year-old incredible playing ability and achievements on the field have cemented her as a true icon in the beautiful game

Abby Wambach (USA)255 caps, 184 goals

Abby Wambach is a name that is synonymous with excellence in the world of soccer.

Wambach’s impressive playing career includes numerous achievements, such as being the highest all-time goal scorer for the US women’s national team and second in international goals for both female and male soccer players with 184 goals, only behind Christine Sinclair.

She was also awarded the FIFA World Player of the Year award in 2012, becoming the first American woman to win the award in ten years.

Despite not being the quickest or most technically gifted forward, she had a physical, effective, and direct style of play that made her a formidable presence on the field.

Her excellent sense of space and positioning allowed her to get onto the end of long balls and crosses, while her back headers and back heels often led to passes to her teammates.

She was also known for her aerial prowess, scoring some of the most spectacular diving headers and bicycle kicks in the game.

Wambach has played in four FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments and two Olympic tournaments, winning the gold medal on both occasions.

Her performances at these international tournaments were nothing short of exceptional, with 22 goals in 29 matches.

Her incredible talent and achievements have not gone unnoticed, and she has been named as the Athlete of the Year by Associated Press and had the entrance of Sahlen’s stadium named “Wambach Way.”

Beyond her soccer success, Wambach has also made a positive impact off the field.

Her influence and impact led to her being included on the 2015 Time 100 list as one of the most influential people in the world, demonstrating her lasting impact both within and beyond football.

Mia Hamm (USA)276 caps, 158 goals

The American international was a remarkable striker and team player who held the record for most international goals scored until 2013.

Although she has since been surpassed by Abby Wambach and Christine Sinclair, she still holds the record for career assists (144) on the international stage.

Hamm’s prowess on the pitch was due to her exceptional athleticism, dynamic style of play, and technical ability.

She was known for her speed, skill, and footwork, as well as her impressive stamina and control of the ball. Her striking ability was both powerful and accurate, and she was equally capable of scoring goals and creating them for her teammates.

Talking about her on-field achievements, Hamm was named in the top 3 FIFA Female Footballers of the Century in the year 2000, cementing her status as one of the greatest female players in soccer.

She was also the first female soccer player to be inducted into the World Football Hall of Fame, and she won the first two FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year awards in 2001 and 2002.

Hamm’s success and impact cannot be overstated.

She ranks third in the history of the U.S. national team for international caps (276), and her legacy is celebrated through lots of honors and inductions, including the National Soccer Hall of Fame, Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, Texas Sports Hall of Fame, and North Carolina Soccer Hall of Fame.

Pelé himself included Hamm in the FIFA 100, a list of the 125 greatest living players, to celebrate the organization’s 100th anniversary.

Top Nigeria Female Footballers Of The Last Decade

Alexia Putellas (Spain) 100 Caps 27 goals

Alexia is a skilled and versatile attacking midfielder, who is renowned for her playmaking, goalscoring, and leadership qualities on the pitch.

Her preferred position is as a left-sided ‘number 8’ central or attacking midfielder, where she is known for her vision, passing accuracy, and technique, which have drawn comparisons to male footballers like Andrés Iniesta.

She has been with FC Barcelona Femeni since 2012 and is considered one of the club’s greatest players.

As of 2023, she has the second-most all-time appearances for Barcelona behind Melanie Serrano. She is also the second-highest all-time scorer for Barca with 93 caps, surpassing Marta Torrejon’s previous record of 90 caps in 2021.

Beyond her club performances, Putellas has been a key player for the Spanish national team since making her debut in 2013.

The 29-year-old has been recognized as one of the best female soccer players in the world, having won several individual awards.

She won the Ballon d’Or Féminin consecutively in 2021 and 2022, The Best FIFA Women’s Player, and IFFHS Women’s Player of the Year awards, as well as the Golden Player Woman Award in 2022.

She was also named UEFA Women’s Player of the Year for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons, UEFA Women’s Champions League Midfielder of the Season for 2020-21, and Player of the Season for 2021-22.

Besides her sporting prowess, Putellas is also academically inclined, having earned a degree in Business Administration and Management from Pompeu Fabra University.

Christine Sinclair (Canada) 322 caps, 190 goals

She is undoubtedly one of the greatest female players of all time, and a true icon in Canada’s sporting history.

She has been a formidable force on the field, showcasing her exceptional talent as an all-rounder, capable of playing like a midfielder and moving the ball forward toward the opposition goal.

Sinclair made her international debut for Canada at the tender age of 16, and since then, she has been a consistent performer for her national team. With over 300 caps, she is one of the most-capped active international footballers in the world today.

However, it is Sinclair’s goal-scoring prowess that has truly set her apart from her peers.

With an incredible 190 international goals, she is the world’s all-time leader for goals scored by men or women.

She is also part of an exclusive three-member club of players to score at as many editions of the tournament, the other two being Marta and Cristiano Ronaldo.

She has played in five FIFA Women’s World Cups and four Olympic Football Tournaments, showing her consistency and ability to perform at the highest levels of the beautiful game.

Sinclair has been shortlisted for the FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year award an impressive seven times, proving her exceptional skill and influence on the game.

In 2017, she was honored with the Officer of the Order of Canada, the second-highest civilian award that any Canadian can receive, recognizing her contribution to Canadian sports and society.

Miraildes Formiga (Brazil) 234 caps, 29 goals

At just 17 years old, she made her debut for Brazil in the 1995 World Cup, and 28 years later, she was still playing at the highest level of the game.

Formiga’s extraordinary career longevity alone cements her place as one of the best soccer female players of all time.

While most female players retire in their mid to late 30s, Formiga kept going, and her achievements are nothing short of remarkable.

She is the only female soccer player to have competed in six consecutive Olympic Games, from 1996 to 2016.

The 2021 Olympics was the last involvement for Formiga as she announced her retirement from international football, making her last appearance in November of that year.

Formiga holds the record as the oldest female soccer player to have scored a goal in the FIFA World Cup, at the age of 37, and the oldest to have ever participated in one, at the age of 41.

Her seven FIFA World Cup tournament appearances are unmatched by any other player, male or female.

Her achievements include multiple Olympic medals, a silver medal in the 2007 World Cup, and two Copa America titles.

She has been recognized for her contributions to the sport, receiving the 2016 FIFA Fair Play award and being named as one of the 100 Best Female Footballers in the World by The Guardian in 2019.

Formiga is undoubtedly one of the greatest female soccer players to ever grace the pitch.

Nadine Angerer (Germany) 146 caps, 0 goals

Nadine Angerer is undoubtedly one of the greatest female goalkeepers in the history of soccer.

She achieved a feat that no other goalkeeper (male or female) had ever achieved before winning the FIFA World Player of the Year award.

The only other goalkeeper who received similar recognition was Lev Yashin, who won the Ballon d’Or in 1963.

One of the most remarkable moments in Angerer’s career came during the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Throughout the entire tournament, she kept a clean sheet, not conceding a single goal.

In the final against Brazil, she saved a penalty from none other than Marta, widely regarded as one of the best female soccer players of all time.

Angerer’s remarkable performances at the 2013 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Women’s Championship earned her the FIFA award in 2014.

She was also named UEFA Women’s best player in 2013 and FIFA Women’s World Cup best goalkeeper in 2007.

Tony DiCicco, a former USA mentor and a goalkeeper himself, spoke highly of Angerer’s leadership qualities, saying, “Angerer is a great leader in her team, a great hero to follow.”

Angerer’s impact on the game cannot be overstated.

She has cemented her place among the most famous female soccer players in history, and since her retirement in 2015, she has continued to inspire and educate as the goalkeeper mentor for Portland Thorns FC.

Birgit Prinz(Germany)214 caps, 128 goals

Prinz had a remarkable career full of individual and team success that cemented her place in soccer history.

Prinz showcased her goal-scoring prowess and undeniable talent in five FIFA Women’s World Cups and four Olympics, scoring a total of 24 goals in 43 matches.

She holds the record for being the second-highest scorer in the FIFA Women’s World Cup with 14 goals, only behind Brazilian legend Marta.

Talking about her impressive World Cup performances, she won three FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year awards (2003, 2004, and 2005) and was a runner-up five times (2002, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010). I mean she’s in a league of her own.

Prinz’s exceptional striking abilities helped her secure 19 domestic trophies, including nine German league titles and ten German Cups. And she also won five consecutive UEFA European Championships between 1995 and 2009.

Following her retirement, Prinz continued to contribute to the game by taking up the role of a sports psychologist for Hoffenheim’s men’s and women’s teams.

Although she has retired from soccer, Prinz’s incredible goal-scoring abilities and impressive achievements remain an indelible mark in soccer history.

Michelle Akers (USA)153 caps, 105 goals

The 57-year-old was an exceptional player and an integral cog of the U.S.A. female soccer team that dominated the 90s.

Her midfield and striking prowess played a positive role in her team’s success during this period.

Akers had a stunning performance at the 1991 FIFA Women’s World Cup, scoring an impressive 10 goals, including two in the final against Norway.

Her goals in the final helped the U.S.A to become the first-ever recipient of the FIFA Women’s World Cup trophy. Akers’s impressive tally of goals also earned her the top scorer award.

In the years that followed, Akers took up a new role in the team as a midfielder, where she continued to make a real impact.

She played a crucial role in helping the U.S.A win a bronze medal in the 1995 World Cup and the first-ever female Olympic Gold in 1996.

In her last major tournament as a professional player, she was also part of the team that helped the U.S.A. win the 1999 Women’s World Cup.

Akers’s exceptional performances earned her several awards and recognition. She was jointly voted as FIFA Women’s Player of the Century alongside Sun Wen, and FIFA awarded her the Order of Merit, their highest award.

She is one of only two female players who made Pele’s list of the 125 greatest footballers, male or female.

Akers’s midfield and striking prowess set her apart as a true legend of the game, and she will always be remembered as one of the greatest players to ever grace the field.

Sun Wen (China) -163 caps, 106 goals

Sun Wen is an extraordinary soccer player who has made a huge impact in the world of female soccer.

She is not only the greatest female soccer player in China but also one of the greatest female players in the history of the game.

During her illustrious career, She represented her nation in four Women’s World Cups and two Olympic tournaments. She was a vital part of the Chinese female national team that hosted the first official FIFA Women’s World Cup in 1991.

She not only won the Golden Boot (which she shared with Sissi, of Brazil) but also the Golden Ball. She became the first woman to be nominated for the Asian Football Confederation Player of the Year award.

Sun Wen’s striking prowess, combined with her impressive skills and passing abilities, made her a formidable striker.

In 2000, Sun was honored with the prestigious FIFA Female Player of the Century award alongside Michelle Akers. Two years later, she also received the FIFA Internet Award in the FIFA Female Player of the Century voting.

Her remarkable career success culminated in her being crowned the FIFA Women’s Player of the Century in 2002.

Sun Wen will always be remembered as a true legend of women’s soccer, and her striking prowess has set her apart as one of the greatest players to ever grace the game.

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Bonus Addition

Megan Rapinoe (USA)199 caps, 63 goals

Megan Rapinoe is a famous female soccer player who has gained immense popularity since 2004.

She is not only an exceptional player, but also an advocate for equality in the game. Rapinoe has been vocal about the pay disparity between male and female national teams and has taken action against it.

In 2019, Rapinoe was part of a group of 28 women who filed a lawsuit against the U.S.A Soccer Federation for unequal pay and working conditions. Despite her activism, Rapinoe’s dedication to soccer remains unaltered.

During the 2019 Women’s World Cup, Rapinoe played a critical role in leading her team to victory, earning several honors along the way.

She won the Golden Boot for scoring the most goals in the tournament, the Golden Ball for being the best player in the tournament, and the Man of the Match in the final, where she scored the winning goal.

Rapinoe’s exceptional playing prowess earned her the Ballon d’Or Féminin and the title of The Best FIFA Women’s Player in 2019.

Her contributions to soccer, both on and off the field, have made her a role model for young aspiring female players worldwide.

FAQs

Who is the female world’s best player?

Presently, Alexia Putellas can be considered the top female soccer player.

Nonetheless, it could prove challenging for her to surpass Marta’s success.

Who is known as the Queen of soccer?

Marta Vieira Da Silva.

Who is the best female soccer player of all time?

Marta can be confidently regarded as the top female soccer player, judging by the number of trophies she has won and the personal awards she has won

Who is the most decorated female soccer player?

Marta holds the title for the most decorated female soccer player, having secured 6 FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year awards as well as numerous team accolades.

Who is the most famous female soccer player?

Based on Google Trends data since 2004, Megan Rapinoe is the most famous female soccer player.

Who was the first woman to win the Ballon d Or?

Ada Hegerberg

She was the inaugural recipient of the Ballon d’Or Féminin Award.

It is worth noting that this award is different from the FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year award, which has since been renamed The Best FIFA Women’s Player

Who is the highest female Ballon d’Or winner?

Alexia Putellas (2x)

Has a female player ever won the Ballon d Or?

Absolutely! The Ballon d’Or Féminin Award has been won by female soccer players since 2018

Final Thoughts – Greatest Female Soccer Players Of All Time

As we look back on the history of the game, these female players stand out as true legends, paving the way for future generations of soccer players.

Their impact cannot be overstated, and their names will forever be enshrined in the annals of soccer history.