Ranked! The 50 best women's football players of all time

40. Kim Little

Kim Little of Arsenal runs with the ball during the FA Women's Continental Tyres League Cup Semi Final match between Arsenal and Aston Villa at Meadow Park on March 06, 2024 in Borehamwood, England. (Photo by Alex Burstow/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Kim Little of Arsenal  (Image credit: Getty Images)

At her peak, Little was one of the very best in the world. She was part of an all-conquering Arsenal side before heading to the USA where she quickly became a household name in Seattle. Now back at Arsenal, she continues to dictate play with her superior control and passing. 

Whether it’s setting up others or scoring a hatful herself, Little has excelled throughout her career on both sides of the Atlantic and has 40 goals for Scotland.

39. Melanie Behringer

Melanie Behringer of Germany in action during the Women's Euro 2009 qualifier between Germany and Switzerland at the Oberwerth stadium on August 22, 2007 in Koblenz, Germany. (Photo by Lars Baron/Bongarts/Getty Images)

Melanie Behringer of Germany (Image credit: Getty Images)

At her best, Melanie Behringer was one of the most joyous players of the modern era to watch live. 

How she could both control and read games contributed to a decade that saw her win two European Championships, a World Cup and an Olympic gold medal. 

But that’s not all. She also won the Golden Boot and was a FIFA World Player of the Year nominee for her performances.

38. Dzsenifer Marozsán

Dzsenifer Marozsan of Germany gestures during the Women's international friendly between Germany and Brazil at Max-Morlock-Stadion on April 11, 2023 in Nuremberg, Germany. (Photo by Harry Langer/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

Dzsenifer Marozsan of Germany (Image credit: Getty Images)

Marozsán has a more glorified trophy cabinet than many on this list that have already retired. 

There are few better on the ball than the German and her individual honours, including being named UEFA Player of the Year three times in a row between 2015 and 2017 proves that. She has won four league titles, five Champions Leagues, an Olympic gold and a European Championship in 2013.

37. Hanna Ljungberg

PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 25: Forward Hanna Ljungberg #10 of Sweden dribbles around Hye Yong Jon #17 of Korea DPR during their FIFA Women's World Cup match at Lincoln Financial Field on September 25, 2003 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Hanna Ljungberg of Sweden (Image credit: Getty Images)

Hanna Ljungberg was, is, and always will be one of Sweden’s greatest. 

When she retired, she was Sweden’s top scorer with 72 goals and after dragging her country to a surprise World Cup final in 2003, was a finalist for the FIFA World Player of the Year award. For Umeå IK, she scored a scarcely believable 196 goals in 277 appearances.

36. Renate Lingor

DEUTSCHLAND - CHINA (GER - CHN) 2:4; Renate LINGOR/GER (Photo by Michael Kienzler/Bongarts/Getty Images)

Renate Lignor of Germany (Image credit: Getty Images)

Another hugely decorated player and another key component of a Germany side that dominated world football for a period. 

Lingor won three European Cups and seven Bundesliga titles domestically during the 2000s, when FFC Frankfurt were at the top of German football and Lingor was a huge part of that. 

Her success on the international stage wasn’t bad either, as the midfielder walked away from her Germany career with two World Cups and three European Championships, as well as three Olympic bronze medals. 

Her performances at the 2007 World Cup earned Lingor a spot on the all-star team. There are few in German football with a bigger list of honours than this midfielder.

35. Briana Scurry

Briana Scurry #1 of the USA reacts after making a save during the penalty shot tie breaker of the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup final played against China on July 10, 1999 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. (Photo by David Madison/Getty Images)

Briana Scurry of the USA (Image credit: Getty Images)

Though Hope Solo eventually replaced Briana Scurry in goal for the USA, Scurry still had an incredible run between the posts for her national team. Keeping 71 clean sheets, she won Olympic gold medals in both 1996 and 2004 and saved a crucial penalty to help the USWNT win the 1999 World Cup.

Plus, Solo went onto become one of the greatest-ever goalkeepers, so it's not stain on Scurry's record that she was eventually ousted. 

34. Bente Nordby

Goalkeeper Bente Nordby of Norway issues instructions to her team during the women's international friendly match between Germany and Norway at the stadium am Bruchweg on August 30, 2007 in Mainz, Germany. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Bongarts/Getty Images)

Bente Nordby of Norway (Image credit: Getty Images)

With 172 caps, Nordby comes up just behind Scurry in appearances, but her contribution of only conceding one goal as Norway won the 1995 World Cup, preceded by a European Championship and followed by an Olympic gold stands her out as one of the best. 

She was a FIFA World Player of the Year nominee four times too. One of only a few players who can say they have won the European Championships, World Cup and an Olympic gold, Nordby was for a long time considered one of the best goalkeepers of her time and her legacy certainly puts her down as one of the greatest of all time when looking back at what she achieved.

33. Inka Grings

Inka Grings of Germany celebrates scoring the scecond goal during the FIFA Women's World Cup 2011 Group A match between France and Germany at Borussia Park on July 5, 2011 in Moenchengladbach, Germany. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

Inka Grings of Germany (Image credit: Getty Images)

With 195 goals, Inka Grings is the top scorer in the history of the Bundesliga, won the league’s Golden Boot six seasons in a row, and was named Germany’s Player of the Year three times. Though her 64 strikes in 96 appearances at international level could be better, Grings will certainly go down as one of the best German goalscorers.

It’s hardly surprising her domestic form contributed to an era of German dominance on the international scene, where she won back-to-back European Championships in 2005 and 2009, as well as a European Cup in the same year as the latter. Grings also won the Golden Boot in both tournaments.

32. Carla Overbeck

Carla Overbeck #4 of the USA Team carries the flag as she celebrates after winning the Woman's Soccer Final against the China Team during the 1996 Olympic Games at the Sanford Stadium on August 1,1996 in Athens, Georgia. The USA defeated China 2-1. (Photo by: David Cannon /Getty Images)

 Carla Overbeck of the USA (Image credit: Getty Images)

Carla Overbeck won 168 caps for a USA team that at times during the 1990s dominated the landscape of women’s football. After winning the World Cup in China in 1991, in which Overbeck was a mainstay in the US defence, she went on to play every single minute of the 1995 World Cup, 1996 Olympics and the 1999 World Cup, one of only two players to do so. 

Throughout her time with her nation, Overbeck was an ever-dependable presence at heart of a hugely successful decade for the world's most-decorated women's national team. On top of the aforementioned honours, she also managed to add another World Cup and an Olympic gold medal in the latter part of her career. 

31. Sandra Minnert

Sandra Minnert of Germany in action during UEFA Womens European Championship Qualifying match between Germany and Belgium on October 28, 2007 in Luebeck, Germany. (Photo by Malte Christians/Bongarts/Getty Images)

Sandra Minnert of Germany  (Image credit: Getty Images)

Sandra Minnert’s contribution to German football may best be described by the fact she was awarded the ‘Silbernes Lorbeerblatt’ – the highest sports award in Germany – six times between 1995 and 2007. 

Minnert won four European Championships, two World Cups, five Bundesliga titles and a WUSA in America with Washington in 2003. 

An all-star team member at the 2003 World Cup, which Germany won, Minnert was a constant and important presence at the heart of a successful and dominant Germany side in the early to mid-2000s. She also got her hands on a European Cup and two Olympic bronze medals during a hugely trophy-laden career.

Rich Laverty has been a women’s football writer for a decade now, covering the game across the FA WSL, several FA Cup finals and live from the 2017 European Championships and 2019 World Cup. He has written regularly for publications in the UK and USA, including The Times, Guardian, Independent, iSport, FourFourTwo, Bleacher Report, The Blizzard, These Football Times and Our Game Magazine.

With contributions from