Ranked: The 25 best players in the history of women's football

Since the 1990s, women's football has been growing steadily. With the United States at the forefront, the sport continues to evolve and expand globally. Here are the 25 greatest players in the history of women’s football. All stats sourced from Football Database.

Kelly Smith is included in this ranking not just for her accomplishments, but for her longevity in the game. A true pioneer, she became the first English player to compete in the Women's United Soccer Association professional league in the United States. With 117 caps and 46 goals for England, Smith is undeniably one of the key figures in the national team’s history.

Formiga is a true legend of Brazilian football. The midfielder has played in seven editions of the World Cup and is the only player to have participated in every women's football tournament at the Olympic Games since the first edition in 1996 (excluding Paris 2024). She won the French championship with PSG in the 2020-2021 season and has more than 230 caps for Brazil.

Want to see more like this? Follow us here for daily sports news, profiles and analysis!

World champion in 1995, European champion in 1993 and Olympic gold medallist in 2000 with Norway: Hege Riise has won it all. With 58 goals in 188 caps, she was a particularly effective and technical midfielder.

If you're looking for a top scorer, you've got one in Lotta Schelin. The Swede scored 225 goals in 225 games for Olympique Lyonnais, winning three Champions Leagues and eight French championships. With her national team, she scored 88 goals in 185 games, but failed to win a major title.

Since 2006, Wendie Renard has been a loyal player for Olympique Lyonnais. With the club, the defender has won eight Champions League titles and 17 French championships—remarkable records. Standing at 1.87 meters, Renard is a constant threat on corners, having scored over 180 career goals.

Imagine becoming, at just 22 years old, the all-time top scorer for the Dutch national team – men’s and women’s combined. That’s exactly what Vivianne Miedema achieved. The Dutch striker is a clinical finisher, with over 90 goals for her country. She has also excelled at Bayern and Arsenal, winning numerous championships along the way.

Considered one of the best players on the planet, Sam Kerr is a world-class striker who led Chelsea to five consecutive championships, from 2019 to 2023. Fast, precise and technical, the Australian can do it all.

Megan Rapinoe, the 2019 Women's Ballon d'Or winner, is an exceptional player who led the United States to two World Cup titles, in 2015 and 2019. As co-captain of the USA team, she is also known for her advocacy and her significant role in the popularization of women’s football.

The first winner of the women's Ballon d'Or in 2018, the Norwegian striker is an exceptional goalscorer. In just 210 matches with Lyon, she scored over 230 goals. With six Champions League titles and nine French championships, she has become a true legend of OL.

Although Pia Sundhage is best known for her coaching career (United States, Sweden, Brazil), she was above all an exceptional player, who shone in the 80s with Sweden, with 71 goals and a European champion title.

With seven Champions League titles, 14 French championships, and a US championship with Portland, Amandine Henry’s club career is one of the most impressive in history. Twice named to FIFA's XI of the Year (2015 and 2019) and nominated for The Best award in 2018, Henry is an absolute legend of French women's football.

Want to see more like this? Follow us here for daily sports news, profiles and analysis!

Few goalkeepers can claim to have won the FIFA Women's Player of the Year award, but Nadine Angerer is one of them. In 2014, she became the first female goalkeeper to win the prestigious title. A two-time World Cup champion with Germany in 2003 and 2007, she is regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in history, alongside Hope Solo.

A two-time World Cup champion, Carli Lloyd is also a two-time Olympic champion with the United States. With 316 caps for the American team, she established herself as one of the best players in history, winning the Best FIFA Women's Player award Best FIFA Women's Player award in 2015 and 2016.

Alex Morgan is surely one of the most famous women's football players in history. The American, a two-time world champion and Olympic champion, is a true icon of the sport.

With a remarkable 23-year international career, Kristine Lilly has been a cornerstone of the United States team for three decades. Holding the record for the most caps in history, male or female, with 354 appearances, she is a two-time World Cup champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist. The midfielder has truly won it all.

With 102 clean sheets in her career, in 202 caps, Hope Solo was the last bulwark of the USA team for nearly two decades. A two-time world champion, she is also known for her advocacy and strong personality off the field.

With 184 goals in 256 appearances, Abby Wambach is the second-highest goalscorer in national team history. An Olympic champion (2004 and 2012) and world champion in 2015, she is the best header in women's football history. A passionate leader, Wambach has also been an influential voice for equality in sport, making her a key figure on and off the pitch.

Birgit Prinz is a legend of German football and one of the most prolific strikers in history. With 128 goals in 214 caps, she was at the heart of Germany's success, winning two World Cups (2003 and 2007) and five European Championships. A three-time winner of the FIFA Best Women's Player award (2003, 2004 and 2005), the German stood out for her power, her playing intelligence and her efficiency in front of goal.

Marta, nicknamed "The Queen of Football," holds the record for the most goals in the World Cup, both men’s and women’s, with 17 goals. Known for her exceptional technique and creativity, the Brazilian forward won a record six Best FIFA Women's Player awards between 2006 and 2018. A finalist at the 2007 World Cup and an Olympic silver medallist (2004 and 2008), Marta remains an inspiration for women’s football globally and an iconic figure in Brazil.

With 158 goals in 276 caps, Mia Hamm dominated the sport for two decades, leading the United States to the 1991 and 1999 World Cups and the 1996 and 2004 Olympic Games. A two-time FIFA Women's Player of the Year, Hamm was the face of women's football during its infancy in the 1990s. A key catalyst in the professionalization and recognition of women's football worldwide, she inspired generations of players around the world.

Want to see more like this? Follow us here for daily sports news, profiles and analysis!