Women’s football has witnessed an enormous rise over the decades, driven by exceptional athletes who have left their mark. With this in mind, we’ve put together a list of the 20 greatest female soccer players of all time for you to get to know!
Here, you’ll discover who these 20 greatest female footballers of all time are and a little more about them. We’ll highlight their careers, achievements and curiosities that have shaped their trajectories as undisputed icons of world soccer;
These players have not only reached the top of their game, but have also inspired generations, redefining what it means to be a high-performance athlete on the global stage.
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The 20 greatest female footballers of all time: see the list
- Marta Vieira da Silva
- Birgit Prinz
- Abby Wambach
- Michelle Akers
- Homare Sawa
- Sun Wen
- Abby Erceg
- Carli Lloyd
- Abby Dahlkemper
- Megan Rapinoe
- Formiga
- Christine Sinclair
- Hope Solo
- Megan Klingenberg
- Alex Morgan
- Sissi
- Formiga
- Sam Kerr
- Dzsenifer Marozsán
- Homare Sawa
The 20 greatest female soccer players of all time: find out more about them
1. Marta Vieira da Silva
- Titles: World Cup Champion (2007, 2019), 2x Olympic Gold (2004, 2008), among others.
- Teams: Santos, FC Rosengård, Orlando Pride.
- Curiosities: Known as the “Queen of Football”, Marta is the top scorer in the history of World Cups, both male and female.
2. Birgit Prinz
- Titles: World Cup Champion (2003, 2007), Olympic Gold (2004), among others.
- Equipes: FFC Frankfurt, Carolina Courage.
- Curiosities: Prinz was voted FIFA World Player of the Year three times in a row (2003, 2004, 2005).
3. Abby Wambach
- Titles: Olympic Gold (2004, 2012), World Cup Champion (2015), among others.
- Equipes: Washington Freedom, Western New York Flash.
- Curiosities: Wambach holds the record for the most goals scored by any player, male or female, in international matches.
4. Michelle Akers
- Titles: World Cup Champion (1991), Olympic Gold (1996), among others.
- Teams: Orlando Pride, Tyresö FF.
- Curiosities: Akers was one of the pioneers of women’s soccer and one of the first stars recognized worldwide in the sport.
5. Homare Sawa
- Titles: World Cup Champion (2011), Olympic Gold (2011), among others.
- Equipes: INAC Kobe Leonessa, Nippon TV Beleza.
- Curiosities: Sawa is one of Japan’s most respected players and was awarded FIFA World Player of the Year in 2011.
6. Sun Wen
- Titles: World Cup champion (1999), Olympic silver medalist (1996), among others.
- Equipes: Atlanta Beat, Shanghai SVA.
- Curiosities: Sun Wen was one of the first female soccer stars in China and is considered a legend of the sport in her country.
7. Abby Erceg
- Titles: UEFA Champions League winner (2015), Cup of Nations winner (2018), among others.
- Equipes: North Carolina Courage, New Zealand Football Ferns.
- Curiosities: Erceg is one of the main defenders in women’s soccer and captain of the New Zealand national team.
8. Carli Lloyd
- Titles: World Cup Champion (2015, 2019), Olympic Gold (2008, 2012), among others.
- Equipes: Houston Dash, Sky Blue FC.
- Curiosities: Lloyd is known for his ability to score decisive goals in major finals, including a hat-trick in the 2015 World Cup final.
9. Abby Dahlkemper
- Titles: World Cup Champion (2019), NWSL Shield (2018), among others.
- Equipes: North Carolina Courage, Manchester City.
- Curiosities: Dahlkemper is one of the most consistent and talented defenders in women’s soccer in the United States.
10. Megan Rapinoe
- Titles: World Cup Champion (2019), Olympic Gold (2012), among others.
- Teams: OL Reign, Lyon.
- Curiosities: Rapinoe is known for her activism and for being one of the most influential voices in women’s soccer today.
11. Formiga
- Titles: Olympic Silver Medal (2004, 2008), Women’s Copa Libertadores (2011), among others.
- Teams: São Paulo, Paris Saint-Germain, Brazil national team.
- Curiosities: Formiga is one of the most experienced players in history, having taken part in seven World Cups.
12. Christine Sinclair
- Titles: Olympic Gold (2020), Nations Cup (2020), among others.
- Equipes: Portland Thorns, Canada WNT.
- Curiosities: Sinclair holds the record for the most international goals scored by any player, male or female.
13. Hope Solo
- Titles: World Cup Champion (2015), Olympic Gold (2008, 2012), among others.
- Equipes: Seattle Reign, USWNT.
- Curiosities: Solo is one of the best goalkeepers in the history of women’s soccer and a controversial personality off the pitch.
14. Megan Klingenberg
- Titles: World Cup champion (2015), NWSL Shield (2015), among others.
- Equipes: Portland Thorns, NC Courage.
- Curiosities: Klingenberg is known for her skillful defensive style of play and her striking presence on the pitch.
15. Alex Morgan
- Titles: World Cup Champion (2019), Olympic Gold (2012), among others.
- Equipes: Orlando Pride, Tottenham Hotspur.
- Curiosities: Morgan is one of the most recognizable players in women’s soccer, known for her speed and finishing skills.
16. Sissi
- Titles: World Cup winner (1999), Copa América winner (1991, 1995), among others.
- Teams: São Paulo, SV Neulengbach.
- Curiosities: Sissi is one of the greatest players in the history of Brazilian soccer and a pioneer in the sport.
17. Formiga
- Titles: Olympic Silver Medal (2004, 2008), Women’s Copa Libertadores (2011), among others.
- Teams: São Paulo, Paris Saint-Germain, Brazil national team.
- Curiosities: Formiga is one of the most experienced players in history, having taken part in seven World Cups.
18. Sam Kerr
- Titles: NWSL Championship (2019), Nations Cup (2020), among others.
- Teams: Chicago Red Stars, Chelsea FC.
- Curiosities: Kerr is known for her incredible ability to score goals and is one of the leading scorers in women’s soccer today.
19. Dzsenifer Marozsán
- Titles: UEFA Champions League (2016, 2018), World Cup (2014), among others.
- Teams: Olympique Lyonnais, Alemanha WNT.
- Curiosities: Marozsán is a talented midfielder, known for her refined technique and vision.
20. Homare Sawa
- Titles: World Cup Champion (2011), Olympic Gold (2011), among others.
- Equipes: INAC Kobe Leonessa, Nippon TV Beleza.
- Curiosities: Sawa is one of Japan’s most respected players and was awarded FIFA World Player of the Year in 2011.
The 20 greatest female soccer players of all time: a growing sport
The growing recognition and valorization of women’s football represents a significant milestone in the history of the sport, reflecting an ongoing struggle for equality and opportunities for women in the world of football.
The achievements and skills of the players we’ve mentioned here not only demonstrate athletic excellence, but also challenge stereotypes and inspire millions of young people around the globe.
By celebrating and promoting women’s football, then, we are encouraging not only diversity and inclusion in sport, but also the development of future generations of athletes.
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