With its combination of skill, passion, and intensity, women’s football has soared exciting new heights and enthralls fans all around. The Top Ten Best Female Footballers is entirely focused on the top players influencing the game in 2025. These players rule the UEFA Women’s Champions League, the NWSL, top domestic competitions all throughout Europe and beyond. They constitute the game’s pulse. Their performance in significant international events adds to their worldwide renown. Whether they are threading exact passes, delivering relentless strikes, or guiding play with unparalleled vision, these stars always produce beautiful events because they are so excellent at their trade.
They stand out because of their brilliant intelligence and under pressure performance; every game is an opportunity to highlight their extraordinary abilities. Emphasizing what they have done for their clubs and nations, this article honors the players that epitomize women’s soccer. Anyone who wants to keep current on the pioneers enabling the explosive growth of a sport must read this. Their leadership off the field and their brilliance on the ball are altering what is feasible in football. Discover what led to the golden age of women’s football in 2025 and learn how their influence transcends the field of play.
The Top Ten Best Female Footballers Right Now
10. Clàudia Pina (Barcelona)
Clàudia Pina has emerged as a dynamic force for Barcelona, earning a spot in the UEFA Women’s Champions League Team of the Season for 2024-25. Her versatility in midfield allows her to dictate play, create chances, and contribute defensively. Pina’s ability to read the game and deliver precise passes makes her a vital cog in Barcelona’s possession-based style. She thrives in high-pressure matches, showcasing composure and creativity that elevate her team’s performance.
Her impact extends beyond club football, as she’s a rising star for Spain’s national team, adding flair to their midfield. Pina’s technical excellence and knack for unlocking defenses have solidified her as one of the top women’s soccer players in 2025. Her role in Barcelona’s domestic and European campaigns highlights her growing influence, making her a player to watch for fans seeking the best female footballers right now.
9. Patri Guijarro (Barcelona)
Patri Guijarro’s relentless energy and tactical nous make her a standout midfielder for Barcelona. Named in the UEFA Women’s Champions League Team of the Season for 2024-25, she anchors the midfield with her ability to break up play and transition quickly to attack. Guijarro’s work rate and precise distribution allow Barcelona to control games, while her knack for arriving in the box adds an attacking edge. Her performances in Liga F and European competitions showcase her consistency, helping Barcelona maintain their dominance.
For Spain, Guijarro’s versatility and leadership shine, making her a key figure in their international setup. Her ability to perform under pressure and influence both ends of the pitch cements her status among the elite women’s football players. Fans searching for leading female football stars 2025 will find Guijarro’s contributions impossible to ignore, as she continues to shape the sport’s future.
8. María León (Barcelona)
María León, a defensive rock for Barcelona, earned her place in the UEFA Women’s Champions League Team of the Season for 2024-25. Her composure, aerial prowess, and ability to initiate attacks from the back make her one of the best defenders in women’s soccer. León’s tactical intelligence allows her to neutralize top forwards, while her precise passing fuels Barcelona’s build-up play. In crucial matches, her leadership and ability to read the game have been instrumental in maintaining clean sheets.
For Spain, León’s defensive stability is a cornerstone, contributing to their international success. Her performances in high-stakes games, including Barcelona’s run to the 2025 Champions League final, highlight her importance. As one of the top female athletes in 2025, León’s blend of strength, skill, and game intelligence makes her a standout for fans exploring the best women’s soccer players.
7. Daphne van Domselaar (Arsenal)
Daphne van Domselaar’s heroics in goal have made her a pivotal figure for Arsenal, earning her a spot in the UEFA Women’s Champions League Team of the Season for 2024-25. Her shot-stopping ability, command of the box, and sharp distribution have been crucial in Arsenal’s European and WSL campaigns. Van Domselaar’s reflexes and composure under pressure thwarted top attacks, helping Arsenal secure the 2025 Champions League title.
For the Netherlands, her performances in international tournaments showcase her as one of the world’s best goalkeepers. Her ability to make game-changing saves and contribute to build-up play sets her apart. Fans seeking the best female footballers 2025 will recognize van Domselaar’s impact, as her performances continue to elevate Arsenal’s ambitions and inspire the next generation of goalkeepers in women’s football.
6. Emily Fox (Arsenal)
Emily Fox’s versatility and dynamism as a full-back have solidified her as a key player for Arsenal, earning her a place in the UEFA Women’s Champions League Team of the Season for 2024-25. Her speed, defensive tenacity, and overlapping runs make her a dual threat, contributing to both Arsenal’s solidity and attacking flair. Fox’s ability to shut down wingers while supporting the attack was vital in Arsenal’s 2025 Champions League triumph.
For the USWNT, her consistency and athleticism shine, making her a reliable presence in international competitions. Her tactical awareness and ability to perform in big moments have elevated her status among the top women’s soccer players. Fox’s contributions in the WSL and Europe make her a must-watch for fans searching for leading female football stars 2025, as she continues to redefine the full-back role.
5. Leah Williamson (Arsenal)
Leah Williamson, Arsenal’s captain, is a defensive leader whose performances earned her a spot in the UEFA Women’s Champions League Team of the Season for 2024-25. Her composure, vision, and precise distribution from the back make her one of the best defenders in women’s football. Williamson’s ability to read the game and organize the backline was crucial in Arsenal’s 2025 Champions League victory.
For England, her leadership and technical ability shine, anchoring the Lionesses in major tournaments. Her return from injury in 2024 showcased her resilience, as she consistently delivered in high-stakes matches. Williamson’s blend of defensive solidity and playmaking ability makes her a standout among elite women’s football players. Fans exploring the best female footballers 2025 will find her influence undeniable, as she continues to inspire with her performances on and off the pitch.
4. Mariona Caldentey (Arsenal)
Mariona Caldentey’s creativity and flair have made her a midfield maestro for Arsenal, earning her a place in the UEFA Women’s Champions League Team of the Season for 2024-25. Her move to Arsenal from Barcelona in 2024 brought her vision and goal-scoring ability to the WSL, where she’s been a game-changer. Caldentey’s knack for creating chances and scoring in clutch moments was pivotal in Arsenal’s 2025 Champions League success.
For Spain, her technical brilliance and ability to elevate teammates make her a key figure. Her 89 chances created in the Champions League since 2016-17 highlight her consistency. As one of the top female athletes in 2025, Caldentey’s performances captivate fans searching for the best women’s soccer players, driving Arsenal’s ambitions and shaping the sport’s future.
3. Khadija Shaw (Manchester City)
Khadija Shaw, Manchester City’s prolific striker, tied for the WSL top scorer in 2024-25 with 12 goals, cementing her status as one of the best forwards in women’s football. Her physicality, clinical finishing, and aerial dominance make her a nightmare for defenders. Shaw’s 53 WSL goals in 62 games since joining City in 2021 highlight her lethal scoring ability. For Jamaica, her leadership and goal-scoring prowess have elevated the Reggae Girlz on the international stage.
Her performances in the WSL and European competitions showcase her consistency and impact. As one of the leading female football stars 2025, Shaw’s ability to deliver in crucial moments makes her a fan favorite for those seeking the top women’s soccer players. Her rise continues to inspire, pushing Manchester City toward silverware.
2. Alessia Russo (Arsenal)
Alessia Russo’s sensational 2024-25 season saw her named WSL Player of the Season and tied for the top scorer with 12 goals, earning her a spot in the UEFA Women’s Champions League Team of the Season. Her movement, finishing, and link-up play make her a complete forward, pivotal in Arsenal’s 2025 Champions League triumph. For England, Russo’s clutch performances in major tournaments, including the 2023 World Cup, highlight her importance.
Her ability to score crucial goals and create opportunities has elevated Arsenal’s attack, making her one of the elite women’s football players. Fans searching for the best female footballers 2025 will find Russo’s dynamic playstyle captivating, as she continues to shine in the WSL and beyond, driving Arsenal’s success.
1. Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona)
Aitana Bonmatí reigns as the best female footballer in 2025, named European Women’s Player of the Season for 2024-25 and back-to-back Ballon d’Or winner (2023, 2024). Her technical brilliance, vision, and leadership anchor Barcelona’s midfield, driving their Liga F and Champions League campaigns. Bonmatí’s role in Spain’s 2023 World Cup triumph, where she won the Golden Ball, showcases her ability to control games.
Her 22 trophies with Barcelona, including three Champions League titles, highlight her dominance. As one of the top women’s soccer players, Bonmatí’s agility and match-controlling ability make her a once-in-a-generation talent. Fans seeking the best female footballers 2025 will find her performances mesmerizing, as she continues to redefine excellence in women’s football.
