Top 50 Best Female Soccer Players of All Time | The Highlights App (2024)

50. Louisa Necib

• Country: France
• Year of Birth: 1987
• Position: Midfielder

Known as the female Zinedine Zidane, Louisa Necib is a legend of the women's game in France. She has spent much of her career with the Olympique de Lyon. With the French national team, she scored 36 goals in 145 games and won two titles. But it was with Lyon where the creative midfielder shone the most, winning twenty championships.

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49. Briana Scurry

• Country: United States
• Year of Birth: 1971
• Position: Goalkeeper

Briana Scurry was from 1994-2008 the United States women’s national team’s last line of defense. The agile goalkeeper made huge saves for the US Women’s National Team (USWNT), none bigger than her penalty kick shootout save at the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup against China, in the final at the Rose Bowl. Scurry won multiple championships and awards with the USWNT.

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48. Julie Foudy

• Country: United States
• Year of Birth: 1971
• Position: Midfielder

Julie Foudy has long been considered a pioneer of the women’s game in the United States. As a player she had an incredible career, scoring 45 goals in 275 appearances for the USWNT, as well as helping to try to kick start the WUSA (Women’s United Soccer Association) with the San Diego Spirit. Today Foudy is a sports broadcaster but still speaks her mind on equality issues for women pro athletes.

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47. Sun Wen

• Country: China
• Year of Birth: 1973
• Position: Forward

One of the greatest women’s soccer goal scorers of all-time, Sun Wen scored an astronomical 106 goals in 163 games for China. Sun played 28 matches and scored 16 goals in four FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments and two Olympics Games. Sun played in the United States and the WUSA with the Atlanta Beat from 2001-2002.

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46. Christie Pearce

• Country: United States
• Year of Birth: 1975
• Position: Defender

Christie Pearce was one of the USWNT best defenders, having played 311 games for the national team and scoring four goals. Pearce played on various teams in various women’s soccer leagues, mostly in the New York area.

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45. Kadeisha Buchanan

• Country: Canada
• Year of Birth: 1995
• Position: Defender

Canada’s Kadeisha Buchanan is a tough defender, playing 116 games and scoring 4 goals for her national team. Buchanan is currently playing for French power Olympique de Lyon, where she recently won the UEFA Women’s Champions League this season.

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44. Bente Nordby

• Country: Norway
• Year of Birth: 1974
• Position: Goalkeeper

Norway’s Bente Nordby was a phenomenal goalkeeper, helping lead the Norway teams of the 90s. Nordby won two Olympic medals with the national team, gold in Sydney 2000 and bronze in Atlanta 1996. Nordby was nominated for the FIFA Women's World Player of the Year Award in 2001, 2004, 2005 and 2007.

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43. Joy Fawcett

• Country: United States
• Year of Birth: 1968
• Position: Defender

One of the landmark players for the American teams of the 1990s, defender Joy Fawcett played every minute of the FIFA Women’s World Cups of 1995, 1999, and 2003. A defender with a knack for goal, Fawcett scored 27 goals in 241 games for the USWNT.

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42. Tiffeny Milbret

• Country: United States
• Year of Birth: 1972
• Position: Forward

Legendary USWNT forward Tiffeny Milbret scored 100 goals in 206 caps for the United States women’s national team. Milbret was a part of the women's side that won a World Cup and Olympic gold. Milbret leads in various offensive categories for the women’s national team.

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41. Julie Fleeting

• Country: Scotland
• Year of Birth: 1980
• Position: Striker

One of the greatest Scottish female football players of all time, Julie Fleeting represented her country from 1996-2015, scoring 116 goals in 121 matches. Julie Fleeting would win 22 titles in her club career, with her best years coming with the Arsenal women’s team. The Scottish striker was known for breaking down defenders by bulldozing right down the middle.

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40. Kristine Lilly

• Country: United States
• Year of Birth: 1971
• Position: Forward/ Midfielder

Another towering presence of the USWNT Golden Generation, Kristine Lilly scored 130 goals in 354 for the Women’s U.S. team. Lilly was a midfielder/forward, and still is the most capped international soccer player among men or women. Lilly was a key player of the USWNT’s 1999 World Cup victory.

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39. Lotta Schelin

• Country: Sweden
• Year of Birth: 1984
• Position: Forward

Sweden’s Lotta Schelin is one of the greatest female soccer players from the UEFA region. Schelin scored over 100 goals playing for Olympique Lyon and 88 goals for the Swedish Women’s national team. Schelin helped the Swedish team make it to the semifinals of the UEFA Women’s Euros on two occasions and was a quarterfinalist in two Olympic games.

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38. Cristiane

• Country: Brazil
• Year of Birth: 1985
• Position: Forward

Brazilian legend Cristiane is still going strong after a career which saw her play for Brazil on 151 occasions and score 96 goals. Cristiane participated in five FIFA Women's World Cups and four Olympics. The cunning forward also played at the club level in Brazil, France, Germany, Sweden, the United States, Russia and South Korea.

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37. Kelly Smith

• Country: England
• Year of Birth: 1978
• Position: Forward

Kelly Smith is one of English women’s soccer’s all-time leading goal scorers with 46 goals in 117 caps. Smith played her club career in England and the United States, most notably with the Arsenal Women’s Football team, winning 14 titles. Smith is one of England’s most decorated female soccer players.

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36. Michelle Akers

• Country: United States
• Year of Birth: 1966
• Position: Midfielder

The leader of the 1999 USWNT, Michelle Akers is considered by many to be one of the greatest female football players of all time. Akers was a part of two World Cup triumphs for the United States women in 1991 and 1999. She also took part in winning the gold medal in the 1996 Atlanta games. Today Akers is an assistant coach in the National Women's Soccer League, with the team Orlando Pride.

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35. Nadine Angerer

• Country: Germany
• Year of Birth: 1978
• Position: Goalkeeper

Former Portland Thorns and Germany goalkeeper Nadine Angerer was a goalkeeping legend, becoming the first netminder (man or woman) to win FIFA World Player of the Year in 2014. Angerer played in every major tournament for the German national team from 1996-2015, winning two FIFA Women’s World Cups and five UEFA European Football Championships.

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34. Hege Riise

• Country: Norway
• Year of Birth: 1969
• Position: Midfielder

Considered one of the best female soccer players of her generation, midfielder Hege Riise helped Norway win the 1995 Women’s World Cup. Riise scored 58 goals in 188 caps for Norway and would continue to inspire as a coach winning seven championships with LSK Kvinner.

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33. Homare Sawa

• Country: Japan
• Year of Birth: 1978
• Position: Midfielder

Homare Sawa to many is the greatest Asian women’s footballer of all time, with 83 goals in 205 games for Japan. The crafty midfielder also scored over 150 club goals winning many championships in her career. Sawa was one of the leaders of the Japanese team to win the 2011 World Cup.

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32. Danielle van de Donk

• Country: Netherlands
• Year of Birth: 1991
• Position: Winger

Danielle van de Donk is yet another talented midfielder/ winger to come out of the Netherlands. Van de Donk continues to play today with Lyon and made huge waves in the seven years she played with Arsenal. Danielle van de Donk was a part of the Dutch side that came in runners-up in the 2019 Women’s World Cup.

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31. Steph Houghton

• Country: England
• Year of Birth: 1988
• Position: Defender

The England center back Steph Houghton has been a mainstay for the English Women’s national team since 2007 with 121 caps and 13 goals. At the club level, Steph Houghton has played for Sunderland, Leeds United, Arsenal, and Manchester City. With the latter three clubs, she has won a total of 15 titles.

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30. Cristiana Girelli

• Country: Italy
• Year of Birth: 1990
• Position: Striker

Italy striker Cristiana Girelli has been an impressive goal scorer throughout her career. At Juventus, her current club, she has 53 goals in 58 games. Girelli has 21 club championships, and with the Italian national team she has 46 goals in 78 caps. Cristiana Girelli is truly one of the best strikers of the modern game.

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29. Lena Goessling

• Country: Germany
• Year of Birth: 1986
• Position: Midfielder

Germany midfielder Lena Goessling was a standout player since her youth career, having played with the German national team since U-17s. Lena Goessling played ten seasons with VFL Wolfsburg and held the German women’s team win gold in the 2016 Olympics.

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28. Kim Little

• Country: Scotland
• Year of Birth: 1990
• Position: Attacking Midfielder

Scottish attacking midfielder Kim Little has dazzled fans in the United Kingdom since turning pro in 2006. The cunning midfielder is one the best players at Arsenal and has 59 goals in 140 caps for Scotland. Little also played two seasons in Seattle with the NWSL, winning the league’s version of the Supporters Shield twice.

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27. Kadidiatou Diani

• Country: France
• Year of Birth: 1995
• Position: Forward

PSG forward Kadidiatou Diani has really made a name for herself playing a vital role for club and for France. Diani has 57 goals in 96 matches for PSG and has been in the French national team set-up since 2010. Kadidiatou Diani is a player to watch in the future in women’s soccer.

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26. Christiane Endler

• Country: Chile
• Year of Birth: 1991
• Position: Goalkeeper

Talented goalkeeper Christiane Endler is a top prospect out of Chile and one of the first South American players not from Brazil on the list. Endler has had an extensive career playing for eight different clubs, and is currently with Lyon. She has won nine championships to date.

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25. Lieke Martens

• Country: Netherlands
• Year of Birth: 1992
• Position: Forward

Another major contributor to the women’s game in the Netherlands is winger Lieke Martens. With over 50 goals for the Netherlands and currently at Barcelona, Martens is one of the top female athletes in the world. Martens has won 18 championships in her career and is a menace down the flanks.

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24. Ji So-Yun

• Country: South Korea
• Year of Birth: 1991
• Position: Midfielder

One of the greatest female soccer players from South Korea, Ji So-yun scored 64 goals in 137 caps for South Korea. Her career is defined by her eight-year stint at Chelsea where So-Yun won 13 championships.

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23. Lindsey Horan

• Country: United States
• Year of Birth: 1994
• Position: Forward

Lindsey Horan is an all around attacking player for the USWNT and the Portland Thorns. Horan can play in various positions and has 25 goals in 109 appearances for the United States. Aside from playing with the Thorns she has played for PSG and Lyon in France. Horan has won seven titles in her career.

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22. Delphine Cascarino

• Country: France
• Year of Birth: 1997
• Position: Forward

Delphine Cascarino is one of France’s best female players, having won various titles at Lyon, the only club she has ever played for. With the French national teamDelphine Cascarino has nine goals in 40 games.

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21. Eugenie Le Sommer

• Country: France
• Year of Birth: 1989
• Position: Forward

French scoring machine Eugenie Le Sommer is one of her country's most decorated soccer players. Le Sommer has scored more goals than any gender for France at 86 goals and has won 30 championships in her illustrious career.

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20. Jennifer Hermoso

• Country: Spain
• Year of Birth: 1990
• Position: Attacking midfielder

Barcelona and Spain false 9 Jennifer Hermoso has made a career of scoring goals and setting them up. Hermoso wears the number 10 jersey at Barcelona and has won 12 championships in two stints with the club. On the Spanish national team Hermoso has 45 goals in 91 games.

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19. Caroline Graham Hansen

• Country: Norway
• Year of Birth: 1995
• Position: Midfielder

Another great talent from Norway, Caroline Graham Hansen plays with Barcelona and has achieved sensational numbers in her national team with 43 goals in 93 games. Graham Hansen is a world class winger and has won championships with three different clubs.

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18. Julie Ertz

• Country: United States
• Year of Birth: 1992
• Position: Defender

Ertz is an impressive defender that can score goals, with 20 in 116 caps for the national team. Her performance at the club level earned her an ESPY for best player in 2021. Ertz is on hiatus at the moment as she is pregnant with her first child.

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17. Dzsenifer Marozsán

• Country: Germany
• Year of Birth: 1992
• Position: Midfielder

Born in Hungary but representing Germany, Dzsenifer Marozsán is another of those Lyon players that continue to win titles at will. Dzsenifer Marozsán is a solid midfielder and won the UEFA Women’s Euro championship in 2013.

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16. Crystal Dunn

• Country: United States
• Year of Birth: 1992
• Position: Winger

Portland Thorns wing-back/winger Crystal Dunn has begun to come into her own with 24 goals in 123 games with the USWNT and winning championships with Portland. Known for her speed, she can play multiple positions and was a mainstay with the USWNT.

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15. Lucy Bronze

• Country: England
• Year of Birth: 1991
• Position: Defender

England full-back Lucy Bronze was the first English player to win UEFA Women's Player of the Year Award after rising through the ranks of the English youth system. Today Bronze is a key contributor to Manchester City, after spending three seasons in Lyon and Liverpool.

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14. Pernille Harder

• Country: Denmark
• Year of Birth: 1992
• Position: Midfielder

Denmark and Chelsea attacker Pernille Harder earned the credentials of being the world’s most expensive female soccer player when she transferred from Wolfsburg to Chelsea in 2020. Harder has 67 goals in 131 appearances for Denmark, and she won the UEFA Women's Player of the Year Award in 2018 and 2020. Harder is also known for her LGBTQ+ advocacy.

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13. Vivianne Miedema

• Country: Netherlands
• Year of Birth: 1996
• Position: Forward

Arsenal and Netherlands goal machine Vivianne Miedema is just a powerful finisher. Vivianne Miedema has 74 goals in 89 games for the Lady Gunners, and 92 goals in 108 games for the Clockwork Orange.

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12. Sam Mewis

• Country: United States
• Year of Birth: 1992
• Position: Midfielder

Sam Mewis is now with the Kansas City Current after a not so good spell in North Carolina. The talented midfielder has saved her best stuff for when she wears the red, white and blue, with 24 goals in 83 games.

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11. Birgit Prinz

• Country: Germany
• Year of Birth: 1977
• Position: Striker

One of the greatest female German soccer players of all time, Birgit Prinz won two World Cups with Germany and scored 128 goals in 214 games. Prinz competed in five World Cups, four Olympic games, and is second to Marta as the all-time Women’s World Cup leading scorers.