Greatest Female Soccer Players of All Time: 2022 Update
The greatest female soccer players of all time include Marta, Mia Hamm, Birgit Prinz, and a new generation led by Sam Kerr and Alex Morgan. Here's a look at the women who defined the sport.
The greatest female soccer players have shaped a sport that has grown from amateur competition to a global professional game with sold-out stadiums and billion-viewer World Cups. Judged on trophies, individual awards, influence, and sustained excellence, a clear group of players stands apart across different eras.
How We Judge “Greatest”
For women’s football, any all-time ranking must account for the era in which a player competed. A player dominating in the 1990s was doing so with far fewer professional resources, less media exposure, and thinner opponent depth than today’s stars. The greatest players not only won — they elevated the entire game around them.
The Legends: Pre-2010 Era
| Player | Country | Position | Notable Achievement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mia Hamm | USA | Forward | Two-time World Cup winner, Olympic gold medallist |
| Birgit Prinz | Germany | Forward | Three-time FIFA World Player of the Year |
| Sun Wen | China | Forward | 2000 FIFA Player of the Century (joint) |
| Michelle Akers | USA | Midfielder/Forward | 1991 World Cup winner, foundational figure of the women’s game |
| Kristine Lilly | USA | Midfielder | Most capped player in women’s football history at retirement |
Marta — The Unmatched Standard
Brazil’s Marta is the central figure in any greatest-of-all-time conversation. She has won the FIFA Best Women’s Player award more than any other player and is the all-time leading scorer in Women’s World Cup history across multiple tournaments. Her longevity — remaining competitive and influential into her late thirties — adds to an already extraordinary legacy. She achieved all of this without ever winning the World Cup, which speaks to how dominant she was as an individual even within a team that underperformed at the biggest stage.
The 2010–2022 Generation
| Player | Country | Position | Club (peak years) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marta | Brazil | Forward | Various (Orlando Pride) |
| Abby Wambach | USA | Forward | Western New York Flash |
| Alex Morgan | USA | Forward | Portland Thorns, Orlando Pride |
| Ada Hegerberg | Norway | Forward | Olympique Lyonnais |
| Pernille Harder | Denmark | Midfielder | Chelsea, Manchester City |
| Vivianne Miedema | Netherlands | Forward | Arsenal |
| Sam Kerr | Australia | Forward | Chelsea |
Ada Hegerberg’s Impact
Hegerberg’s dominance with Olympique Lyonnais in the UEFA Women’s Champions League makes her one of the most prolific forwards in the history of European club football. Her decision to withdraw from the Norwegian national team for several years (in protest at how the women’s game was treated domestically) is itself a landmark moment in the political history of the sport.
Where the Game Stood Heading Into 2022
By 2022, the Women’s Super League in England had attracted global talent, Lyon had built a European dynasty, and the NWSL in the United States remained the dominant professional league. The audience and investment for the 2023 Women’s World Cup — building from the 2022 period — showed just how far the sport had come in a single decade.
The Next Generation
Alexia Putellas (Spain), winner of consecutive Ballon d’Or Feminin awards, represents the new standard. Her Barcelona team redefined how women’s club football could be played technically and tactically, and her influence on the 2022 cycle points toward where the greatest players of the next decade will come from.
Quick summary: Marta leads the all-time conversation for women’s football, supported by Mia Hamm, Birgit Prinz, and Sun Wen from earlier eras, and a modern generation featuring Sam Kerr, Vivianne Miedema, and Alexia Putellas. The 2022 period represents the most competitive and well-resourced era the women’s game has ever seen.
Frequently asked questions
Who is considered the greatest female soccer player of all time?+
Marta Vieira da Silva of Brazil is widely regarded as the greatest female footballer in history, having won the FIFA World Player of the Year award six times. Mia Hamm and Birgit Prinz are also central to the debate.
Which country has produced the most elite female soccer players?+
The United States has produced the greatest concentration of elite women's footballers, driven by the college system, the NWSL, and sustained national team investment. Brazil, Germany, and Norway have also produced multiple all-time greats.
Has women's football improved significantly in recent years?+
Yes. Professionalism, media coverage, attendance records, and prize money have all increased substantially since 2010, and accelerated markedly through the 2019 and 2023 World Cup cycles. The 2022 period marked a genuine turning point in commercial investment.