25. Marta
It is easy to think that Marta’s time is over – but it is not. Her Brazil won the Copa America and then the star scored two goals. Besides that, she continues to be a stable player in an Orlando Pride that placed at the top of the NWSL.
24. Kadiatou Diani
You are struck by the skill of the Lyon star both in the club team and in the national team. She is often one step ahead, which became particularly clear when she conceded a penalty against Sweden in the bronze medal match in the Nations League, then she made a quick player like Anna Sandberg look light years behind.
23. Melchie Dumornay
Just 22 years old, Dumornay impressed with his 16 goals and 7 assists in 19 games in the French league last season. The goal yield was no worse in the Champions League. This is a name of the future, which makes a big impression even now.
22. Johanna Rytting Kaneryd
Rytting Kaneryd’s 2024 was impressive but 2025 has not been worse. She has really found her role both at Chelsea and in the national team. One-on-one, not many can beat her. The 28-year-old was also the only Swede nominated for the Ballon d’Or this year.
21. Nathalie Björn
Now one of Sweden’s more experienced players in the team and the center back has grown with the responsibility. She hasn’t done much in the defensive game and this year her passing foot has been particularly good. With good timing and precision, Björn’s cutting through passes have been able to be absolutely decisive. She was named the players’ player in a Chelsea that won the most.
20. Klara Bühl
What a season the German has had and it is the assist harvest that stands out the most, as in previous years. The Bayern Munich midfielder has found a fine balance between being selfless, without being stupid. She finishes when the situation is right, otherwise she hands over the task.
19. Pernille Harder
The Danish striker is doing little of her own in the German league which resulted in 14 goals for Bayern Munich last season. This year, there have been five goals in ten games so far, and one should not forget her five goals and four assists in the Nations League this year.
18. Barbra Banda
She showed that she has something good going on already last year and it was very true. But then the season came to an abrupt end when a hip injury kept her out of action from late August onwards. She managed eight goals in 16 games with the Orlando Pride in the NWSL.
17. Sandy Baltimore
The French has settled into it properly at Chelsea and gained almost full confidence in the EC where she also scored against England. She was also one of the nominated players for this year’s Ballon d’Or,
16. Esther Gonzalez
She poured in goals in Gotham in NWSL 2025 and was the tournament’s top scorer in the EC this summer. Then it goes without saying that you should have a place on this list. She is not very young at 32 years old but still has one of the best players in the world in 2025.
15. Temwa Chawinga
The Kansas City star has had a flying season in the NWSL, yet again. The goals were fewer this year compared to the debut season, but she is still at a high level in one of the world’s best leagues. Some may remember her from Kvarnsveden, where she was a goal machine in the elite team in 2018 and 2019.
14. Patri Guijarro
It is not simply to excel in the shadow of Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas both in Barcelona and in the national team. But Guijarro is a midfielder of the very highest quality and she has particularly shown that this year. The fact that she has had her best season in terms of goals in a very long time clearly helps to get out of the shadow of Bonmati and Putellas.
13. Khadija Shaw
Shaw often goes by the nickname “Bunny”. She finished high on last year’s list but was a bit injured this spring and thus missed some matches, but despite that she is in. The striker was in goal form before and found the net quite immediately when she was back again. She landed twelve goals in 14 games last season and so far this season has six goals and two assists in nine games.
12. Keira Walsh
The England midfielder rarely disappoints with her performances and she is calm herself both in the national team and in Chelsea. She had a strong championship and has found her place at Chelsea under Sonia Bompastor.
11. Caroline Graham Hansen
She may not have had as brilliant a season as last year, it also costs her some spots on the list. Having said that, 2025 was far from weak on the part of the Norwegian. After all, there was one goal and two assists in three games in the EC this summer. The league offered eleven goals and ten assists and she has started strongly this season as well.
10. Leah Williamson
One of England’s players who really needs no introduction. She is part of the captain’s group at Arsenal and is captain of England’s national team. She seems to spread calm and safety to the teams she plays in just by her mere presence. A rank leader who has a very high minimum level. Like several others on this list, she has both a European Championship gold and a Champions League title on her merit list from this year.
9. Claudia Pina
The 24-year-old Spanish striker continues to command great confidence in Barcelona and the Spanish national team, and it’s understandable why. Goal – absolutely. But she is almost as good at putting her teammates in good positions, which has led to several important assists. In the Champions League, she is unstoppable.
8. Chloe Kelly
“Super-sub” Chloe Kelly made a success of her forays into the European Championship this summer and was also part of winning the Champions League title with Arsenal. At the beginning of the year she was in the freezer at Arsenal and you can guess that she does not regret her last minute move back to Arsenal. The 27-year-old has really made it back onto the world stage.
7. Hannah Hampton
What a successful season for the goalkeeper. She won the treble with Chelsea and European Championship gold with England, it can hardly get any better than that. Last year she wasn’t even on this list, it might reveal what steps she’s taken in 2025.
6. Ewa Pajor
Poland’s big star had a brilliant season in Barcelona last year. As the team’s top scorer, it was 25 goals and 9 assists in 28 games. This year, she hasn’t exactly started worse, nine goals and three assists in ten league matches. The goal spurt has made it in the Champions League as well. This striker scores at everything, but in the EC it was tougher.
5. Alessia Russo
The England striker is a real goal stealer. Maybe it wasn’t as many goals as she had hoped for in the EC, but an oh so important goal in the final against Spain. Three assists against the Netherlands in the group stage is no shame either.
4. Lucy Bronze
The fullback is getting older but hasn’t slowed down. On the contrary, she was a contributing factor in the EC where she played almost all the minutes for an England that won gold. Everyday at Chelsea where she was part of the success last season. An injury sets that up for her on and off.
3. Mariona Caldentey
There will be a lot of Spanish at the top of the list. But unlike other Spanish stars, Caldentey does not play in Barcelona. She plays in Arsenal, who won the Champions League title ahead of Barça.
2. Alexia Putellas
This year was the year that Alexia Putellas bounced back properly from injury concerns. One of Spain’s best players in the EC and a key player in a star-studded Barcelona. Many may remember when she scored a total of three goals in the doubleheader against Sweden in the semifinals of the Nations League.
1. Aitana Bonmati
It has been brilliant from the world’s best players again this year. She seems to be tireless and has a tendency to constantly reach new heights. She defended the Ballon d’Or, but next year the Spanish star may find it difficult to top the charts and rack up the awards. She recently broke her leg and is expected to be out for five months.
