Women’s football has reached new heights in recent years, with world-class talent lighting up leagues and international tournaments across the globe. From relentless goalscorers to rock-solid defenders and creative maestros in midfield, the women’s game is overflowing with elite performers at the peak of their powers.
With the 2025 Ballon d'Or nominees now revealed, we’ve ranked the 10 best women’s footballers right now, taking into account club form, international impact, and overall influence on the pitch. These are the standout stars redefining excellence in the modern game and setting the standard for the next generation of talent.
10 Lucy Bronze | Chelsea & England | Defender
lucy bronze
If this was a list discussing the toughest players in the women's game, Lucy Bronze would likely be right at the very top of it. Her grit and determination have always been standout features of her game, but after revealing that she played through a fractured tibia throughout the Lionesses' successful European Championship defence, her reputation has only grown further.
A former Ballon d'Or runner-up, the 33-year-old is most certainly a veteran in the sport and maybe isn't as flawless as she was five years ago. However, she remains world-class and deserving of a place in this top 10 - one of just two English players to do so.
9 Sandy Baltimore | Chelsea & France | Defender/Midfielder
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Chelsea’s remarkable domestic treble and Champions League semi-final run last season showcased their strength, so it is not a surprise that they have several top players on their books. Lauren James is one, Hannah Hampton is another. But there is one star who is truly world-class that definitely doesn't always get the recognition she deserves.
Sandy Baltimore stood out with crucial contributions this past season but sometimes this was overlooked. She delivered the corner for Lucy Bronze’s title-winning goal against Manchester United and played a key role in all three goals during the FA Cup final, scoring twice and assisting once. What is even more impressive though, is that she often had to show versatility, operating in a more defensive role despite naturally being a winger. To do that so easily is a sign of a true top talent.
8 Claudia Pina | Barcelona & Spain | Forward
Spanish international Claudia Pina
No player scored more goals in the Champions League proper this past season than Claudia Pina. With 10 strikes in just nine games, the 23-year-old picked up the Golden Boot award - albeit after losing the final. Pina started the game in Lisbon, something that wasn't always the case last term, but she was unable to make a real impact as Barca fell to defeat.
Those European contributions alone are likely to put her on the Ballon d'Or shortlist, as is a match-winning brace in the Copa de la Reina final and a solid Liga F campaign. Pina was able to add to her case at the Euros, too, as she establishes herself as the next big hope in Spanish football to take over from the plethora of stars currently in their prime.
7 Ewa Pajor | Barcelona & Poland | Forward
Ewa Pajor
Ewa Pajor enjoyed a sensational 2024/25 season, cementing her status as one of the most prolific forwards in the world. The Barcelona striker was instrumental in the club’s domestic treble — winning the league, Copa de la Reina, and Spanish Supercup - while posting incredible individual numbers: 25 goals and 10 assists in 28 Liga F matches, and 52 goals across all competitions - numbers prime Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi would be happy with.
She also made her mark internationally, scoring in Poland’s dramatic 3-2 win over Denmark at Euro 2025 — her first major tournament appearance. With a mountain of goals and multiple trophies to her name, Pajor’s place among the game’s elite is more than well deserved.
6 Patri Guijarro | Barcelona & Spain | Midfielder
Patricia Guijarro
Patri Guijarro may not always grab the spotlight, but her influence in midfield is impossible to overlook. Known for her defensive discipline and tactical intelligence, she quietly dictates play and holds teams together, a role that rarely earns headlines, but is crucial to success. Just ask 2024 men's Ballon d'Or winner Rodri about that.
While Spain fell short in the Euro 2025 final, Guijarro was the only player from her side to convert in the penalty shootout, a moment that spoke to her composure and big-game experience. Though she didn’t lift major silverware this season, her consistency and class make her deserving of recognition, even if the top individual honours may ultimately go to more attacking names.
5 Caroline Graham Hansen | Barcelona & Norway | Winger
Caroline Graham Hansen
Caroline Graham Hansen’s talent has never been in question, and her inclusion in the Best FIFA Women's XI for 2024 only reaffirms her status among the elite. A Ballon d'Or runner-up last year, the Norwegian winger has once again delivered a brilliant season, tallying 21 goals and 14 assists across all competitions while helping Barcelona to a domestic treble.
Her performances at Euro 2025 were another reminder of her quality, with Graham Hansen standing out as Norway’s most influential player. However, the lack of major international or continental titles this year may hurt her Ballon d'Or chances - even if her individual brilliance remains impossible to ignore.
4 Alessia Russo | Arsenal & England | Forward
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England's main woman. Filling the boots of the country's all-time top scorer in Ellen White was no mean feat, but not only has Alessia Russo done that, but she has raised the bar. The Arsenal striker was pivotal in her side’s Champions League triumph, finishing as joint-second top scorer with eight goals, including key strikes against Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, and Lyon.
Her impact continued on the international stage, where she came up clutch for England in the Euro 2025 final, scoring a crucial equaliser just as Spain threatened to take control. With two major titles to her name this season and consistently influential performances, Russo has proven she belongs among the very best in the world right now.
3 Mariona Caldentey | Arsenal & Spain | Midfielder
Arsenal's Mariona Caldentey celebrates scoring
Mariona Caldentey may not have the same global recognition as some of her peers, but her performances this season firmly place her among the best players in the world. Since making the move from Barcelona to Arsenal last summer - bringing six league titles with her - she’s been nothing short of outstanding.
A key figure in Arsenal’s remarkable Champions League-winning campaign, Caldentey was instrumental in their shock victory over her former club in the final. Her excellence didn’t stop there; she also found the net in Spain’s Euro 2025 final win, capping off a sensational year. Named WSL Player of the Season, she’s now rightfully in the Ballon d’Or conversation and has esablished herself as one of the best in the world.
2 Alexia Putellas | Barcelona & Spain | Midfielder
Alexia Putellas
Alexia Putellas has firmly established herself as one of the defining figures in modern women’s football. A two-time Ballon d’Or winner, the Barcelona midfielder has been central to her club’s remarkable dominance throughout the 2020s. Known for her vision, composure, and leadership, Putellas has become a symbol of excellence at both domestic and international levels.
At just 31, she has already carved out a place among the all-time greats. While injury setbacks saw her limited to a bench role in Spain’s 2023 World Cup final win over England, her influence on the squad - and the game as a whole - remains immense. She continues to inspire a new generation of footballers worldwide.
1 Aitana Bonmati | Barcelona & Spain | Midfielder
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Aitana Bonmati is a relentless and unstoppable presence in the heart of midfield. Crowned the 2023 and 2024 Ballon d’Or winner, she played a starring role in Spain’s World Cup triumph, earning Player of the Tournament honours. She didn’t stop there - Bonmati followed up her international success by helping Barcelona clinch yet another Champions League title the following year, scoring in the final against Lyon.
Her impact on the pitch is undeniable. With graceful movement, pinpoint passing, and an eye for goal, she dictates play with ease and elegance. Bonmati doesn’t just play the game, she elevates it, setting the tone and tempo in every match she steps into. The failure to win in Europe for club and country may impact her chances of a third consecutive golden ball, but it doesn't change her standing as the greatest.