Let’s know who are the 10 best female soccer players according to Fifa’s The Best Award 2018 list
1. Lucy Bronze
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
Lucia Roberta Tough was born in 28 October 1991 in England. She plays for a French club (Olympique Lyon) and for the England National Team. As a player of Lyons, she won the UEFA Women’s Champions League in 2018. Before that, Lucy played for Sunderland Women, Everton, Liverpool, and Manchester City as well as North Carolina Tar Heels at college level in the United States.
Position: right-back, defense or midfield
Individual Awards:
- PFA Women’s Players’ Player of the Year: 2013–14, 2016–17
- Vauxhall England Player of the Year: 2015
- FA WSL 1 Players’ Player of the Year: 2016
- MCWFC Etihad Airways Player of the Season: 2016
- BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year: 2018
2. Pernille Harder
Pernille Mosegaard Harder was born in 1992. She’s a a Danish professional footballer who plays for VfL Wolfsburg as well as for the Danish national team, which she has captained since 2016. She made her debut for the national team in 2009. In 2017, she captained the Danish team at the final and scored a goal in Denmark’s 4–2 defeat by the hosts in Netherlands.
Position: striker
Individual Awards:
- Danish Football Player of the Year 2015/2016/2017
- UEFA Women’s Player of the Year Award 2018
3. Ada Hegerberg
Ada Hegerberg plays at Olympique Lyonnais. The Norwegian is 23 years old and was born in the city of Molde. Ada was the UEFA Women’s Champions League top scorer in 2015 and 2016. Last year, she became the first woman to win the Golden Ball.
Position: striker
Individual Awards:
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UEFA Best Women’s Player in Europe: 2016
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BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year: 2017
- Ballon d’Or Féminin: 2018
- The Best FIFA Women’s Player – Third Place: 2018
4. Amandine Henry
Amandine Chantal Henry is a French football player who is currently a member of the French senior team. She was born in 1989 and made her debut to the team in 2009. Amandine began her career in 2004.
In 2007, at the age of 18, she joined Lyon, the most successful women’s team in France. During her first season with Lyon, she injured the cartilage in her knee, which kept her out of competition for a year-and-a-half. It was a difficult time, and she considered giving up on football, but with the support of her family, she persevered and returned to Lyon.
Position: defensive midfielder
Individual Awards:
- FIFA Women’s World Cup Silver Ball: 2015
- FIFA Women’s World Cup All-Star Team: 2015
- FIFPro: FIFA FIFPro World XI 2015
5. Sam Kerr
Image Source: The Women’s Game
Samantha May Kerr is an Australian soccer player who plays as a forward for Australia women’s national soccer team, Perth Glory in the Australian W-League, and Chicago Red Stars in the United States’, National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).
During the 2017 season, she was the all-time leading scorer in the NWSL. She previously played for Sydney FC as well as the Western New York Flash and Sky Blue FC in NWSL.
Position: forward
Individual Awards:
- PFA Women’s Footballer of the Year: 2013, 2017, 2018
- NWSL Player of the Month: 2017: May, June
- NWSL Golden Boot Award: 2017 and 2018
- NWSL Most Valuable Player Award: 2017
- NWSL Best XI: 2017, 2018
6. Saki Kumagai
Saki Kumagai is a 28 year old Japanese football player. She plays for Japan national team, where she is the captain. She also plays for Olympique Lyonnais, in France.
Kumagai was part of the Japan’s winning team at 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup scoring the winning penalty in the final against the United States. She also participated of the 2012 Summer Olympics and 2015 World Cup and Japan won 2nd position at both competitions.
Position: defender
Individual Awards:
- AFC Women’s Asian Cup: 2018
- Silver Medal at Summer Olympics: 2012
- FIFA Women’s World Cup: 2011
7. Dzsenifer Marozsan
Dzsenifer Marozsán was born in Hungary in 1992. She plays professionally for a French team, Olympique Lyon, and captains the German national team.
Marozsán moved with her family to Germany in 1996, because her father, János Marozsán, a four-time Hungarian football national signed a contract with 1. FC Saarbrücken. She started her career at DJK Burbach, where she played for a boys’ team.
At the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Marozsán led unified Germany to its first-ever Olympic gold medal in football, four decades after the East German men won in 1976.
Position: midfielder
Individuals Awards:
- FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Silver Ball: 2008
- FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Golden Shoe: 2008
- UEFA Women’s U-17 Championship: Top scorer 2008
- Fritz Walter Medal: Bronze 2009
- FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Golden Ball: 2012
- UEFA Women’s Championship All-Star Team: 2013
- Algarve Cup Most Valuable Player: 2014
- UEFA Best Women’s Player in Europe Award 3rd Place: 2015, 2016, 2017
- FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year Nominee: 2016
- IFFHS World’s Best Woman Playmaker: 2016
- FIFPro: FIFA FIFPro World XI 2016
- UNFP Female Player of the Year: Winner 2016–17, 2017–18
- Division 1 Féminine XI of the Year: 2016–17
- Female Footballer of the Year in Germany: 2017, 2018
8. Marta
Marta Vieira da Silva is a Brazilian soccer player who is currently a member of Orlando Pride, in United States. She was named the FIFA World Player of the Year six times, five of them being consecutive. This is a record between men and women.
Marta is regarded by many in the sport as the greatest female footballer of all time and is renowned for her flair, quick feet, and exceptional skill on the ball.
Position: forward
Individuals Awards:
- FIFA World Player of the Year – Winner (5): 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
- FIFA World Player of the Year – Runner-up (4): 2005, 2011, 2012, 2014
- FIFA World Player of the Year – 3rd place (2): 2004, 2013
- The Best FIFA Women’s Player – Runner-up (1): 2016
- The Best FIFA Women’s Player – Winner (1): 2018
- Copa Libertadores de Fútbol Femenino Golden Ball (1): 2009
- Damallsvenskan Top Scorer (3): 2004, 2005, 2008
- Damallsvenskan Best Forward of the Year (2): 2007, 2008
- U-20 World Cup Golden Ball (1): 2004
- FIFA Women’s World Cup Golden Ball (1): 2007
- FIFA Women’s World Cup Golden Shoe (1): 2007
- Women’s Professional Soccer MVP (2): 2009, 2010
- Women’s Professional Soccer Golden Boot (3): 2009, 2010, 2011
- Women’s Professional Soccer Championship MVP (1): 2010
- Sudamericano Femenino top-scorer: 2010
- Sports Illustrated Top 20 Female Athletes of the Decade (2000–2009)
- UEFA Best Women’s Player in Europe – Seventh Place (1): 2014
- FIFPro: FIFA FIFPro World XI 2016
- IFFHS World’s Best Woman Playmaker: 2012
- IFFHS Women’s World Team (1): 2018
9. Megan Rapinoe
Megan Anna Rapinoe plays for United States women’s national soccer team and Seattle Reign FC in the National Women’s Soccer League, which one she also captains. Since 2018, she co-captains her national team alongside Carli Lloyd and Alex Morgan.
During the 2012 London Olympics, she scored three goals and made four assists that helped the United States to win a gold medal. She is the first player, male or female, to score direct from a corner kick at the Olympic Games.
Position: midfielder/winger
Individuals Awards:
- NWSL Player of the Week: fo week 16 of the 2013 NWSL season
- NWSL Player of the Week: for week 2 of the 2015 NWSL season
- 2012 Olympic medalist (gold)
10. Wendie Renard
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
Wendie Thérèse Renard is a 28 year old French football player who plays for and captains both Division 1 Féminine club Olympique Lyon and the France women’s national team.
She featured in the final match of the UEFA Women’s Champions League, in 2010 and, in the 2010–11 edition, helped Lyon win the competition. She scored the opening goal in a 2–0 win over Turbine Potsdam in the final.
Position: central defender