{"sheets":{"players":[{"Rank":"1","Last year":"1","change on last year":"-","Name":"Aitana Bonmatí","Position":"Midfielder","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Barcelona","League":"Liga F","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"27","Nationality":"Spain","Filters":"Spain,Liga F,Midfielders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/4ac580c8bb3e1589a89cc53095ce491d52b7f53b/2610_150_2489_2490/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/67837a3058ac680d0664ef7dcedcabe8172ac770/407_0_3549_2840/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"The brilliant Barcelona superstar comes in at No 1 for a third consecutive year. After beating compatriot Mariona Caldentey to a third straight Ballon d’Or, the sublime Spaniard takes the honours in the top 100 as well. Bonmatí remains at the pinnacle of the sport: she was named Uefa’s Champions League Player of the Season in 2024-25 and picked up the Player of the Tournament award at Euro 2025. Continuing to play an important role in Barcelona’s dominance at domestic level, she also popped up at the biggest moments, such as when Spain needed a moment of inspiration in their Euro semi-final against Germany. Bonmatí’s margin of victory was not as wide as in recent years as the competition closes in, but she still pipped Caldentey to the top spot by almost 500 points, with all 127 judges placing Bonmatí in their personal top 40s and 54 picking her as their winner.","Subbed":"YE-S","Revised":"JA√"},{"Rank":"2","Last year":"11","change on last year":"9","Name":"Mariona Caldentey","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"LEFT","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Arsenal","League":"WSL","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"29","Nationality":"Spain","Filters":"Spain,WSL,Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/69c9bf09dc1272cf48d260cd0394ebd2c953d3a6/3322_1412_1379_1380/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/e5534aace061d6b2d48b32f5e7fdea81dacbd1fd/807_129_3389_2711/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Caldentey’s best year yet is rewarded with her best finishing position. Just missing out on the top 10 this time last year, but over 200 points clear of now Arsenal teammate Alessia Russo, Caldentey wasted no time over the past 12 months settling into English life. Her club manager, Renée Slegers, called her “total football” before she played an influential role in the Gunners’ Champions League success, while being prominent for Spain on their way to the Euro 2025 final. Mirroring her position in the Ballon d’Or where she also finished second to Aitana Bonmatí, 27 of our judges decided Caldentey was their best player of 2025, but coming second in a crowded chasing pack is no slight whatsoever after a simply superb year for club and country.","Subbed":"YE-S","Revised":"JA√"},{"Rank":"3","Last year":"42","change on last year":"39","Name":"Alessia Russo","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Arsenal","League":"WSL","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"26","Nationality":"England","Filters":"England,WSL,Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/c7cb7f7e99f90e0cb379a4167878e3bf93f7f5bd/1006_0_861_861/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/35ab9768479a26d63155d4b7aa887c26440b9e21/328_220_2568_2055/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Russo is one of the highest movers this year. Not only does she make it into the top 10 for the first time, she beats two-time winner Alexia Putellas to a top three spot by 44 points. Given the hand Russo had in success for Arsenal and England, it is little surprise to see the talismanic forward rank so highly, 39 places up from her spot 12 months ago. She continues to come up big for Arsenal, hitting double figures for goals across 2025 and taking a share of the Women’s Super League Golden Boot, while for England her selfless work up front during a disjointed tournament for the Lionesses helped the team to another final, where her equaliser was crucial on their way to a second successive European title. It is a year Russo has been threatening for some time and she has put herself among the world’s elite.","Subbed":"YE-S","Revised":"JA√"},{"Rank":"4","Last year":"12","change on last year":"8","Name":"Alexia Putellas","Position":"Midfielder","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Barcelona","League":"Liga F","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"31","Nationality":"Spain","Filters":"Spain,Liga F,Midfielders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/911b77b652953d9c78b2b64998a9de2cb04eae43/964_126_1691_1692/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/6f2f360109196cc948fe60dbc4be418b51f72c7d/373_248_3660_2928/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Putellas’s injury issues are firmly behind her as she once again took centre stage for Barcelona and Spain in 2025, her 16 goals and 11 assists in the league last season outshining her teammates on the way to more domestic success. Putellas remained in good form at Euro 2025 but could not quite guide Spain to a first European title. On a personal level there was little for Putellas to look back on negatively given where she was a couple of years ago after an ACL rupture. Up eight spots from last year and back into the top 10 quite comfortably, the 31-year-old has been back to her very best across 2025 and will no doubt go from strength to strength.","Subbed":"YE-S","Revised":"JA√"},{"Rank":"5","Last year":"","change on last year":"New entry","Name":"Hannah Hampton","Position":"Goalkeeper","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Chelsea","League":"WSL","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"25","Nationality":"England","Filters":"England,WSL,Goalkeepers","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/78b59db7ba2cd64c53c0c48206e4ec78651ccfdd/1349_111_1206_1206/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/0c6998828133dd5ca7719b50a0c2a0da8072859e/238_0_1706_1365/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Rarely does someone who has never placed in the top 100 before shoot as high as the top five, but that is what the Chelsea and England No 1 Hampton has done in 2025. The Chelsea head coach, Sonia Bompastor, said she was “the very best in the world in many ways” and her ranking emphasises that. Only in 2024 did the goalkeeper even begin receiving votes – finishing 123rd 12 months ago – but her form this year and role in England’s Euro 2025 success propelled her into the world’s elite and the highest ever finish for a goalkeeper. Hampton established herself as Chelsea’s No 1 during a trophy-laden 2025 and an impressive unbeaten run in the Women’s Super League, but it was the Euros where she took a further step forward. Whether it was her playmaking from the back, important saves in the quarter-final or penalty heroics in the final against Spain, Hampton was one of the very most influential stars of the Lionesses’ success.","Subbed":"YE-S","Revised":"JA√"},{"Rank":"6","Last year":"19","change on last year":"13","Name":"Temwa Chawinga","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Kansas City Current","League":"NWSL","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"27","Nationality":"Malawi","Filters":"Other nationalities,NWSL,Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/7663af7a3b1c758c726f09fe6632c9ef12704570/1497_156_819_819/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/72bb44ab326aa403554a6e297c6ff7fa7b304aab/403_143_2745_2196/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Chawinga will finally get to impress on a continental stage for Malawi at the Africa Cup of Nations next year and it is richly deserved. Backing up an impressive debut season in the NWSL, the Kansas City Current striker scored 15 goals to win her second Golden Boot as her side stormed to the NWSL Shield title, her performances also earning her a place in the league’s team of the year and the coveted MVP award. Her absence in Kansas City’s shock playoff loss was evident, with the head coach at the time Vlatko Andonovski saying she would have played “even just a minute” if she had been fit enough. Eight of our judges voted Chawinga as their best player of the year and it would not be a shock to see her as No 1 in the future. This is her first time in our top 10.","Subbed":"YE-S","Revised":"JA√"},{"Rank":"7","Last year":"13","change on last year":"6","Name":"Patri Guijarro","Position":"Midfielder","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Barcelona","League":"Liga F","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"27","Nationality":"Spain","Filters":"Spain,Liga F,Midfielders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/e930c739f6774e9b251d927729680e6b110cc528/1442_219_837_837/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/4fb34e65e9b78729d54c0cce06bc8bb8487cca6f/51_124_2022_1618/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Patri is finally getting the credit she often has not in the past. Sitting behind Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmatí for club and country, her years of pulling the strings too often went under the radar. But she has started to add goals to her game which makes her an even more terrifying prospect for the opposition. An injury has hindered the back end of her year and her absence is noticeable when she is not in the Barcelona or Spain team. She is in the top 10 for the first time after finishing 13th last year and 11th in 2023, with five of our judges voting the 27-year-old their No 1 player of 2025, showing how highly thought of she is around the world.","Subbed":"YE-S","Revised":"JA√"},{"Rank":"8","Last year":"22","change on last year":"14","Name":"Ewa Pajor","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Barcelona","League":"Liga F","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"28","Nationality":"Poland","Filters":"Other nationalities,Liga F,Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/b99c09a6af5ac1aeed584f757721e9287d10edcb/2304_746_1417_1417/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/0a3cada99da59fa2927b04aeb3d56debfb9126ed/0_78_2690_2152/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Pajor has scored over 50 goals this year for club and country and was finally allowed to show her talent on the big stage for Poland at Euro 2025. Her performances have not just put her in the top 10 for the first time but also in the top 10 of the Ballon d’Or rankings, emphasising the recognition the striker is now getting all around the world. Her 25 goals in Liga F in 2024-25 put her nine goals ahead of the next best goalscorer, while she netted another nine on the way to domestic cup glory. “Her signing changed Barça’s way of playing,” said the former Espanyol assistant coach Juan Ignacio Ibarra. “It’s been a successful signing. The data is there. She’s scored a mountain of goals and has been decisive.” Pajor is without doubt the best goalscorer in the world as it stands and is showing no signs of giving up that title anytime soon.","Subbed":"YE-S","Revised":"JA√"},{"Rank":"9","Last year":"74","change on last year":"65","Name":"Clàudia Pina","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"LEFT","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Barcelona","League":"Liga F","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"24","Nationality":"Spain","Filters":"Spain,Liga F,Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/1870579afe21e80d83bf45a7f9a7fdff804392f5/2550_217_1179_1179/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/532e17800e68548a8491d7935a4cc45772cf5f81/870_518_1631_1304/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Pina is the highest mover up the list this year and it is not a surprise given how her 2025 panned out. Up 65 places straight into the top 10, one judge even deemed Pina their very best of 2025, and it is not an absurd argument when you look not just at her goal tally, but the spectacular nature of many of them. The second top scorer anywhere in the world across 2025, Pina scored more goals than she played games in the Champions League last season, while a couple of stunning strikes for Spain on the way to the Euro 2025 final were two of the best of the year. At just 24, there is plenty more to come and it would be no surprise to see the brilliant forward rise even higher in the top 100 now that she has firmly established herself for Barcelona and Spain.","Subbed":"YE-S","Revised":"JA√"},{"Rank":"10","Last year":"","change on last year":"Re-entry","Name":"Leah Williamson","Position":"Defender","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Arsenal","League":"WSL","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"28","Nationality":"England","Filters":"England,WSL,Defenders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/38165e83a350bad13666c77eeaf7f25157f81178/1675_0_1211_1211/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/b385efaf3f9df525642e59c0bbf19f9a4742422a/254_167_2246_1798/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"An injury picked up in the line of duty as she captained England to another European title has curtailed Williamson’s year, but before that she had helped Arsenal and England to immense success. She beats teammate Chloe Kelly to a top 10 spot by just 40 points and shoots straight back into the rankings after two years away from the list. Leading by example, Williamson lifted both the Champions League and European Championship trophies in 2025, a rare feat and one which puts a player who wears her heart on her sleeve among the very highest achievers in the women’s game. Her performance in the Champions League final against Barcelona was one of her best ever.","Subbed":"YE-S","Revised":"JA√"},{"Rank":"11","Last year":"","change on last year":"Re-entry","Name":"Chloe Kelly","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"RIGHT","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Arsenal","League":"WSL","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"27","Nationality":"England","Filters":"England,WSL,Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/727839e72886c5915d8c061f6134bcdf21b50b51/1427_54_787_788/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/22f844b07fd8bc66d9142e9a9d479ec9ec668d9a/176_0_3074_2460/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"This year has been a whirlwind of emotions for Kelly. It started in the abyss, an outcast at Manchester City and a deadline day move back to Arsenal hanging in the balance. Who knows how 2025 would have panned out had that move not gone through. A return to London has given Kelly a new lease of life and no doubt kept her in the reckoning for Euro 2025, where in all three of England’s knockout games she made a crucial contribution, scoring the winner in the last seconds of the semi-final before stepping up to slam home the winning penalty in the final against Spain. “I’m so happy for her,” said the England head coach, Sarina Wiegman, after that triumph. “She has been fighting to come back to her highest level. She really wanted to take that penalty. To be able to score it under that pressure is incredible.” The woman, once again, for the big occasion.","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"12","Last year":"2","change on last year":"-10","Name":"Caroline Graham Hansen","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"RIGHT","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Barcelona","League":"Liga F","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"30","Nationality":"Norway","Filters":"Other nationalities,Liga F,Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/a664b43f771f764720d6e212c53d55a5502cdb0e/2092_251_1670_1670/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/03a19df606cde55acc2f24d5e17c97fbdabc3009/983_96_4629_3703/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Graham Hansen drops out of the top 10 for the first time since 2019, but a brilliant 2024 was always going to be hard to follow. One of the casualties of Norway’s underperformance over the years, it looked like 2025 might be different as she did her best at times to pull her team through at the European Championship, coming up with glimpses of her brilliance before a painful quarter-final defeat against Italy ended the dream. For Barcelona, she remains at her silky best and one of the toughest players to get the ball off.","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"13","Last year":"24","change on last year":"11","Name":"Lucy Bronze","Position":"Defender","Position modifier":"RIGHT","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Chelsea","League":"WSL","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"34","Nationality":"England","Filters":"England,WSL,Defenders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/9a0becaeedf796df8b9cbab81c51301a6bfa2165/2040_172_1524_1524/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/f19c3dad7fca636cbb449a0e5f01040088a5509d/387_58_1968_1574/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"One of the most consistent players to place in the top 100 since the rankings began,  Bronze does not quite make it back into the top 10 but reaches her best ranking since 2022, up 11 places into 13th after another year filled with remarkable success. Bronze was a consistent performer in a domestic treble-winning season for Chelsea and put everything on the line for her country at Euro 2025, her penalty against Sweden one of the most memorable moments of the year, typifying what Bronze is all about. There was also the small matter of playing in the final with a fractured tibia, which Sarina Wiegman described as a “crazy mentality”.","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"14","Last year":"7","change on last year":"-7","Name":"Barbra Banda","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Orlando Pride","League":"NWSL","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"25","Nationality":"Zambia","Filters":"Other nationalities,NWSL,Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/159420ac1e6bcbee0ca130d0592a8359237790b3/654_0_3537_3537/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/8c0b8a1b34a85df352b879b2c9ad3e2640e703fe/1275_150_2238_1792/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Banda drops out of the top 10 but she may well have remained there for a second year running had injury not halted her year far too early. The Zambian had eight goals in the NWSL by the time a hip adductor injury cut short her 2025 and her scoring form suggests she would have been in contention to be the league’s top scorer otherwise. “Barbra is such a key player for us with her threat in behind and her goalscoring,” said the head coach of the Orlando Pride, Seb Hines. “She is constantly putting herself in positions to score.” A speedy and skilful striker, Banda will no doubt be back as good as ever sometime next year, and it can’t come soon enough for one of the best strikers in the world.","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"15","Last year":"29","change on last year":"14","Name":"Melchie Dumornay","Position":"Midfielder","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"OL Lyonnes","League":"Première Ligue","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"22","Nationality":"Haiti","Filters":"Other nationalities,Première Ligue,Midfielders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/513ff4461bf98964703a6f76d639d4f58c18a98f/383_91_538_538/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/d6422a8476b44f38f9a47d8e375963513c709bda/433_0_3940_3152/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Another player reaching her highest ranking yet but it is no surprise to see the upward trajectory of Dumornay since she burst on to the world scene for Haiti in Australia at the 2023 World Cup. Still one of the best young players anywhere in the world, the Lyon star is beginning to add real consistency and even more end product to her game, performing against the toughest sides in Europe and showing remarkable flair, skill and scoring ability driving forward from midfield. It is hard not to be excited about what is still to come as she rises 29 places into the top 15.","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"16","Last year":"56","change on last year":"40","Name":"Klara Bühl","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"LEFT","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Bayern Munich","League":"Frauen-Bundesliga","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"24","Nationality":"Germany","Filters":"Germany,Frauen-Bundesliga,Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/1009e1399846171373d2836e9e04fd9026919ddf/1476_2917_1587_1587/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/afb95a4ff327fc156a0dd7920e389437a4f46f40/250_0_1974_1579/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Another player enjoying her best year yet. Previously known as “Big Game Bühl”, that may need to change because the flying forward is adding incredible consistency to her performances whatever the occasion. Up 40 places in 2025, Bühl contributed to 20 goals in the Bundesliga last season and has taken it up a notch in the current campaign, growing into one of the very best players for Bayern Munich and Germany. Had an outstanding Euros.","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"17","Last year":"76","change on last year":"59","Name":"Esther González","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Gotham FC","League":"NWSL","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"32","Nationality":"Spain","Filters":"Spain,NWSL,Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/2cd27d259a5202e2a3396cfc67529ec13432b3e4/2548_465_969_970/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/32a656688bf89dcd4ed3a1c6c3d1e4a15346461c/446_104_2241_1792/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"The Spain forward came into the Euros in a rich goalscoring form – and did not disappoint, becoming the tournament's top scorer with four. Moving to the United States a couple of years ago has reinvigorated the player and this year she was second only to Temwa Chawinga in the NWSL scoring charts, 13 goals helping Gotham FC into the playoffs and then another Championship final, which they won. One of the highest movers this year, González surges up 59 places and into the top 20 for the first time.","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"18","Last year":"4","change on last year":"-14","Name":"Khadija Shaw","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Manchester City","League":"WSL","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"28","Nationality":"Jamaica","Filters":"Other nationalities,WSL,Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/cef8ef3312c32afb5cc26eb8bcdda9b8fcdd9909/843_0_1129_1129/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/8e01ea29d3eecd7873101054a9f550f4b6bfebcd/134_158_1896_1516/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Shaw remains one of the very best strikers not only in the WSL but anywhere in the world. A lack of international competition in a year where the Euros and Copa América took centre stage may have contributed to a drop in placing, but it is certainly not down to her form on the domestic front. The Jamaican shared the Women’s Super League Golden Boot with Alessia Russo last season and is right up the top end of the scoring charts again this season.","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"19","Last year":"27","change on last year":"8","Name":"Marta","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"RIGHT","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Orlando Pride","League":"NWSL","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"39","Nationality":"Brazil","Filters":"Brazil,NWSL,Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/9180d2717122c779a2c5c9b53c3378ccca8f3c47/1402_242_1191_1192/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/2659b83c2515e68322fed5005398c5e028091d74/186_70_1984_1587/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"The magnificent Marta is back in the top 20 for the first time since 2018. Not that 2024 was bad, finishing 27th after helping Orlando Pride to a first NWSL title, but 2025 was more about her role on the international stage. Had it not been for Marta, Brazil would not have won the Copa América in the summer – she scored a stunning added-time equaliser against Colombia in the final to keep their hopes alive before adding another in extra time to take the match to penalties. The nervy shootout ended with Brazil winning their ninth continental title.","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"20","Last year":"","change on last year":"Re-entry","Name":"Sandy Baltimore","Position":"Defender","Position modifier":"LEFT","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Chelsea","League":"WSL","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"25","Nationality":"France","Filters":"France,WSL,Defenders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/45d60a84c58f4e72bacaf1255d2ccf28a985c526/1023_234_1164_1163/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/6949913fc8f19fa30732c193fda4f535657c1006/963_368_3359_2687/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Her first full year at Chelsea could not have gone much better, earning her a first Ballon d’Or nomination and a place in Uefa’s Champions League Team of the Season. Baltimore thrived on the big stage, scoring twice for the Blues against Manchester United in the FA Cup final at Wembley in May. “She’s getting stronger and stronger,” said her coach Sonia Bompastor. “She can defend well, but can also help the team move forward to create opportunities in the box. It’s really nice to have a player like her.” Baltimore is in the top 100 for the first time since 2021, roaring up from 83rd four years ago, straight into the top 20 after a superb 2025.","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"21","Last year":"37","change on last year":"16","Name":"Pernille Harder","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Bayern Munich","League":"Frauen-Bundesliga","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"33","Nationality":"Denmark","Filters":"Other nationalities,Frauen-Bundesliga,Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/7ec5e9be5c748ba93f3b65d381c85c9fa641f1cc/1764_320_912_912/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/3b2e903bbd4a09a8fe64d5623f2ffe07a294b095/1190_134_2045_1636/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"A former top 100 winner and a player who has placed in the rankings every year, Harder was back to her very best in 2025 and moves up 16 places from 2024. The 33-year-old scored close to 30 goals this year for Bayern Munich and Denmark, the fourth most in the world’s top divisions. Fourteen goals last season helped Bayern to another Bundesliga title – her sixth – and her form throughout the year earned her another Ballon d’Or nomination as she overcame spells of injury to return to her best.","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"22","Last year":"25","change on last year":"3","Name":"Linda Caicedo","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Real Madrid","League":"Liga F","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"20","Nationality":"Colombia","Filters":"Other nationalities,Liga F,Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/332c43a17944fe60cb42114652a634d71e126624/0_0_3945_3945/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/48ad4f6f7cc7dcb74be6a06ed85a8e944cb991b1/724_311_4401_3521/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Caicedo is another player making herself firmly at home in the upper echelons of the top 100, up three places from 2024 and showing consistency as she develops from young prodigy to top player. Capable of the spectacular, she finished second in the Kopa Trophy rankings after seven goals and seven assists in La Liga last season, plus four more in Europe. On top of that, her four goals at Copa América very nearly pushed Colombia to the title. Real Madrid will be pleased they have tied down the 20-year-old to a contract until 2031. “I feel like I still have a lot of things to do here,” she said after signing the six-year deal. “Winning a trophy, achieving great things and making my mark.”","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"23","Last year":"32","change on last year":"9","Name":"Ann-Katrin Berger","Position":"Goalkeeper","Position modifier":"","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Gotham FC","League":"NWSL","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"35","Nationality":"Germany","Filters":"Germany,NWSL,Goalkeepers","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/9be20fc0f2e55d92a2f107fa448376ab446267f9/2241_526_1945_1946/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/fae528086f21b4670e44dc852a625f386417d6b6/620_229_3404_2724/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Given how good Berger was in 2024, when she shone for Germany at the Paris Olympics, to move up nine places shows how special her 2025 has been. The Germany goalkeeper shows no signs of slowing down, hitting double figures for clean sheets in the NWSL. She also got her hands on the NWSL Championship for the first time with another clean sheet in the final. But her best moment came in the Euro 2025 quarter-final against France where she pulled off one of the best saves the sport has seen in quite some time. The 35-year-old was beaten only by Hannah Hampton to the Yashin Trophy.","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"24","Last year":"57","change on last year":"33","Name":"Emily Fox","Position":"Defender","Position modifier":"RIGHT","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Arsenal","League":"WSL","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"27","Nationality":"United States","Filters":"United States,WSL,Defenders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/224edac550e49f8c83813fcd97edd1fcb41b7f63/522_111_2159_2158/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/7290ca80b19bd040d8d283a09220a3f312be5f6f/219_39_3438_2750/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"The US full-back has been a revelation since she came to England with Arsenal and hit a treble this year: a place in the PFA Team of the Year, Uefa Champions League Team of the Season and a first Ballon d’Or nomination. That was down to her domestic performances but also in helping Arsenal get across the line with a stellar defensive display in the Champions League final against Barcelona in May. While it was Fox’s first European trophy, it was not the first time she came away with a win in a final, with the 27-year-old comparing it to the United States’s 1-0 win in the gold-medal match against Brazil at the Paris Olympics. “I definitely lean on that experience and that grind, and we did talk about before the game, like being able to suffer and being OK with it.” She flies up the list in her second appearance in the top 100, moving up 33 spots from 2024.","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"25","Last year":"","change on last year":"Re-entry","Name":"Cristiana Girelli","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Juventus","League":"Serie A","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"35","Nationality":"Italy","Filters":"Other nationalities,Other leagues,Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/a9193aa47e886a5a17c30d8e58591ee8e01411a4/211_26_2237_2237/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/26ea15c33a8faf8a707608c86b63279db42ebb71/298_0_1896_1516/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"The Italy legend is back in the rankings for the first time since 2021 and it is little surprise to see the Juventus striker as high as she is, inside the top 25. An iconic name of the Italian game, Girelli contributed to eight goals in Serie A last season, but it was Euro 2025 where she truly made her mark. Coming into the team during the tournament, Girelli led from the front, quite literally, and it looked for all the world like she had scored the winner against England to secure a place in the final before Michelle Agyemang’s late equaliser.","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"26","Last year":"18","change on last year":"-8","Name":"Keira Walsh","Position":"Midfielder","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Chelsea","League":"WSL","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"28","Nationality":"England","Filters":"England,WSL,Midfielders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/d74e6a6c762dc3e80ccc67f73a8c0821342bc78d/1540_102_1586_1587/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/a71d6d7c1cec789673b5e3815620ad565bcbc9d6/268_189_2711_2168/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Walsh has now well established herself as a consistent presence at the top end of our 100 players. The 28-year-old has added more to her game at Chelsea while continuing to excel at what she can do best. She can still dictate matches from a deeper role and has found herself at home under Sonia Bompastor’s management, while continuing to play a crucial role for England where she added a second European Championship to her CV this year. “She brings a lot of calmness in possession and serenity to the team,” says Bompastor. “Having Keira has such a big impact.”","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"27","Last year":"6","change on last year":"-21","Name":"Lindsey Heaps","Position":"Midfielder","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"OL Lyonnes","League":"Première Ligue","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"31","Nationality":"United States","Filters":"United States,Première Ligue,Midfielders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/a6abed95fabb794ee9b4e1339a391988e613e51b/1634_281_1328_1328/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/672738bfd9cd73dadc68da657e792892fe3ffc08/599_0_2700_2160/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Heaps drops down slightly in 2025 but given 12 months ago she had just captained the US to an Olympic gold medal, it is no surprise. But the 31-year-old still enjoyed a very fruitful year as she continues to settle into life with OL Lyonnes, the midfielder finishing in the top five scorers in the league last season with 11 goals and seven assists, as her team raced to another domestic title. Heaps’s performances also earned her another Ballon d’Or nomination.","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"28","Last year":"21","change on last year":"-7","Name":"Yui Hasegawa","Position":"Midfielder","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Manchester City","League":"WSL","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"28","Nationality":"Japan","Filters":"Other nationalities,WSL,Midfielders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/0f6e605830b36c745a7b5bf0d598794cfca73031/1035_258_1216_1216/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/230a0e4099dd73913aabe195b6feb2367bf114c6/467_127_2823_2259/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Hasegawa is still one of the best players in the world and her performances for Manchester City last season earned her a place in the PFA Team of the Year for the third season in succession. The 28-year-old continues to perform at a very high and consistent level and will captain Japan at a major tournament for the first time at the Asian Cup in March. “Yui is a very good football player,” says her national team coach, Nils Nielsen. “She is a quiet leader on the pitch but she has a very good football brain too.”","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"29","Last year":"58","change on last year":"29","Name":"Delphine Cascarino","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"RIGHT","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"San Diego Wave","League":"NWSL","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"28","Nationality":"France","Filters":"France,NWSL,Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/ae39d59afec0decc562573ccf4ae87b0695e3bc4/1824_0_1598_1598/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/98e5f81fa69c3975990bcab6c4cb84e103c97a3a/286_0_2856_2285/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Reinvigorated by her move to San Diego Wave, the 28-year-old was hard to stop in the NWSL this year, ending the season with five goals and six assists. The France international took her early season form into Euro 2025 where she was one of the best wingers in the tournament, her performance against the Netherlands, where she scored twice and provided an assist, a particular highlight as she showed a ruthlessness against some of the best full-backs in Europe.","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"30","Last year":"31","change on last year":"1","Name":"Ona Batlle","Position":"Defender","Position modifier":"RIGHT","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Barcelona","League":"Liga F","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"26","Nationality":"Spain","Filters":"Spain,Liga F,Defenders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/3fde560b6f03e062704ba8253aeeae7f6d53f0d1/1423_410_848_848/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/e0fbfa1017ed264665de435d154c49e9b9f2adc2/318_0_3245_2596/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Everyone knows what to expect from Batlle – a very solid defender for Barcelona and Spain who is more than capable of influencing matches further up the field. She proved that with eight assists in Liga F last season where her performances earned her a place in the league’s team of the year, and she remains a regular starter for club and country. Batlle’s remarkable consistency sees her place just one spot lower than last year, and it is the third year in a row she is ranked between 23rd and 31st.","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"31","Last year":"","change on last year":"Re-entry","Name":"Stina Blackstenius","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Arsenal","League":"WSL","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"29","Nationality":"Sweden","Filters":"Sweden,WSL,Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/a5473c4b494b4495c191b9fee92df75fff599104/1367_235_1312_1312/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/e4190ad363a9f94dd3a01d81fbb4cc561e40f1f8/320_232_2733_2187/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"In many ways it was a strange year for the Sweden international because it started slowly as she struggled for form, but that all changed with one of the most important moments of her career – when she scored the winner for Arsenal in the Champions League final against Barcelona. She went on to score three in four games for Sweden at Euro 2025 and she has taken that fine form into the 2025-26 season, registering four goals and three assists at the time of writing.","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"32","Last year":"64","change on last year":"32","Name":"Johanna Rytting Kaneryd","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"RIGHT","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Chelsea","League":"WSL","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"28","Nationality":"Sweden","Filters":"Sweden,WSL,Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/74cfbd49bd4942d614ec65b12ee1609e541a1103/2952_161_1129_1129/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/bc799c4835d58d68e67b5f8671717a2c59024f4a/764_228_3019_2415/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Another flying winger who enjoyed a prosperous 2025, Rytting Kaneryd retains her  spot in the top 100 and moves up to the cusp of the top 30. Her year started well as she was regularly among the goals as well as creating them for a Chelsea side which won a domestic treble, and she took her form into Euro 2025. The 28-year-old was one of the catalysts of the performance which saw Sweden come close to knocking out the eventual winners, England. She has had to share game time in the new season but overall has had a very solid 12 months.","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"33","Last year":"23","change on last year":"-10","Name":"Kadidiatou Diani","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"LEFT","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"OL Lyonnes","League":"Première Ligue","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"30","Nationality":"France","Filters":"France,Première Ligue,Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/c5f7f6134b50b7d4c47963d3b34cfeafb2a473f6/1299_86_1389_1389/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/eca399dcedeec28d8486513a258425fa86721579/0_0_2865_2292/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Diani hit her usual high standards in 2025 and is in the top 100 for a very impressive seventh year running. As so often seems the case, she saved some of her best form for the Champions League, scoring six goals in OL Lyonnes’s run to the semi-finals last season, while still reaching double figures domestically. Form has not been easy to come by in the new season with just one goal so far at the time of writing, but Diani remains a frightening prospect to come up against when at her best.","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"34","Last year":"73","change on last year":"39","Name":"Jule Brand","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"RIGHT","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"OL Lyonnes","League":"Première Ligue","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"23","Nationality":"Germany","Filters":"Germany,Première Ligue,Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/bcec816560bb8fbddabc945c48fb35618de883cd/1995_58_1067_1067/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/2f1ad28baf0230d35ed9072afb52c6b8f54337f1/439_285_3366_2692/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Moving well up the list in 2025 to her highest ranking is another of the world’s most promising young players. Germany’s Brand took a big step to join the French giants OL Lyonnes in the summer where she is still getting up to speed in new surroundings. She did however excel at Wolfsburg in the first part of the year, the flying winger contributing goals and assists and taking that form into Euro 2025 where she scored in all three of Germany’s group stage matches. Brand’s full potential in France is yet to be unlocked but there is no doubt she is going to be one of the best wingers in the game.","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"35","Last year":"5","change on last year":"-30","Name":"Trinity Rodman","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"RIGHT","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Washington Spirit","League":"NWSL","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"23","Nationality":"United States","Filters":"United States,NWSL,Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/42e745e2da0ef5dba67721552fa186a4a2992609/784_0_2152_2152/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/99599ea9ec293f8a90d7ea9e7c1e906bf92ed3b3/2615_189_2697_2158/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Like a few players on this list, Rodman’s 2025 has been one full of what-ifs. But it is a testament to her raw quality and talent that she ranks so high despite an injury-hit year. Down 30 places, understandably, from 2024, Rodman missed the first part of the NWSL season but returned to score a very impressive seven goals, plus two assists, to help propel Washington Spirit towards another NWSL Championship final. She started the year well too, getting off the mark for the US, before a prolonged period out, and now may be the subject of a January window tug of war with European clubs monitoring her situation at the Spirit closely.","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"36","Last year":"84","change on last year":"48","Name":"Cata Coll","Position":"Goalkeeper","Position modifier":"","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Barcelona","League":"Liga F","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"24","Nationality":"Spain","Filters":"Spain,Liga F,Goalkeepers","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/1496e6c344878e99a3126567073c0ad9a5495bef/2742_37_1298_1298/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/f2ea097432f9cef04cf10d34662d70d7e4f634ce/329_64_3136_2509/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Confident, risk-taker and big character,” was how Coll described herself in an interview with the Guardian in March. Her Euro 2025 at one point looked in doubt but she returned to help Spain to another final and made two saves in their ultimately unsuccessful shootout against England. In the league, she kept an impressive 12 clean sheets last season, placing third in the Yashin Trophy for her performances, and is well on the way to that sort of tally again this year.","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"37","Last year":"43","change on last year":"6","Name":"Mapi León","Position":"Defender","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Barcelona","League":"Liga F","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"30","Nationality":"Spain","Filters":"Spain,Liga F,Defenders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/1e8da3c46785da18a6ba3ed030aa2b479ae96fda/267_0_2272_2272/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/dd3e7c6646be62c97d092b3f4c9eeb682ee9fb1d/702_217_5020_4017/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Another player showing magnificent consistency. In the top 100 for a sixth year running, León rises in 2025, up six places from 12 months ago. One of the ultimate ball-playing centre-backs, her eye for a pass and an assist with her accurate set-pieces make her a huge danger for opponents. She registered a remarkable nine assists in Liga F in 2025 while her performances in Europe on the way to another final earned her a place in Uefa’s Champions League Team of the Year for the second time.","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"38","Last year":"83","change on last year":"45","Name":"Caroline Weir","Position":"Midfielder","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Real Madrid","League":"Liga F","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"30","Nationality":"Scotland","Filters":"Other nationalities,Liga F,Midfielders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/ba3fd21b5abf7af13f332c6ab7c9aa6d468e1e11/1095_83_2430_2430/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/29d4c52fd1554b9e1177cca0b49858fcc0a19048/9_677_1760_1408/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Weir is one of the biggest movers, up 45 places on 2024, and finishing well inside the top 100 for an impressive sixth year running. The Real Madrid and Scotland star is back to her best form after her ACL injury, contributing to 18 Liga F goals last season with 10 goals and eight assists. Her domestic performances earned her a spot in the league’s team of the year. Her showings in 2025 also earned her a deserved Ballon d’Or nomination as the 30-year-old continues to prove she is one of the best in her position anywhere in the world.","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"39","Last year":"14","change on last year":"-25","Name":"Tabitha Chawinga","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"OL Lyonnes","League":"Première Ligue","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"29","Nationality":"Malawi","Filters":"Other nationalities,Première Ligue,Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/18e3db6603ddcd7621a2c3f804474af565f1026e/261_2_3149_3149/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/a53f5d723e6e4ee9360450f0e16a1f34285fd174/2584_418_5052_4043/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"One of the Chawinga sisters drops in 2025, but it has been by no means a bad year as she continues to settle at OL Lyonnes. Last season was a modest but successful one with the 29-year-old ending the league campaign with 12 goals. This season she has scored four and assisted three at the time of writing as she refines her all-round forward game. She recently bagged a crucial Champions League goal against Juventus and she will get the chance to represent Malawi at a first Afcon next year alongside her sister.","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"40","Last year":"8","change on last year":"-32","Name":"Salma Paralluelo","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Barcelona","League":"Liga F","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"22","Nationality":"Spain","Filters":"Spain,Liga F,Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/8c940f63c80d1ff1cbcc313ea47fe21dc4d67e31/1401_122_1222_1222/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/c679b542f4bd5508a597d85005511fe6df08d97a/432_0_2465_1972/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Paralluelo drops out of the top 10 this year but still lands inside the top half. Her goal tally dwindled as she struggled to find her best position in a stacked Barcelona attack, but the quality has always been there to influence key moments. The new season started well with a run of goals including in a demolition of Bayern Munich in the Champions League, but injury has sidelined her once again.","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"41","Last year":"","change on last year":"New entry","Name":"Vicky López","Position":"Midfielder","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Barcelona","League":"Liga F","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"19","Nationality":"Spain","Filters":"Spain,Liga F,Midfielders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/2c610f4c98ea20685e74a4b4597e37a1424da8b1/1056_273_1397_1397/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/53e73c10071f564d6e72c2030e155019c18030ba/418_0_4164_3333/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"López is growing into one of the future stars of the game, the attacking midfielder hitting double figures in Liga F last season, which teed her up for Euro 2025. López has a bit of everything, is becoming a more prominent figure for club and country, and it was no surprise to see her performances in 2025 earn her the coveted Kopa Trophy amid some stiff competition. The fact that she replaced Aitana Bonmatí, who had been ruled out of the start of Euro 2025 with viral meningitis, without a noticable drop in quality to Spain's game was proof of just how talented she is.","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"42","Last year":"17","change on last year":"-25","Name":"Marie-Antoinette Katoto","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"OL Lyonnes","League":"Première Ligue","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"27","Nationality":"France","Filters":"France,Première Ligue,Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/295f6ccab0fcc6fd19a5d98c6795a365392f9465/923_216_1287_1287/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/a7ba1dba80c8222cd6007c18b689aa8eb4cb90bc/216_109_4863_3891/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Katoto made her much rumoured and anticipated move from PSG to OL Lyonnes in the summer, but it has not been the easiest start for the forward with limited game time as of late. The first half of her 2025 though was excellent, hitting double figures for PSG, and her Euro 2025 was also impressive, scoring twice in France’s four games. A drop in placing this year, but Katoto will no doubt return to her very best once she settles into new surroundings.","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"43","Last year":"72","change on last year":"29","Name":"Frida Maanum","Position":"Midfielder","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Arsenal","League":"WSL","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"26","Nationality":"Norway","Filters":"Other nationalities,WSL,Midfielders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/441167c1efc6d1120fab141babd14a3320195db0/424_140_670_670/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/7c3d759531415a9c7afc897891fbbeac77eb1ed7/874_0_4144_3317/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Maanum is another player whose spot in the top 100 comes on the back of the crucial role she played in Arsenal’s Champions League success. The Norwegian stepped up a gear in 2025 but it was not just her exploits in Europe which earned her a first Ballon d’Or nomination. She also hit double figures for goals during an excellent year domestically in the Women’s Super League. The 26-year-old signed a new contract with the Gunners in May and the club’s director of women’s football, Clare Wheatley, said: “Frida joined us at a young age and has shown great growth and development across her four years with the club. She’s taken the opportunities offered to her here and we’re proud to see her delivering strong performances consistently.”","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"44","Last year":"","change on last year":"New entry","Name":"Sofia Cantore","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"LEFT","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Washington Spirit","League":"NWSL","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"26","Nationality":"Italy","Filters":"Other nationalities,NWSL,Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/e8ba3af2f6f45b7562c5b63d30b108a60e6881c4/1082_138_915_915/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/62fc06590e22503665f5c91f679f2359f63c8df6/519_87_4152_3324/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Cantore had an excellent 2025. Her 18 goals for Juventus in all competitions last season earned her the best striker prize in Serie A, so it was no surprise when Washington Spirit came in for her in the summer. “I’ve always wanted to have an experience in the United States and that’s why the NWSL has always fascinated me,” she said upon signing for the club. “I decided to immediately accept the challenge and put myself to the test with a new experience that’s very different from the one I’ve had up until now.” She has hit the ground running, scoring some big goals for the Spirit on the way to a Championship final. The 26-year-old was also a vital member of the Italy team which was so close to reaching the Euro 2025 final. An exemplary year and one on which to build.","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"45","Last year":"51","change on last year":"6","Name":"Irene Paredes","Position":"Defender","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Barcelona","League":"Liga F","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"34","Nationality":"Spain","Filters":"Spain,Liga F,Defenders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/f90d222f6e7233d435cbd10fcd3a6f13cc0666bd/1752_110_1204_1204/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/c19d15df944ce6902877acf03c0001dfe21e47b2/771_33_1719_1375/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"The Barcelona and Spain stalwart is one few who can say they have appeared in the top 100 every year. In 2025, Paredes pops up six places to move back into the top 50. At 34 years old she remains a regular starter at the heart of the defence for club and country and remains a big influence, captaining Spain at Euro 2025 and signing a new contract at Barcelona until 2027. She continues to lead by example, showing plenty of solidity in big moments as she approaches the back end of a glittering career.","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"46","Last year":"78","change on last year":"32","Name":"Alyssa Thompson","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"RIGHT","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Chelsea","League":"WSL","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"21","Nationality":"United States","Filters":"United States,WSL,Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/02e88557477608fdca42678f586a4b6111912ebf/2324_221_3043_3042/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/56dd3f61d6dc8ace4160ca84cf412db622c22211/729_189_4145_3316/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"“I’m glad she plays for Chelsea,” said her club manager, Sonia Bompastor of a player who is already making her third appearance on the list. In a year of broken transfer records, the 21-year-old made the move from Angel City FC to the Blues on deadline day in September for a fee understood to be just shy of £1.1m. Arriving to much fanfare, the American has made a steady start to life in London, scoring a special goal against Arsenal in November. Given she is not anywhere near her peak years, there is much excitement about just how high the 21-year-old’s ceiling might be.","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"47","Last year":"52","change on last year":"5","Name":"Alex Greenwood","Position":"Defender","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Manchester City","League":"WSL","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"32","Nationality":"England","Filters":"England,WSL,Defenders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/06ef34e1f3763e7d076decc8433c105131cdcba9/607_243_932_932/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/68522e7dd82db2f28cf1b470105bba87e0fb4ff4/1092_378_3043_2434/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"The 32-year-old maintained the high level the world has now become accustomed to, adapting to being a centre-back at Manchester City but, more often than not, a left-back for England, particularly at Euro 2025. Silverware has not been forthcoming at club level but she did get her hands on the European Championship again in the summer. Greenwood is injured at the time of writing and will be a big loss for her club, with her head coach, Andree Jeglertz, saying: “It’s a massive loss to lose your captain, a great player and great leader.” She is in the top 100 for a third year running, up five places into the top 50.","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"48","Last year":"","change on last year":"New entry","Name":"Nathalie Björn","Position":"Defender","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Chelsea","League":"WSL","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"28","Nationality":"Sweden","Filters":"Sweden,WSL,Defenders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/8621e7645638f24fd5b894bdea410ff0631c0ca9/668_89_873_873/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/be5d2ff3cb678d39d080edb2b96ce0f89d8bf5cf/991_94_1114_891/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Björn is another new entrant in the top 100 this year and given her form for Chelsea and Sweden it is easy to see why. Her signing for Chelsea went somewhat under the radar when she joined last year after a modest spell at Everton but it is fair to say Björn has become one of the best centre-backs in the WSL, and has carried that form to the Sweden setup. Her club teammate and centre-back partner, Millie Bright, called her “incredible”, and said: “She keeps everyone together and sometimes that goes unnoticed a little bit as well. So easy to play alongside. She just gives everyone that confidence, but also she’s such a team player.” Björn played an important role in Chelsea’s domestic treble and was a rock for her country during Euro 2025.","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"49","Last year":"61","change on last year":"12","Name":"Katie McCabe","Position":"Defender","Position modifier":"LEFT","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Arsenal","League":"WSL","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"30","Nationality":"Republic of Ireland","Filters":"Other nationalities,WSL,Defenders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/57782f2b86294838b43f86f51b6a0f52ff2d0bbc/1161_269_2643_2643/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/7cbd6ae8187a665cbf0eeabd78a31153b8129f3a/0_104_2008_1606/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"McCabe moves back into the top 50 this year, up 12 spots from 2024. Ms Consistency, the tenacious full-back was her usual energetic herself, leading from the front, particularly for Republic of Ireland where she bagged a couple of spectacular goals. The 30-year-old has become a cult hero for the Gunners over the years and continues to contribute offensively and defensively. She has found that knack of popping up at the big moments, as she did for her country recently in a crucial Nations League playoff against Belgium. Carla Ward hailed McCabe as “a joy to work with” before her 100th appearance for her country: “She is very honest and very direct – I love those types of players. I think what she has done for football in this country has been sensational.”","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"50","Last year":"","change on last year":"New entry","Name":"Michelle Agyemang","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Brighton & Hove Albion","League":"WSL","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"19","Nationality":"England","Filters":"England,WSL,Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/14bcf8cc49e3d5fd5618696fbb46022bc50445e8/883_222_1815_1815/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/b32a5191738355afdc95ab6ed44cc05d57d84090/384_422_2332_1867/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Another striker who shoots into the top 100 for the first time is the sensational Agyemang who pips the rest for a debut spot in the top 50. On loan at Brighton, the first half of her year was good but not outstanding, showing the promise which makes her so highly rated. It was the European Championship that changed everything. Saving England against Sweden and then again against Italy, the Lionesses would not have repeated their 2022 success had it not been for Agyemang. “She has something special,” Sarina Wiegman said of the 19-year-old. “She is very mature, she knows exactly what she has to do. When you talk about little things, she picks them up straight away.” Unfortunately, an ACL injury now means the youngster will miss most of 2026, but there is no doubt her long-term future is incredibly bright.","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"51","Last year":"","change on last year":"New entry","Name":"Amanda Gutierres","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Palmeiras","League":"Campeonato Serie A","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"24","Nationality":"Brazil","Filters":"Brazil,Other leagues,Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/141957afb1ad1eb39af51918cffb1469ebe43f88/1767_151_1823_1823/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/9c78ab4685a545e0ffa4223e022d2a1b7f875da9/666_196_5533_4427/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"The year could not have gone much better for Gutierres and therefore it is no shock to see the Brazilian striker burst into the top 100 for the first time, even if she does miss out on the top 50 by the finest of margins. She scored the joint most goals of any player at Copa América to help propel Brazil to another continental success, while her 17 league goals for Palmeiras this year had her seven clear of anyone else, earning her a second league Golden Boot. With a first Ballon d’Or nomination as the cherry on top, she is heading to the new NWSL side Boston Legacy in 2026. “She is a proven goalscorer both domestically and internationally, showing remarkable consistency over the past few years as Brazil’s top scorer,” said Boston’s general manager, Domènec Guasch. “We’re thrilled to bring her winning mentality and relentless work rate to Boston.”","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"52","Last year":"90","change on last year":"38","Name":"Kim Little","Position":"Midfielder","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Arsenal","League":"WSL","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"35","Nationality":"Scotland","Filters":"Other nationalities,WSL,Midfielders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/7b8a6745261a398123e5bd0db09b3452f2373aaa/1402_0_2344_2344/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/f609b0db5639fc90eae8303f4cc3eab7c6771411/429_131_4008_3206/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Little is a player who remains timeless. This year she captained Arsenal to Europe’s biggest trophy. “It felt like our year,” she said after the Champions League triumph. At 35 she just keeps on shining and is showing no signs of slowing down. 2025 sees Little rise 35 places in the rankings, with her domestic performances earning her a place in the PFA Team of the Year at the end of last season. While she is no longer the player who will break into the box and score double figures each season, her calmness and assuredness are still there in abundance.","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"53","Last year":"","change on last year":"Re-entry","Name":"Steph Catley","Position":"Defender","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Arsenal","League":"WSL","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"31","Nationality":"Australia","Filters":"Other nationalities,WSL,Defenders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/7c6726f9b04439bee8a34eaedccd298fff28cb92/1608_1195_2985_2986/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/2bfda1258ffa47054890d4e48a19b282c0138e69/194_141_1622_1298/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Catley has delivered just about everything you would want from an experienced head during a successful 2025 for Arsenal. Regularly playing 90 minutes and reinventing herself as a centre-back, Catley’s calmness is personified in her performances, and she was particularly impressive when her side kept a clean sheet against a usually free-scoring Barcelona side in the Champions League final. After being in and out of the top 100 for a few years, Catley is back in comfortably in 2025. And she has high ambitions for next year: “Domestically, we haven’t won nearly as much as we probably could have and we probably should have. There’s really no excuses. We have the team. We have everything in place. It’s about putting it together on the field and matching up to those expectations.”","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"54","Last year":"94","change on last year":"40","Name":"Beth Mead","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"LEFT","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Arsenal","League":"WSL","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"30","Nationality":"England","Filters":"England,WSL,Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/4e0cfa8136ca36716c7a3b70f2c6172f83d15ffc/4796_2768_1385_1386/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/c2d5560c3aa82adeb37d7023c6faffaa259b10c0/1734_697_2632_2107/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Mead’s injury hell is now firmly behind her and she rockets up 40 places after a year which saw the forward pick up a Champions League title and a second European Championship. While her influence may not have been the same as it was three years ago, Mead has returned to being a steady source of goals and assists for club and country. Her form in Europe’s top club competition this season has been particularly impressive, creating several goals for her teammates as the Gunners attempt to defend their European crown. “When you win things, you become hungrier to win more,” the 30-year-old said. “Ultimately, we know what we’re capable of as a team. Now there’s the expectation to do that on the regular.”","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"55","Last year":"89","change on last year":"34","Name":"Sam Coffey","Position":"Midfielder","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Portland Thorns","League":"NWSL","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"26","Nationality":"United States","Filters":"United States,NWSL,Midfielders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/0fd02fafdb7ea819cc8f00020d2147f1db0affbb/2167_221_889_889/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/665c9468fb220baecb457f9840a50ca53d323239/1804_474_5846_4677/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"The US and Portland midfielder added an attacking edge to her game this year with goals and assists, and was named in the NWSL Team of the Month on two separate occasions. Now capable of pulling the strings in any type of game, Coffey is finding real quality on a consistent basis. The American was linked to Chelsea in the summer and will likely have interest from top clubs next year. Coffey is on the list for a second year in a row and moves up 34 places to her highest ranking.","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"56","Last year":"","change on last year":"New entry","Name":"Manaka Matsukubo","Position":"Midfielder","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"North Carolina Courage","League":"NWSL","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"21","Nationality":"Japan","Filters":"Other nationalities,NWSL,Midfielders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/b9e8ffba95694dc573184e63d1567ce9a1f786f2/1613_160_1020_1021/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/6977e8172303169d286d436de98cbaa71cb19c86/1002_182_4046_3237/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Matsukubo is the latest Japanese superstar to impress on the world stage. North Carolina Courage did not make the NWSL playoffs this year and who knows where they would have been had it not been for Matsukubo. The 21-year-old appeared in all 26 of the Courage’s matches and led midfielders in the league in goal contributions with 15 (11 goals, four assists), finishing third in the Golden Boot race behind Esther González and Temwa Chawinga. A thoroughly impressive year saw her named the league’s Midfielder of the Year. “If you want to be entertained, you watch someone like Manaka with the ball at her feet,” said the Courage assistant coach Emma Thomson. “She’ll make you fall in love with the game.”","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"57","Last year":"40","change on last year":"17","Name":"Georgia Stanway","Position":"Midfielder","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Bayern Munich","League":"Frauen-Bundesliga","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"26","Nationality":"England","Filters":"England,Frauen-Bundesliga,Midfielders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/e3c33616cc84e88dcc0466ee9e0ea116666759c2/1268_527_1829_1830/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/791cd706e4bc41f4aa88f6ecfc71feac3b160694/141_177_1592_1273/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Stanway drops out of the top 50 but her consistency means a spot on our list for a fourth year in a row. For England, the tenacious midfielder maintained a slightly deeper role as a regular starter on the way to another European title while for Bayern Munich she has had more creative freedom and has already registered half a dozen assists in the new season. The midfielder now has her sights set on the 2027 World Cup in Brazil: “Win the World Cup and I’ll happily retire because then that’s all my dreams come true.”","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"58","Last year":"20","change on last year":"-38","Name":"Lauren Hemp","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"LEFT","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Manchester City","League":"WSL","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"25","Nationality":"England","Filters":"England,WSL,Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/72dfe049464f7b776765c48f0c94404f0a1227c5/810_230_699_699/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/5c730ef4932a1bb6fcc68487f1e174260b8cf3ee/410_0_3119_2495/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"The fact Hemp still comes in as high as she does despite a year riddled with injuries is a testament to how talented she is. The 25-year-old lamented her fitness issues as “frustrating” but when she has been on the pitch she has performed as well as ever. Fortunately for England, she was fit for Euro 2025 and played an important role in their success, her performance in particular against a sturdy Italian defence in the semi-final a real high point. She scored a stunner in the Manchester derby in November and is eying silverware for the club she has been at since 2018. “It’s important that we put ourselves in the best possible position to win trophies this season, because I’m fed up with not winning.”","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"59","Last year":"","change on last year":"New entry","Name":"Clara Mateo","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Paris FC","League":"Première Ligue","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"28","Nationality":"France","Filters":"France,Première Ligue,Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/db3a429189be96437ff3c35f0a1891320f9bd86a/528_843_1472_1470/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/edcda8bb981168f43369d2afacb0571447d32a9c/634_63_2295_1836/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"One of the higher ranking debutants in the top 100 this year and it has been some time coming for the France forward. While OL Lyonnes and PSG continue to dominate the French landscape, Paris FC’s Mateo has gone up against their best forwards and beat them all, her 18 goals last season clear of anything anyone else could muster. She also won the Coupe de France, her first club trophy. She has gradually grown into a more prominent role for France and her rise in 2025 saw her earn the recognition of a first Ballon d’Or nomination. “On an individual level, I was there in terms of statistics,” she said of her year. “I was consistent and efficient throughout the season. And then to win a trophy with my club was a real source of pride and emotion.”","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"60","Last year":"93","change on last year":"33","Name":"Ella Toone","Position":"Midfielder","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Manchester United","League":"WSL","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"26","Nationality":"England","Filters":"England,WSL,Midfielders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/69c600fdb389b592120c8e9723207a2aaccfc7ed/822_117_961_961/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/82f844a252ab6b65a1dd56dc64fff4ff7bf8657a/605_172_3428_2742/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Toone is another midfielder finding real consistency as she makes the top 100 for a fourth year running, shooting up 33 places this year. “I’m so, so proud of the way she has been able to deal with it,” said her Manchester United manager, Marc Skinner, as Toone returned to action after the death of her father to help her club qualify for the Champions League and England to a second successive European Championship. Toone found some of her best form at club level, starting the year with a hat-trick against United’s city rivals, and remained an important part of the Lionesses side which went all the way once again in Switzerland.","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"61","Last year":"75","change on last year":"14","Name":"Ellie Carpenter","Position":"Defender","Position modifier":"RIGHT","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Chelsea","League":"Première Ligue","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"25","Nationality":"Australia","Filters":"Other nationalities,Première Ligue,Defenders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/ab96ceb819e8de23cdbba5e460beb3aedf0051d4/986_306_1261_1261/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/71d69f69dc0fbd18bda64c5a8932c888eee9d650/0_310_2933_2347/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Women’s Super League fans are finally getting the chance to see how good Carpenter is. The former OL Lyonnes star has been one of the best signings in England this season and appears to be going from strength to strength at Chelsea as she develops from prodigious talent to consistent top-level performer. After her stunning strike against Barcelona in the Champions League in November, her teammate Lucy Bronze said: “It was one of those where she just hit it so sweetly. Obviously, she made a really good run in behind, which is one of her huge strengths. She’s just got so much pace, yet to hit the top corner like she did with so much confidence was amazing.” This is her seventh consecutive appearance in our top 100.","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"62","Last year":"","change on last year":"Re-entry","Name":"Catarina Macario","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Chelsea","League":"WSL","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"26","Nationality":"United States","Filters":"United States,WSL,Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/9ee82a0ae0ddfc9ff3e941541e466dde214eb4d3/723_81_2268_2268/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/e9ebd8f4eb258f29fef7b9037817dc5228499f83/0_0_2691_2152/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"The US forward returns to the top 100 after a two-year absence. With her long-term injury issues hopefully behind her, Macario showed just how important she can be towards the back end of last season, scoring six goals in quick succession as Chelsea marched towards a domestic treble, with a goal in the FA Cup final at Wembley against Manchester United the cherry on top. She has been back in the goals for the USA too and recently hit two in the Champions League for her club.","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"63","Last year":"","change on last year":"Re-entry","Name":"Daphne van Domselaar","Position":"Goalkeeper","Position modifier":"","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Arsenal","League":"WSL","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"25","Nationality":"Netherlands","Filters":"Other nationalities,WSL,Goalkeepers","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/9ef6e28b93f3da52dfa40010c72481654442d892/1388_151_1003_1003/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/8a7a31530af98aee9d4d0969aeeb398a36889fbc/712_132_803_643/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Van Domselaar is back in the top 100 after missing out in 2024, roaring back in to beat her placing of 2022 and 2023 after a year which saw the Netherlands international help Arsenal to a Champions League title. It meant Van Domselaar finally added a major honour to an impressive CV. The young goalkeeper’s performances in Europe earned her a place in Uefa’s Champions League Team of the Year and she hit double figures for clean sheets in the Women’s Super League.","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"64","Last year":"","change on last year":"New entry","Name":"Aggie Beever-Jones","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"RIGHT","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Chelsea","League":"WSL","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"22","Nationality":"England","Filters":"England,WSL,Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/1b7e368259ec179035106f89110e3da8507913ab/1080_87_704_704/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/5a2efb3b53ec52ca77164ea65f70be6447afd937/227_0_3710_2968/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"It is no surprise to see Beever-Jones make the top 100 for the first time after the striker took a big step forward in 2025. The Chelsea and England forward began to add real consistency and clinical edge in front of goal, ending last season with nine league goals for the Blues, a tally she is already on the way to at least matching in the new campaign. Extra prominence arrived for England and a Euro 2025 winners' medal, while one of her several big moments for Chelsea saw her score a 94th-minute winner in the FA Cup semi-final to send her team to Wembley once again. The 22-year-old won England’s top goalscorer in the 2024-25 season and said: “It’s definitely been a year to remember in terms of Chelsea and England. To come away with the top goalscorer is something that didn’t even occur to me or had in my thoughts, so it’s a nice little surprise to end a great year.”","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"65","Last year":"","change on last year":"Re-entry","Name":"Chiamaka Nnadozie","Position":"Goalkeeper","Position modifier":"","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Brighton & Hove Albion","League":"WSL","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"24","Nationality":"Nigeria","Filters":"Nigeria,WSL,Goalkeepers","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/dcc1b24b1f454d46f63c6e1302e6056abcd25eab/1196_460_1226_1225/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/d5572aaa6ff32db3db3939ff1a3f3a1f5129ca01/139_261_3650_2919/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Nigeria’s No 1 returns to the top 100 after just missing out in 2024. Nnadozie has become one of the best goalkeepers in the world, her 11 clean sheets for Paris FC the springboard for a big move to Brighton over the summer. For Nigeria, she was influential in helping her country to another Afcon title – her second – where she was named the best keeper. Her performances overall earned her fourth-place in the Yashin Trophy voting, becoming the first African women’s goalkeeper to be shortlisted. “It shows that all the hard work, dedication and everything I’ve been doing in the past, has been worth it,” she says. “The world has been watching. It will make a very big impact in Africa because we have so many good players and they just need the opportunity to show what they can really do.”","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"66","Last year":"","change on last year":"New entry","Name":"Olivia Smith","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"LEFT","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Arsenal","League":"WSL","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"21","Nationality":"Canada","Filters":"Other nationalities,WSL,Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/1823f7a28f425c73390445dba2cada025ea19ee4/980_135_1306_1306/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/07c15b87adb1cefec3a2145edaa979b1aed1a27b/440_0_4310_3449/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Despite her age Smith is already finding peak performances. Her first full year in England could not have gone better, taking to the Women’s Super League like a duck to water. Her form for Liverpool earned her a world-record move to Arsenal where patience has been a virtue in a star-studded squad. There has been plenty of glimpses of her talent, including her stunning opening-day strike at the Emirates Stadium. For Smith, the sky is the limit and while this is her first appearance in the top 100, it likely will not be her last.","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"67","Last year":"45","change on last year":"-22","Name":"Rose Lavelle","Position":"Midfielder","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Gotham FC","League":"NWSL","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"30","Nationality":"United States","Filters":"United States,NWSL,Midfielders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/dfbaf530e99ee34aa1be2c5b285b9798627a1631/1175_418_2898_2898/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/0c4a04f9420ebced6d82ec9af963893b37225fd5/2115_638_3717_2974/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Lavelle has grown into a constant performer for Gotham FC and the US. With injury troubles behind her, she has been approaching her best in 2025, scoring on a regular basis from Gotham’s midfield as they won the NWSL Championship final despite an inconsistent regular season. Lavelle popped up at the biggest moment possible with 10 minutes to go to score the winner against the favoured Washington Spirit to win her first trophy with the club. “She takes up a lot of attention,” said her club teammate, Emily Sonnett. “The way that she leads silently on the field, like a ghost – you don’t know when she is going to get [the ball] and do something brave, and then, bam, she is there.”","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"68","Last year":"50","change on last year":"-18","Name":"Selma Bacha","Position":"Defender","Position modifier":"LEFT","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"OL Lyonnes","League":"Première Ligue","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"25","Nationality":"France","Filters":"France,Première Ligue,Defenders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/5cef3fd777b000a31c59962ccdb5b0e8ac27da67/890_271_1092_1091/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/9a2108661ff636f6e1825c9379e93052feeb9620/352_0_4208_3367/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"No longer the promising youngster, Bacha is now a crucial part of the furniture for OL Lyonnes and France as she approaches the peak years of her career. Marauds down the left side of the pitch for club and country and was particularly impressive in how she got forward and helped an exciting France attack at Euro 2025. Bacha has asserted herself as one of the best full-backs in the game and there is still likely more to come for someone who is fulfilling her early promise.","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"69","Last year":"49","change on last year":"-20","Name":"Erin Cuthbert","Position":"Midfielder","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Chelsea","League":"WSL","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"27","Nationality":"Scotland","Filters":"Other nationalities,WSL,Midfielders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/babb7abdcbaea97a25f6f85ba0f21f44ebac40eb/1473_114_846_847/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/7a686b84422209f311969f619ab10f9fa302c5fc/232_259_3915_3131/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Cuthbert’s level is now so constant you almost forget how good she can be, emphasised by the fact the Chelsea and Scotland player is in the top 100 for a fourth year running. Cuthbert’s class saw her named in the PFA Team of the Year as Chelsea won a domestic treble. She is becoming a talismanic figure for club and country and has established herself over the years as one of the very best in her position at what she does. Branded a “warrior” by Lucy Bronze for her style of play and commitment, her club teammate added: “She is just a stonewall in the Chelsea team. When you think about Chelsea, you think about Erin Cuthbert.”","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"70","Last year":"33","change on last year":"-37","Name":"Ada Hegerberg","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"OL Lyonnes","League":"Première Ligue","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"30","Nationality":"Norway","Filters":"Other nationalities,Première Ligue,Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/d7b84dbc310bbf92edf75eccd01acc1c363d3872/774_56_699_699/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/d6c251d5bee58884499cb9c8b1a230b44a6b6f5c/502_72_1832_1465/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"It has been a long road back for Hegerberg, who continues to show moments of class, chipping in with goals for OL Lyonnes at home and in Europe even if she is not a guaranteed starter any more. She endured a tough start to Euro 2025 but bounced back to score two goals and help her team into the quarter-finals. Her two goals against Wolfsburg this season showed she can still have an impact against the best and the Norwegian remains the all-time leading scorer in the Champions League with 69 goals.","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"71","Last year":"65","change on last year":"-6","Name":"Caitlin Foord","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"LEFT","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Arsenal","League":"WSL","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"31","Nationality":"Australia","Filters":"Other nationalities,WSL,Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/7d4b220cc23662fcd822ecba7dc50ab6b28532f5/1168_353_782_781/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/60584df04018f405270756f9b24325d5c7659205/505_367_1397_1117/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"The Arsenal and Australia star comes in six places lower than 12 months ago but this is a fourth consecutive appearance in the 100 after a year which saw her become a European club champion. Foord’s reliability meant few peaks but also few lows, with her best moment coming when she scored the clincher in a dramatic comeback against OL Lyonnes to send Arsenal to the Champions League final. Foord also remains an important part of the Australia setup. The 31-year-old has 138 appearances for the Matildas with 39 goals at the time of writing, and will expect to add to that tally at a home Asian Cup in March. ","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"72","Last year":"80","change on last year":"8","Name":"Debinha","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Kansas City Current","League":"NWSL","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"34","Nationality":"Brazil","Filters":"Brazil,NWSL,Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/b91d6e6bb23465865b423c091508c8d1aa256bba/1328_535_1458_1457/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/827a0be9382af73758bc4afdf83422477ba343f2/292_168_2749_2199/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Debinha continues her streak of placing in the top 100 every year since 2018 and jumps up by eight spots. Her year was hindered by an injury, which meant she missed the Copa América, but her class and quality was evident as she scored eight goals across limited games to help the Kansas City Current cruise to the regular season title in the US. Still one of the NWSL’s best performers on her day, Debinha has become a stalwart of the division in recent years and hopefully she can enjoy an injury-free 2026 before a home World Cup in 2027. The 34-year-old still has another level to get to with her former manager at the North Carolina Courage Sean Nahas saying: “I was around Deb for plenty of years. I’ve seen all those things … and I don’t think you guys have seen the best of her. I know the best of Deb, and if it ever gets back to that, it’s not going to be good for any [opponent].”","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"73","Last year":"39","change on last year":"-34","Name":"Fridolina Rolfö","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"LEFT","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Manchester United","League":"WSL","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"32","Nationality":"Sweden","Filters":"Sweden,WSL,Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/525def25eee0e7f1ea726fdef5e1d0719d9271fd/1702_212_1472_1472/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/9d3e0da5d24875ad08f36d6e364c15fd63817e77/858_635_2498_1999/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"The experienced Rolfö makes the top 100 for a fourth year running. She took on a new challenge in 2025, leaving Barcelona for Manchester United in the summer. Her Euro 2025 was thrown into doubt by an injury, but she returned to help Sweden into the knockouts and, given her experience on the biggest stages, it’s unsurprising to see Rolfo’s biggest impact for United so far has been in Europe, scoring in three of the team’s four Champions League games so far this season.","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"74","Last year":"","change on last year":"New entry","Name":"Ghizlane Chebbak","Position":"Midfielder","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Al-Hilal","League":"Saudi Women's Premier League","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"35","Nationality":"Morocco","Filters":"Other nationalities,Other Leagues,Midfielders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/030b362fa81a17927b61eb0498313b77b659cd0e/1390_62_1075_1075/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/d06b88b216964985438d4f06fefe8ca2659d47d2/500_267_4667_3733/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"At 35, the most famous name in Moroccan football makes the top 100 for the first time and makes history for her nation. While at club level, Chebbak has always lived in the shadows of the elite, despite an interesting move to Spain where she found her feet and came out of her comfort zone. But it was for Morocco where, yet again, her best form came. Five goals in quick succession at Afcon, including a stunning strike in the final, deserved more than it got as her side gave up a 2-0 lead against Nigeria in front of a boisterous home crowd in Rabat to miss out on the coveted trophy. It was cruel on Chebbak but she was named Caf’s player of the year for her heroics, becoming the first Moroccan to win the award since it was established in 2001. “I am extremely delighted to receive this award,” she said. “This is the fruit of a lot of hard work over the years.”","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"75","Last year":"15","change on last year":"-60","Name":"Mayra Ramírez","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Chelsea","League":"WSL","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"26","Nationality":"Colombia","Filters":"Other nationalities,WSL,Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/4bb6b0ece5ef79ef22fac6ad501cef27071795c5/1059_294_1044_1045/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/d553d8fdc7b262c1a222b326d6c847aba847eacc/490_62_1647_1318/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Another player whose place in the list has been affected by injury. Ramírez’s year started so well, scoring in the League Cup final to clinch the first part of Chelsea’s domestic treble, while her Copa América performances merited more than a silver medal, scoring three goals at the tournament, including in an enthralling final. Surgery after a hamstring injury means she will return to action in the new year, and the hope is the brilliant and unique forward will quickly be back to her best.","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"76","Last year":"","change on last year":"Re-entry","Name":"Vivianne Miedema","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Manchester City","League":"WSL","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"29","Nationality":"Netherlands","Filters":"Other nationalities,WSL,Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/5cefa13188081e3e1a26f8e1b23e2cab25456fb2/772_120_722_722/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/667bf5632f9b5936bad3c5e46bd2d85263a0172c/637_138_4234_3389/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"The world is now starting to see the best Miedema again so it is refreshing to see her back in the top 100 after a couple of years dogged by injuries. It is the first time the Dutch star has made the rankings since 2022 and while not back in the higher positions she is accustomed to, Miedema is playing an important role in Manchester City’s strong start to the season and ended the last campaign with seven goals from 11 appearances in the Women’s Super League. She scored her 100th international goal at Euro 2025, against Wales, and when asked after what her favourite type of goal to score was, she said: “As long as they hit the back of the net, it’s fine with me. But if I had to choose, I always want to be the player finishing a great attacking move.”","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"77","Last year":"62","change on last year":"-15","Name":"Millie Bright","Position":"Defender","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Chelsea","League":"WSL","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"32","Nationality":"England","Filters":"England,WSL,Defenders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/ce90c8884ae6510be6eaa47153600338054c3af3/0_360_1517_1516/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/e8a545d65dc3b5b195433c61a26f6e64185a0dbf/621_162_3549_2840/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Bright claims a place in the top 100 for a sixth year running, despite taking the tough decision to step away from England duty this year, meaning she wasn’t part of the Lionesses’ Euro 2025 winning squad in Switzerland. But her performances towards the end of the 2024-25 season earned her a place in the PFA Team of the Year for the fourth time, as well as three more trophies as the Chelsea captain. Bright remains one of the best centre-backs in the world even if her international days are behind her. In November, she became the WSL’s leading appearance maker, going past Jordan Nobbs’s total of 211. Her former Chelsea manager Emma Hayes called her an “iron lady” while her current manager Sonia Bompastor says: “She is never fed up with football. Every day seems like the first day. She is been part of this club for so long, she is part of the base and its foundations. Football for her is everything, and I think she gives everything for football.”","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"78","Last year":"36","change on last year":"-42","Name":"Grace Geyoro","Position":"Midfielder","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"London City Lionesses","League":"Première Ligue","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"28","Nationality":"France","Filters":"France,Première Ligue,Midfielders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/2dc5f42aa2510a994e29589e5def02caab163010/855_93_1579_1578/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/8db3868c32fe24011481651978707c433d1df897/244_39_2614_2092/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"After years of being touted as potentially the first £1m player, Geyoro did not quite achieve that feat, but did go for a high fee in the summer. The only surprise was that it was the newly promoted London City Lionesses who prized her away from her long-term home in Paris where she had been a crucial cog in the PSG and France teams. Geyoro has well established herself as one of the top midfielders in Europe and remained consistent in 2025, featuring in the top 100 for an impressive sixth year running as she settles into her new life in London.","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"79","Last year":"","change on last year":"New entry","Name":"Rasheedat Ajibade","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"RIGHT","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"PSG","League":"Liga F","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"25","Nationality":"Nigeria","Filters":"Nigeria,Liga F,Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/c100bc544c7d240bef80d350c8ba58e07d9772fe/1690_128_1279_1278/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/49d26c4ec083d6930fce69e9f4f41cb9220c36d8/120_339_1153_923/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Ajibade makes the top 100 for the first time, having missed out by a handful of points 12 months ago when finishing 104th. It is richly deserved too. For Atlético Madrid she hit double figures for goals last season and joined PSG in the close season, but her best form came in the summer with her starring role in captaining Nigeria to an Afcon title. Ajibade was named the best player in Morocco and scored a crucial goal in the semi-final to help them on their way to another continental title. The Super Falcons head coach, Justine Madugu, said on making her captain: “She has been carrying the team along with her energy and exemplary leadership on the field of play. Some [people] are born with innate leadership qualities. We were inspired by those qualities and felt she could hold the team together.”","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"80","Last year":"","change on last year":"New entry","Name":"Lily Yohannes","Position":"Midfielder","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"OL Lyonnes","League":"Première Ligue","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"18","Nationality":"United States","Filters":"United States,Première Ligue,Midfielders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/8264a860ae405e590c9d8ab498a60a2c84c2d3fd/1205_423_1151_1151/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/17bd9a674a282f7ac991c0cba1ebc1d4565b8a2a/154_95_2229_1784/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"It was only a matter of time before we saw Yohannes in the top 100 and it has happened at the age of just 18. “Unbelievable maturity and coachability,” said Emma Hayes of the US youungster. Prominence with the national side and a big move to OL Lyonnes has made Yohannes’s 2025 a memorable one. While she is understandably having to remain patient for regular opportunities in her new star-studded team in France, she should get plenty of opportunities to show what she can do on the international stage.","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"81","Last year":"48","change on last year":"-33","Name":"Sakina Karchaoui","Position":"Midfielder","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"PSG","League":"Première Ligue","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"29","Nationality":"France","Filters":"France,Première Ligue,Midfielders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/5c435b1fa4b3201f65b1339b0a2f046564b453a6/1943_0_4672_4672/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/3f2fed781bb3aa272a68d267e14fbf2b8ae685d0/39_0_2340_1873/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"The increasingly consistent Karchaoui has added versatility to her game and it is now little surprise to see her perform in midfield rather than just at full-back. She remains one of the most influential players for PSG and France, doing her best to help two perennial underachievers remain challengers at the top level. She shone at Euro 2025 as France finally looked like becoming a serious contender for the title until it all went wrong in the quarter-finals, but that is no slight on another solid individual year for Karchaoui. Her goals for 2026? “I hope to win the Champions League, just like the boys did, and we strongly believe in it and are eagerly awaiting this big step. PSG is a club that has helped me grow as a woman and as an athlete. I owe them absolutely everything.”","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"82","Last year":"44","change on last year":"-38","Name":"Olga Carmona","Position":"Defender","Position modifier":"LEFT","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"PSG","League":"Liga F","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"25","Nationality":"Spain","Filters":"Spain,Liga F,Defenders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/df2cac09be1b7bc291a5ce788257487dfc8b6969/1004_107_2660_2660/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/07c2cef3c7c55efa65a8abad310b3068e8c74f7d/446_63_1902_1523/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"The 25-year-old Carmona is entering the peak years of her career and her ranking this year shows she has found some consistency after her incredible 2023 which saw her score the winner in a World Cup final. For that alone, it is unsurprising to see her further down the top 100 this year but she is still capable of the spectacular for her new team PSG – she showed as much with a screamer at Old Trafford in November. Carmona has nailed down the role of attacking full-back for her club and Spain.","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"83","Last year":"","change on last year":"Re-entry","Name":"Kosovare Asllani","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"London City Lionesses","League":"WSL","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"36","Nationality":"Sweden","Filters":"Sweden,WSL,Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/bd0c9e2a4b874ca18f8690ae7e3d873396738ebe/1114_296_1559_1559/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/11309209542169728927816c5031aa78e57418dd/571_0_2855_2284/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"For someone who has regularly been at the top of the European game and in the top 100 five years running, it was a strange sight to see Asllani begin her year in the second tier of English football. But after helping London City Lionesses achieve promotion, any doubts about where Asllani was at were dispelled when – at 36 years old – she proved just how good she still is for Sweden during their eye-catching run to the Euro 2025 quarter-finals, which ended only in a shootout against England. Asllani has shone in the WSL, scoring her club’s first goal in the top flight, and urging her team to have high ambitions. “Personally, I would not be happy for us to be a mid-table team at the end of the season,” she said. “A good season would be top four.”","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"84","Last year":"","change on last year":"New entry","Name":"Phallon Tullis-Joyce","Position":"Goalkeeper","Position modifier":"","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Manchester United","League":"WSL","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"29","Nationality":"United States","Filters":"United States,WSL,Goalkeepers","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/092f29d165e2943e4bd44b77c78aae0d394e45f2/594_460_3804_3805/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/07f3e7470ee6b943c3d2a37900d06a5fddf2250e/695_113_1518_1215/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"“She is on a trajectory to be the best in the world,” says her club manager, Marc Skinner. “I have no doubt about that.” Another goalkeeper making her way into the top 100 for the first time and it is hard to argue that the now established Manchester United and USA No 1 Phallon Tullis-Joyce has not earned her place. Her role in particular for United at domestic level has established her as one of the best goalkeepers in Europe in 2025, keeping 13 clean sheets for a share of the Golden Glove with Hannah Hampton. Her performances earned her a place in the league’s team of the season and she has taken her form into international duty under Emma Hayes this year.","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"85","Last year":"38","change on last year":"-47","Name":"Guro Reiten","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"LEFT","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Chelsea","League":"WSL","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"31","Nationality":"Norway","Filters":"Other nationalities,WSL,Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/9a62e88f3ce9206ea73c34deb4437764499096cd/916_189_1173_1172/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/d5d752c44e3737dda349a20a144c06aee12ef549/201_0_2842_2273/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Reiten has dropped slightly in 2025 but maintaining the form of her past few seasons was always going to be a tough task as Chelsea continue to evolve and develop. Playing as a full-back meant she could not show her best for Norway while injury also meant her year got off to a bumpy start. But class is permanent and Reiten has shown more than just glimpses of her past self when she has been on the pitch, playing a valuable role for Sonia Bompastor in Chelsea’s domestic treble last season and making the top 100 for a fourth year running.","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"86","Last year":"30","change on last year":"-56","Name":"Lea Schüller","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Bayern Munich","League":"Frauen-Bundesliga","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"28","Nationality":"Germany","Filters":"Germany,Frauen-Bundesliga,Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/bf623f614cd0364118d0a8dd8b6d0d939c2e5517/999_491_1576_1576/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/b9f457b1bc87d9f2da84a9eacd38fa344baeb7dc/358_103_1366_1093/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"It has been a solid year for the Germany international; she has not quite challenged the very top goal scorers in the Bundesliga but still ended last season’s title-winning campaign with 11 goals for Bayern Munich. She led the line for Germany at Euro 2025, scoring twice, with her head coach, Christian Wück, saying: “I think she senses when we’re thinking about substituting her, so she just scores a quick goal and then goes off. That’s what makes a striker special. She’s relatively inconspicuous and then there when we need her to be.” While her Bundesliga and international form was steady, her highlight was a hat-trick against Werder Bremen in the DFB-Pokal final.","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"87","Last year":"","change on last year":"New entry","Name":"Charlyn Corral","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Pachuca","League":"Liga MX","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"34","Nationality":"Mexico","Filters":"Other nationalities,Other leagues,Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/19eb26c4e4bcf7ddc3815e0159c08e86282caedb/812_249_2919_2919/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/8bc1afbff9a9e1c91e4bbbe1261f4660bfa2bfe4/598_314_4444_3557/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"There are very few players who have deserved a spot in the top 100 for as long as Mexico’s talismanic striker. Since narrowly missing out in 103rd in 2018, Corral has always been at the top of the Liga MX scoring charts and despite always receiving votes never made the rankings. But her form in 2025 meant she could be ignored no longer, scoring 46 goals in 45 games across last season’s two split divisions and with 22 goals in just 15 games this season at the time of writing. At 34, Corral is performing at her very best. The Liga MX Femenil social media admin may have said it best: “Genius, idol, artist, master, machine, tiger, beast, earthquake, lightning, tsunami, indomitable, supreme mind, kung fu master, peerless warrior. And they fall short, simply: Charlyn Corral.”","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"88","Last year":"","change on last year":"New entry","Name":"Geraldine Reuteler","Position":"Midfielder","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Eintracht Frankfurt","League":"Frauen-Bundesliga","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"26","Nationality":"Switzerland","Filters":"Other nationalities,Frauen-Bundesliga,Midfielders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/1c06aac264a5041ec6966e98791a7d042be3681b/2075_207_1275_1275/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/2526eb483b14637f61601c26e4c50b9ca1ac9a16/314_0_4336_3469/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"A very well-deserved initiation for a player who has gone under the radar for some time and sprung to life on the main stage in 2025. The 26-year-old Reuteler was just waiting for her moment and that came on home soil when she scored her nation’s first goal of Euro 2025. But it would be unfair to narrow her year down to just that moment. A consistent tournament followed and her form for Eintracht Frankfurt was very good too, hitting double figures from midfield in the Bundesliga last season during an excellent campaign. There were murmurings during the summer window that Arsenal were interested in signing her and it will be interesting to see if she is still at Frankfurt this time next year.","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"89","Last year":"34","change on last year":"-55","Name":"Sjoeke Nüsken","Position":"Midfielder","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Chelsea","League":"WSL","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"24","Nationality":"Germany","Filters":"Germany,WSL,Midfielders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/1a274ec92bb609fcd7708d78205cc21e128e5716/1023_108_586_586/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/71152b49effcfeb6256b221cc371b680b497e707/292_139_3026_2422/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Nüsken has become one of the most versatile players in Europe and that, perhaps, has seen her struggle to nail down a specific role. The midfielder generally has performed well wherever she has been asked to play but her year peaked towards the back end of last season and her role in Chelsea’s domestic treble. Since the new season got under way, she has had to remain patient for more regular opportunities in a stacked Chelsea squad but there is no doubt the quality the world has seen over the past few years very much remains. In October, she extended her contract until 2027 and said: “We have a big year coming up, and hopefully, we can achieve the Champions League title.”","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"90","Last year":"","change on last year":"New entry","Name":"Bia Zaneratto","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Kansas City Current","League":"NWSL","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"31","Nationality":"Brazil","Filters":"Brazil,NWSL,Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/d44f07140dd1dea2f97aade8d29a3f161b24a693/803_188_693_693/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/5d84023a61d0e2c42dc851351629dffa7943db37/74_7_2003_1602/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"After six years straight of picking up votes from our judges, the 31-year-old finally makes it into the top 100 for the first time. Zaneratto’s year peaked towards the end, with double figures for goal contributions in a star-studded Kansas City Current attack playing a vital role in the team’s regular season dominance. Her form also brought a recall to the Brazil team and she wasted no time getting back up to speed, scoring against England in a recent friendly to show she is very much eyeing a spot in the Brazil squad for a home World Cup in 2027. Right now, there is no reason to think she will not make it.","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"91","Last year":"35","change on last year":"-56","Name":"Alex Popp","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Wolfsburg","League":"Frauen-Bundesliga","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"34","Nationality":"Germany","Filters":"Germany,Frauen-Bundesliga,Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/604eec8a10d5bac224285992231bb3ad0b064377/1687_223_818_819/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/34ec42d09e6b72f2c30c39a9ecb9988473809ef8/1415_184_5705_4564/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Popp experiences a sharp drop in 2025 after hanging up her international boots 12 months ago. While it was strange not to see her leaping through the air for Germany at Euro 2025, her form in front of goal for Wolfsburg has remained consistent and her end to the year may suggest there is life left in her club career. Popp reached double figures for goal contributions last season and has started the new campaign in very respectable form. “I’m just happy to have helped the team,” she said after her club’s Champions League win against PSG in October. “Regardless of whether it’s a goal, a clearance in our box or an assist – I really don’t care. It’s just important that I can help the team with my qualities.”","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"92","Last year":"46","change on last year":"-46","Name":"Wendie Renard","Position":"Defender","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"OL Lyonnes","League":"Première Ligue","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"35","Nationality":"France","Filters":"France,Première Ligue,Defenders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/8ece23489eea4ac4125e2dde4540c5b3ea18738b/839_13_1489_1490/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/56f48953170f38897035e1f9a237c89d8c216371/2312_484_2953_2363/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Renard may be reaching the tail end of an illustrious career, but she is highly respected and performing well enough to make the top 100 this year. Missing from Euro 2025 due to a bold decision from the France head coach, Laurent Bonadei, a lack of presence on the big stage may have had an effect on Renard’s placing but at domestic level she remains an important part of OL Lyonnes’ continued success. The club captain reached a milestone in November, becoming the first player to record 100 wins in the Women’s Champions League. ","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"93","Last year":"","change on last year":"New entry","Name":"Lorena","Position":"Goalkeeper","Position modifier":"","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Kansas City Current","League":"NWSL","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"28","Nationality":"Brazil","Filters":"Brazil,NWSL,Goalkeepers","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/6f3bed83a0551e9e281ed6fbca056f5392afc898/1611_0_869_869/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/bcc6c0e50ac5c1af357059673c1f20343c85fccf/2178_903_4002_3202/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"It is always nice seeing a goalkeeper make the rankings for the first time and Lorena’s spot is well deserved. The Brazilian was superb for club and country in 2025 and there is little doubt we will see her rise in the top 100 in years to come – her statistics speak for themselves. Fourteen clean sheets saw the 28-year-old named as the NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year and earn a spot in NWSL Team of the Year, while she was in fine form for Brazil as the South American giants marched to another Copa América title.","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"94","Last year":"86","change on last year":"-8","Name":"Lizbeth Ovalle","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"LEFT","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Orlando Pride","League":"NWSL","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"26","Nationality":"Mexico","Filters":"Other nationalities,NWSL,Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/7962e283f08d911b0fdbcb8de3797990599fe09a/1114_581_1679_1679/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/84caccba7fccf6b669255b2abc1d214263121b6b/935_224_1904_1524/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"As she enters her peak years, the Mexico star Ovalle is going to be an interesting story to keep an eye on after finally leaving her home behind in 2025. After another goal-filled beginning to the year, it was only a matter of time before she was prized away from Tigres, where she was the club’s all-time leading scorer, but her record-breaking move to Orlando Pride came when the NWSL team were struggling to replicate their 2024 form. “I’m coming with the clear objective of winning titles and leaving a mark with the club,” Ovalle said upon signing a two-year deal. “I’m ready to give it my all and help the Pride continue to be a leading team.” A slight move down the rankings has followed but with a rest over the winter Ovalle could take the NWSL by storm if she and the team hit the ground running in 2026. One to watch.","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"95","Last year":"","change on last year":"New entry","Name":"Leicy Santos","Position":"Midfielder","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Washington Spirit","League":"NWSL","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"29","Nationality":"Colombia","Filters":"Other nationalities,NWSL,Midfielders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/7fbf06013b6446bf746f3b52545e507d33dc5353/1518_123_1035_1035/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/5f987d8362dcd173287669feef4986bf4d4ed5bc/0_161_3983_3185/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"A Copa América title could have been the jewel of Santos’s 2025. The Colombian scored two goals at the tournament, including a dramatic late equaliser in the final against Brazil, to take the game to penalties, but it was not to be on the international front in 2025. The 29-year-old’s performances for Washington Spirit see the exciting midfielder make the top 100 for the first time, going just better than her 103rd in 2023. Asked about the influence of the former Spirit head coach, Jonatan Giráldez, she said: \"He helped me grow a lot as a player, both tactically and, most of all, mentally. What really struck me about him is his mindset and constant pursuit for victory.\"","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"96","Last year":"","change on last year":"Re-entry","Name":"Kerolin","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Manchester City","League":"NWSL","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"26","Nationality":"Brazil","Filters":"Brazil,NWSL,Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/5510ae9261d1ef18da1dcd10af9c583370c75cfc/2268_190_1196_1197/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/8d2cef1a0331e7f1069e02720ccd23aaaa087e4f/559_199_2814_2252/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"After just missing out last year, Brazil’s forward Kerolin is back in the top 100 for a third time. The 26-year-old made a big move at the start of 2025 – out of the NWSL and into the Women’s Super League and Manchester City. A couple of injuries have stunted early progress but there has been some exciting signs of what we can expect from Kerolin as she returns to her best form after her ACL injury in 2023. For Brazil, her three goals were a key factor in the team winning Copa América. “I have this big dream of being the best player in the world and of becoming a world champion,” she told the Guardian in March. “I knew being in Europe could help me get more visibility globally because all the players who win the Fifa The Best awards are either in England or Spain. I think life is meant for dreaming so I moved here with the purpose of challenging myself.”","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"97","Last year":"","change on last year":"New entry","Name":"Gift Monday","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Washington Spirit","League":"NWSL","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"24","Nationality":"Nigeria","Filters":"Nigeria,NWSL,Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/ce4157cb46d3bbf2c39c35159383aa4eb0469f94/608_128_1852_1850/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/e3db99ce9668bb53de4d5f0b772390fc1ac079fc/588_78_3558_2847/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Monday is in the top 100 for the first time and that is despite not being involved in Nigeria’s Afcon success. It was her move to Washington Spirit at the start of the year which propelled Monday to mainstream fame, helped by her excellent tally of eight goals during an impressive debut season. The 23-year-old also scored the opener for the Spirit in the Championship semi-finals and if her performances continue, the flying winger will be further up these rankings in the future.","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"98","Last year":"","change on last year":"New entry","Name":"Esther Okoronkwo","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"AFC Toronto","League":"Northern Super League","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"28","Nationality":"Nigeria","Filters":"Nigeria,Other leagues,Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/58392d78d5dfca83c3f22f784cfa95417fbf0c09/0_156_4024_4021/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/5964e3cd05630bdc47f7d5089319f899763eb5c7/2042_477_3812_3049/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"A little moment of history: Okoronkwo is the first player from Canada’s new Northern Super League to make it on the list. She scored eight and assisted seven during AFC Toronto’s regular season and made the decisive pass in the 2-1 win over Montreal Roses to secure the inaugural Northern Super League Supporters’ Shield. An Afcon winner with Nigeria, she ended the tournament with two goals and six assists, winning player of the match in the final against the hosts, Morocco, after converting a penalty to draw level and providing two assists in the 3-2 thriller.","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"99","Last year":"","change on last year":"New entry","Name":"Signe Gaupset","Position":"Midfielder","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"SK Brann","League":"Toppserien","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"20","Nationality":"Norway","Filters":"Other nationalities,Other leagues,Midfielders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/0b7b8d81929ae4cc3eef6e49503f67bce8305d76/697_22_941_941/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/777324b76c23a93598f470586530270bb9b14d32/338_52_1736_1390/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"The brilliant 20-year-old places inside the top 100 for the first time after a year which saw a player who is not a pure striker rival the best No 9s for the Golden Boot in the Toppserien. But it was for Norway at Euro 2025 where she shone brightest, announcing herself with impressive performances which have led to her forthcoming move to Tottenham, where she links back up with her former Brann head coach Martin Ho. “Signe offers genuine invention in possession, explosiveness in duels and a top-level ability to shift momentum in 1v1 moments,” said Ho. “She has the intelligence to connect the game, the athleticism to drive forward with purpose, and the mentality to influence the standards around her. These are qualities that align fully with the identity we’re building and the demands of our style.”","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"Rank":"100","Last year":"53","change on last year":"-47","Name":"Racheal Kundananji","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Bay FC","League":"NWSL","Age at 01 Dec 2025":"25","Nationality":"Zambia","Filters":"Other nationalities,NWSL,Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/7e8c50efae8f209f7211568282ec382db2fba07c/1931_1_1325_1326/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/83c1a6d720b7d5c37968d6795ffed37defd4b435/356_355_3617_2893/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Kundananji may be further down the rankings this year as Bay FC get to grips with life in the NWSL but it is a third consecutive appearance in the top 100 for one of Africa’s finest. She has been a shining light in a tough environment, becoming her club’s all-time leading goalscorer, with nine goals across all competitions since the start of 2024. At the delayed Africa Cup of Nations, the 25-year-old scored three goals for Zambia during an impressive individual tournament. Her combination of speed, skill and finishing makes her a dangerous attacker for anyone to face.","Subbed":"YE-S","Revised":"JA√"}],"furniture":[{"header_image":"day_4_SPzgq1ZTBA.jpg"}]}}