Top 10 Women Football Player in 2023

In a year when women’s football took center stage, the age-old question of “who is the best footballer in the world?” is once again top of mind.

We compiled a list of the top 10 footballers as of 2023, considering individual accolades, performances, team contributions, and efforts across both domestic clubs and national teams. We considered the last half of the 2021-2022 season, the 2022 international summer tournaments, and the 2022-2023 season.

10> Carline Graham Hansen

Country: Norway
Age: 28
Club: Barcelona
Position: Striker/Right wing

Caroline Graham Hansen is a star player for Barcelona and Norway, but she is often overlooked for individual awards. Five Barcelona players were included in the Ballon d’Or top 20 this year, but Hansen was not one of them. However, her teammates and coaches know that she is one of the best players in the world.

In the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Hansen had her best performance against Nigeria in the opening match.

9> Alexandra Popp

Country: Germany
Age: 32
Club: VfL
Position: Striker

Alexandra Popp is a force in attack and a key player for both club and country. She is the captain of both VfL Wolfsburg and the Germany national team.

Popp is a versatile player who can play as a striker or as a midfielder. She is known for her powerful headers and her ability to win aerial duels. Popp has already scored two goals in Germany’s opening match of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup against Morocco.

8> Wendie Renard

Country: France
Age: 32
Club: Olympique
Position: Center back

Wendie Renard is a towering figure in women’s football. She has won a record 14 French league titles and eight European Cups with Lyon, and is considered to be one of the best defenders in the world.

At the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Renard scored three goals in the group stage, including a brace against South Korea. She also scored an own goal against Norway, but finished as the top scorer for France in the group stage. Renard scored a consolation goal in France’s 2-1 quarter-final defeat to the United States.

7> Keira Walsh

Country: England
Age: 26
Club: Barcelona
Position: Defensive midfielder

Keira Walsh is a defensive midfielder who plays for Barcelona and the England national team. She is known for her ability to break up opposition attacks and distribute the ball to her teammates. She is also capable of moments of creativity, as evidenced by the pass that led to Ella Toone’s winning goal in the 2022 UEFA Women’s Euro final against Germany.

Walsh is at the peak of her career and is considered to be one of the best defensive midfielders in the world. Her form and fitness will be crucial for England’s chances of success at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

6> Lena Oberdorf

Country: Germany
Age: 21
Club: VfL
Position: Defensive midfielder

Lena Oberdorf, a 21-year-old German midfielder, is known for her combative and intelligent play. She has been a mainstay of the German national team since 2019, and she is considered to be one of the best young midfielders in the world. She is strong both on the ground and in the air, and she has a keen eye for reading the game.She is able to anticipate attacks and make timely interventions to break them up.

5> Aitana Bonmati

Country: Spain
Age: 25
Club: Barcelona
Position: Central midfield

Aitana Bonmati is a versatile midfielder who has been a key player for both FC Barcelona and the Spanish national team. At the age of 25, Bonmati has already won 18 trophies with Barcelona, including four consecutive Liga F titles and two UEFA Women’s Champions League titles. She was also named the Most Valuable Player of the 2021 UEFA Women’s Champions League final.

For Spain, Bonmati has scored 16 goals in 47 appearances. She was part of the Spanish team that reached the semi-finals of the 2022 UEFA Women’s Euro.

Barcelona and Spain expect Bonmati to play a key role in the years to come, as she is a rising star in women’s football and is considered to be one of the best midfielders in the world.

4> Lauren Jame

Country: England
Age: 21
Club: Chelsea
Position: Right wing

Lauren James, who was born in Lambeth, was first called up to the England senior team in November 2020. She had already caught the eye of the coaching staff with her performances for Manchester United in the FA WSL. She had previously represented England at youth level, earning caps at Under-17 and Under-19 level.

In the summer of 2018, James moved north to sign with Manchester United. She helped the team win promotion from the FA Women’s Championship to the WSL, where she finished her first season as top scorer

3> Megan Rapinoe

Country: United states
Age: 38
Club: OL Regin (NWSL)
Position: Winger

Megan Rapinoe won two FIFA Women’s World Cups, two Olympic gold medals, and the 2019 Ballon d’Or Féminin and The Best FIFA Women’s Player awards. Rapinoe has been a member of the United States national team since 2010. She has appeared in over 180 matches for the team and scored 62 goals. Megan Rapinoe won two FIFA Women’s World Cups, two Olympic gold medals, and the 2019 Ballon d’Or Féminin and The Best FIFA Women’s Player awards. She has been a member of the United States national team since 2010, appearing in over 180 matches and scoring 62 goals. She helped the USWNT win the 2015 World Cup, was named the tournament’s MVP, and also helped them win the gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics and the bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

2> Sam Kerr

Country: Australia
Age: 29
Club: Chelsea
Position: Striker

Sam Kerr is a leading contender for the title of best female football player in 2023. She is one of the sport’s greats, as evidenced by her appearance alongside Kylian Mbappé on the global cover of FIFA 23.

The Australian is also the only female football player to win the Golden Boot in three different leagues across three different continents: the W-League (2017-18 and 2018-19), the NWSL (2017, 2018, and 2019), and the FA WSL (2020-21 and 2021-22).

While the Australian side did not win a medal at the Olympics, all eyes will be on Kerr and her teammates as they take on the world in their own backyard at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.

1> Alexia Putellas

Country: Spain
Age: 29
Club: Barcelona
Position: Central playmaking midfielder

Fans of women’s football widely regard Alexia Putellas as the world’s best female footballer. She captains FC Barcelona and has won seven Liga F titles, seven Copa de la Reina trophies, and two UEFA Women’s Champions League titles. In 2021, Putellas became the only player, male or female, to win the UEFA Women’s Player of the Year, Ballon d’Or Féminin, and Best FIFA Women’s Player awards in the same year. She repeated this achievement in 2022, cementing her status as the greatest female footballer of all time.