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

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

10> Carline Graham Hansen

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

One of the big mysteries at Barcelona is why Caroline Graham Hansen is never included in the shortlists for individual awards. Five Barca players made the Ballon d’Or top 20 this year, but the Norwegian winger was not one of them. However, ask any Barca player, and they will tell you that she is among the top 10 players in the world at the very least. Graham Hansen’s best performance of the World Cup tournament came against Nigeria in the opening match. She scored two goals and was named Player of the Match. She was also one of Norway’s best players in the group stage match against Australia.

9> Alexandra Popp

Country: Germany
Age: 32
Club: VfL

Position: Striker

Alexandra Popp has won the Frauen Bundesliga seven times, the Champions League, the European Championship runner-up, and the Olympic gold medal. She is a key player for both club and country, captaining both. Popp is a force in attack, but she is also comfortable playing further back in midfield. Popp has already scored two goals in Germany’s opening match against Morocco. She is looking to add to her goal tally and help Germany win their third World Cup title. You can expect to see her score plenty of headers, or endure her share of collisions in the process.

8> Wendie Renard

Country: France
Age: 32
Club: Olympique

Position: Center back

Renard is one of the most decorated players in modern women’s club football. She has won a record 14 French league titles and eight European Cups. In 2019, the New York Times described her as an “institution” at Lyon, the most successful club in European women’s football.

At the 2019 World Cup on home soil, Renard scored three goals in the group stage: a brace against South Korea and a penalty against Nigeria. She also scored an own goal against Norway.  Renard scored a consolation goal in France’s 2–1 quarter-final defeat to the United States.  The 6 foot 2 inch-tall defender was the tallest player at that edition of the World Cup. In France’s second match of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, she scored the winning goal against Brazil.

7> Keira Walsh

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

The Barcelona midfielder is the glue that holds the England side together. She is a defensive anchor, but she is also capable of moments of creativity, as evidenced by the pass that led to Ella Toone’s winning goal in the 2022 Euros final against Germany. Walsh is at the peak of her career, and her form and fitness will be crucial for England’s chances of success.

6> Lena Oberdorf

Country: Germany
Age: 21
Club: VfL

Position: Defensive midfielder

At just 21 years old, Lena Oberdorf is a combative and intelligent midfielder who has been a mainstay of the German national team since 2019. Although she plays a more attacking role for her club, Wolfsburg, she is much more of a disruptor for Germany, snuffing out opposition attacks before they happen.

Oberdorf is strong both on the ground and in the air, and her reading of the game is far beyond her years. She has an uncanny ability to see attacks unfolding, and her timely interventions have helped Germany to keep a clean sheet in many of their recent matches. Oberdorf is a key player for Germany.

5> Aitana Bonmati

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

Partnering alongside Alexia Putellas in the midfield for both FC Barcelona and the Spanish national women’s football team, Aitana Bonmati is a bankable player for both her club and her country. At the young age of 25, the Spanish midfielder has already won 18 trophies with FC Barcelona, including four consecutive Liga F titles (in 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23) and two UEFA Women’s Champions League trophies (in 2020-21 and in 2022-23). Bonmati was the Most Valuable Player of the UEFA Women’s Champions League final in 2021 as FC Barcelona lifted the crown. Playing for Spain, she has scored 16 goals in 47 matches so far.

4> Lauren James

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

Lambeth-born Lauren received her first call-up for the England senior squad in November 2020, after catching the eye with her form at Manchester United in the Barclays FA WSL during the early stages of the 2020-21 campaign. She was already well known to the Lionesses’ coaching staff having previously excelled with England at development level after picking up caps at WU17s and WU19s level.

In the summer of 2018, she made the decision to move north and sign with Manchester United and she helped them to win promotion from the FA Women’s Championship and into the WSL, where she ended her first campaign as top scorer.

3> Megan Rapinoe

Country: United States

Age: 38

Club: OL Reign (NWSL)

Position: Winger

Last summer, Lauren James watched on as the Lionesses made history in their European Championships triumph. A year on and she’s an integral part of their plans to extend the domination to world football. The 2022-23 campaign was James’ breakout season — the versatile forward lit up the WSL at Chelsea with her mesmerizing dribbling and lethal finishing.

Marta headlines 20-16 of ESPN FC’s WWC Women RankingsSebastian Salazar and Kay Murray discuss players ranked Nos. 20-16 of the best players at the Women’s World Cup.

Leah Williamson, England’s injured captain, describes her as a “cheat code” and “incredible” and off the back of a season with Chelsea where James played a key role in their domestic double, she’ll be hoping for more silverware this summer.

2> Sam Kerr

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

Sam Kerr is a strong contender for the title of best female football player in 2023. Her stature as one of the sport’s greats is undeniable, underscored by her appearance alongside Kylian Mbappe on the global cover of FIFA 23.

The Australian also holds the distinction of being the only female football player to win the Golden Boot in three different leagues across three different continents― the W-League (in 2017-18 and 2018-19), the NWSL (in 2017, 2018 and 2019), and the FA WSL (in 2020-21 and 2021-22). Kerr also led the Australian team to a historic maiden semi-final of the women’s football event at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. While the Australian side couldn’t manage to secure a podium finish at the Olympics that year, all eyes was on Sam Kerr and her Australian side as they take on the world in their own backyard at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.

1> Alexia Putellas

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

Avid women’s football fans widely hail Alexia Putellas as today’s top female player globally. Leading FC Barcelona as captain, she boasts seven Liga F titles, seven Copa de la Reina trophies, and two UEFA Women’s Champions League honors. She holds the second-highest appearances and goals for Barcelona’s women’s team, with a record 101 caps for Spain. In 2021, she uniquely secured the UEFA Women’s Player of the Year, Ballon d’Or Féminin, and Best FIFA Women’s Player awards. This achievement repeated in 2022, solidifying her status as the only female player to achieve this consecutively. Now 29, Putellas targets the FIFA Women’s World Cup to complete her exceptional career and fulfill Spain’s hopes