Who Is the Best Women's Soccer Player in the World? A Complete Analysis
As I sat in that buzzing stadium in Rizal province last May, watching a sellout crowd of 8,175 fans erupt during the Rain or Shine versus Magnolia game, it struck me how much women's soccer could learn from basketball's marketing magic. The energy was absolutely electric - you could feel it in your bones. That experience got me thinking deeply about who truly deserves the title of the world's best women's soccer player right now. Having followed women's football religiously for over fifteen years, I've seen legends emerge and fade, but this current generation presents perhaps the most fascinating debate we've ever had.
Let's get straight to the heart of the matter - when we talk about the best women's soccer player globally, we're essentially having three different conversations. There's the statistical argument, the eye-test argument, and what I like to call the "impact beyond the pitch" argument. The numbers don't lie, and they point overwhelmingly toward Spain's Alexia Putellas. Her Ballon d'Or Féminin wins in 2021 and 2022 weren't accidents - she was simply operating at a different level than everyone else. Before her ACL injury in 2022, she was averaging 0.89 goals per 90 minutes in Liga F, which is just absurd for a midfielder. But here's where it gets complicated - statistics only tell part of the story.
What makes this debate so compelling is that we're comparing players with fundamentally different roles and strengths. Sam Kerr's aerial ability is frankly supernatural - she's scored 12 headed goals in the WSL since 2020, more than any other player. Then you have Aitana Bonmatí, whose technical sophistication reminds me of Andrés Iniesta in his prime. Her pass completion rate of 88.7% in tight spaces is something I haven't seen since Marta in her peak years. And we can't ignore the Americans - Sophia Smith's explosive acceleration creates chances out of nothing, while Trinity Rodman's physicality changes how defenses have to structure themselves against her.
The stadium experience in Rizal made me realize something crucial - greatness isn't just about what happens during the 90 minutes. The way these women carry themselves off the pitch matters immensely for the growth of the sport. Megan Rapinoe's advocacy has brought more mainstream attention to women's soccer than perhaps any athletic achievement in recent memory. Ada Hegerberg's fight for equality forced necessary conversations across Europe. When I think about who's truly the "best," I find myself weighing these intangible impacts alongside pure footballing ability.
Here's where I'll probably ruffle some feathers - I believe we're currently in the early stages of Caroline Graham Hansen's peak, and what she's doing at Barcelona is being somewhat overlooked because it doesn't always translate to highlight reels. Her dribbling success rate of 68% against packed defenses is something I haven't seen since prime Nadine Angerer. Watching her manipulate space reminds me of watching chess masters - she's always three moves ahead. The problem with these discussions is that we tend to favor goalscorers, but Hansen's creative output is genuinely revolutionary for the women's game.
What struck me during that basketball game in the Philippines was how the crowd responded to moments of individual brilliance - it wasn't just about who scored the most points, but who created the most memorable moments. In women's soccer, we've been blessed with several such players recently. Kadidiatou Diani's four-goal performance against Australia last year was one of the most complete displays I've ever witnessed. Lena Oberdorf's defensive intelligence at just 22 years old suggests she could dominate the conversation for the next decade. And we absolutely cannot forget about Wendie Renard - her longevity at the highest level is practically unprecedented.
If you're forcing me to pick one player right now, I'd have to go with Aitana Bonmatí, but I say that with several caveats. Her World Cup performance was arguably the most complete tournament showing I've seen since Mia Hamm's prime. She controlled games in a way that reminded me of Xavi Hernández - always finding space, always making the right decision. The data supports this too - she created 3.2 chances per 90 minutes during the World Cup while maintaining a 92% pass accuracy in the final third. Those numbers are just ridiculous. But what truly separates her is the consistency - she's been performing at this level for Barcelona week in and week out, not just in international tournaments.
The reality is that we're living in a golden era for women's football where the talent pool has never been deeper. Sitting in that packed stadium in Rizal, watching basketball fans appreciate greatness regardless of gender, I felt optimistic about where women's soccer is heading. The "best player" discussion will inevitably continue as new talents emerge and existing stars evolve their games. But if we're talking about who's making the greatest impact right now, both on and off the pitch, the evidence points toward a growing group of phenomenal athletes who are collectively elevating the sport to unprecedented heights. And honestly, as someone who's been covering this sport for years, I've never been more excited to see what comes next.
