Ranking Player Team Nationality

1 Pernille Harder Wolfsburg Denmark

2 Samantha Kerr Perth Glory Australia
3 Ada Hegerberg Lyon Norway
4 Lucy Bronze Lyon England
5 Eugénie Le Sommer Lyon France
6 Amandine Henry Lyon France
7 Alex Morgan Orlando Pride USA
8 Wendie Renard Lyon France
9 Lieke Martens FC Barcelona Netherlands
10 Megan Rapinoe Seattle Reign USA
11 Dzsenifer Marozsán Lyon Germany
12 Lindsey Horan Portland Thorns USA
13 Fran Kirby Chelsea England
14 Marta Orlando Pride Brazil
15 Vivianne Miedema Arsenal Netherlands
16 Christine Sinclair Portland Thorns Canada
17 Ramona Bachmann Chelsea Switzerland
18 Saki Kumagai Lyon Japan
19 Alexandra Popp Wolfsburg Germany
20 Caroline Graham Hansen Wolfsburg Norway
21 Crystal Dunn North Carolina Courage USA
22 Amel Majri Lyon France
23 Kim Little Arsenal Scotland
24 Jordan Noobs Arsenal England
25 Tobin Heath Portland Thorns USA
26 Nilla Fischer Wolfsburg Sweden
27 Ewa Pajor Wolfsburg Poland
28 Jessica Fishlock Lyon Wales
29 Daniëlle van de Donk Arsenal Netherlands
30 Shanice van de Sanden Lyon Netherlands
31 Sara Björk Gummarsdóttir Wolfsburg Iceland
32 Julie Ertz Chicago Red Stars USA
33 Jackie Groenen FFC Frankfurt Netherlands
34 Nadia Nadim Manchester City Denmark
35 Becky Sauerbrunn Utah Royals USA
36 Jodie Taylor Seattle Reign England
37 Steph Houghton Manchester City England
38 Sara Däbritz Bayern Munchen Germany
39 Maren Mjelde Chelsea Norway
40 Anja Mittag Rosengard Germany
41 Ji So-yun Chelsea South Korea
42 Nikita Parris Manchester City England
43 Lina Magull Bayern Munchen Germany
44 Linda Dallmann Essen Germany
45 Rachel Daly Houston Dash England
46 Lynn Williams North Carolina Courage USA
47 Almuth Schult Wolfsburg Germany
48 Svenja Huth Turbine Postdam Germany
49 Jennifer Hermoso Atlético de Madrid Spain
50 Debinha North Carolina Courage Brazil
51 Christen Press Utah Royals USA
52 Cristiane Changchun Zhuoyue Brazil
53 Christiane Endler PSG Chile
54 Lia Wälti Arsenal Switzerland
55 Toni Duggan FC Barcelona England
56 Mallory Pugh Washington Spirit USA
57 Sarah Bouhaddi Lyon France
58 Jessica McDonald North Carolina Courage USA
59 Lydia Williams Melbourne City Australia
60 Abby Erceg North Carolina Courage New Zealand
61 Samantha Mewis North Carolina Courage USA
62 Mana Iwabuchi INAC Kobe Japan
63 Irene Paredes PSG Spain
64 Marie-Antoinette Katoto PSG France
65 Adrianna Franch Portland Thorns USA
66 Ellen White Birmingham City England
67 McCall Zerboni North Carolina Courage USA
68 Patri Guijarro FC Barcelona Spain
69 Jill Scott Manchester City England
70 Formiga PSG Brazil
71 Tabitha Chawinga Jiangsu Suning Malawi
72 Lea Schüller Essen Germany
73 Alyssa Naeher Chicago Red Stars USA
74 Griedge Mbock Lyon France
75 Claudia Neto Wolfsburg Portugal
76 Elise Kellond-Knight Melbourne City Australia
77 Sanne Troelsgaard Rosengard Denmark
78 Guro Reiten LSK Norway
79 Lara Dickenmann Wolfsburg Switzerland
80 Caroline Seger Rosengard Sweden
81 Selma Bacha Lyon France
82 Valeria Gauvin Montpellier France
83 Kadeisha Buchanan Lyon Canada
84 Fridolina Rolfo Bayern Munchen Sweden
85 Alexia Putellas FC Barcelona Spain
86 Asisat Oshoala Dalian Quanjian Nigeria
87 Sherida Spitse Varelenga Netherlands
88 Deyna Castellanos Florida State Seminoles Venezuela
89 Nahomi Kawasumi Seattle Reign Japan
90 Stina Blackstenius Montpellier Sweden
91 Millie Bright Chelsea England
92 Abby Dahlkemper North Carolina Courage USA
93 Melanie Behringer Bayern Munchen Germany
94 Tessa Wullaert Manchester City Belgium
95 Kosovare Asllani Linkoping Sweden
96 Yuki Nagasato Brisbane Roar Japan
97 Wand Suang PSG China
98 Emily Van Egmond Newcastle Jets Australia
99 Alanna kennedy Sydney Australia
100 Lena Goessling Wolfsburg Germany
1Pernille Harder
Age26

TeamWolfsburg / Denmark

PositionForward

Rank2 2017 ▲ 1

A virtuoso year for the Dane, who was the focal point for both club and country in 2018. It was
difficult not to feel sorry for Harder when Lyon scored four goals in quick succession to
deem her Champions League final goal a mere note in history, and she also saw Denmark miss
out on a World Cup spot. But none of it takes away from a year in which she starred on a regular
basis, including two goals in the German Cup semi-final and a spectacular strike against Slavia
Prague in Europe. With her ability to beat players, her technical prowess and her eye for goal,
Harder is now arguably the most complete women’s footballer in the world. She led the
goalscoring charts in the Bundesliga come the end of Wolfsburg’s title-winning 2017-18 season
and, while she trailed her teammate Ewa Pajor so far this term, six goals domestically by the end
of November and another half-dozen in the Champions League ensure Harder claims this year's
No 1 spot.
2Sam Kerr
Age25

TeamPerth Glory / Australia

PositionForward

Rank3 2017 ▲ 1

The Australian forward Kerr was once again one of the game's most prolific scorers in 2018,
topping the NWSL charts for the second season in a row with 16 goals after swapping Sky Blue
FC for Chicago Red Stars at the start of the year. Kerr's year began in her home country with a
hat-trick for Perth Glory against Canberra United before she returned to the US. She scored
three braces during the course of the NWSL season plus a hat-trick against her former club,
helping the Red Stars reach the play-offs, where they lost 2-0 to the eventual champions North
Carolina Courage. At international level she was once again the Matildas' talisman during a year
in which they just missed out on the Asian Cup, losing 1-0 to Japan in the final. Three goals at
that tournament contributed to an overall tally for club and country of 29 for the year.
3Ada Hegerberg
Age23

TeamLyon / Norway

PositionForward

Rank10 2017 ▲ 7

Hegerberg had another stellar year, consolidating her reputation as one of the top strikers in the
world. She helped an all-star Lyon side win both the Division 1 Féminine and a third consecutive
Champions League, scoring in the final against Wolfsburg. The Norwegian ended the 2017/18
season with 31 goals, 10 clear of the next best, and is already well on her way to another stellar
campaign. An outstanding tally of 15 Champions League goals, seven more than her nearest
rival, emphatically earned her the golden boot, while strikes in both legs against Ajax helped
Lyon progress to this season’s quarter-finals. Still in the international wilderness, Hegerberg did
not return to Norway duty in 2018 as Martin Sjögren’s side beat Netherlands to an automatic
World Cup spot, but her lack of football on that stage has done nothing to downgrade her talent
or reputation.
4Lucy Bronze
Age27

TeamLyon / England

PositionDefender

Rank5 2017 ▲ 1

The former Manchester City right-back has been a consistent member of the top 10 but reaches
her highest ranking this time, just missing out on the top three at the end of her first full year in
Lyon. Bronze got what she craved after leaving behind the WSL, winning the French title and
starting the Champions League final. She did not quite live up to her reputation for popping up
with goals, but did recently score against Ajax and saved her best for last season’s Champions
League semi-final against her former club, where her stunning volley not only clinched the tie
for Lyon but was nominated for Uefa’s goal of the year award. A sixth-placed ranking in Fifa’s
The Best awards was well-earned and she has continued to be a regular at national team level,
with the England head coach Phil Neville describing her as one of the leading players in the
world. In 2018, Bronze has reasserted her claim to being the best player around in her position.
5Eugénie Le Sommer
Age29

TeamLyon / France

PositionForward

Rank11 2017 ▲ 6

Often cast in the shadow of her up-and-coming strike partner Hegerberg at Lyon, Le Sommer
scored 10 goals in 13 games after the turn of the year to help fire the team to another league title
and their latest Champions League success. Asserting herself as a big game player, Le Sommer
scored a vital away goal against Barcelona in the last eight and produced the 99th minute effort
that gave them a 2-1 lead over Wolfsburg in the final. As if to emphasise her quality, a hat-trick
against Toulouse in February ensured she is now Lyon’s greatest goalscorer ever, a tally that
amounted to 226 at the time but is now approaching 250. She has been in similarly irresistible
form for France, scoring in seven consecutive games – including goals against USA, Germany,
Canada and Australia.
6Amandine Henry
Age29

TeamLyon / France

PositionMidfielder

Rank12 2017 ▲ 6

Henry's ranking as the highest midfielder in this list presents no surprise when you consider the
class and talent she brings to both club and country. Four goals from midfield were just the tip
of the iceberg as Lyon won another domestic title, but her biggest moment came in Kiev when
Lyon were trailing Wolfsburg 1-0 and looked to be on the verge of missing out on the Champions
League title. She equalised in the 98th minute, turning the tie and helping Lyon go on to lift the
trophy. But Henry's talents extend well beyond her goals. Her ability on the ball, composure and
range of passing all catch the eye and make an impact at international level too. Corinne Diacre's
France team count on her contributions, which this year included their first goal of the year
against Italy and another in an impressive 3-0 win over Germany. With her home World Cup
approaching in 2019, Henry will once again have the chance to show how well she can control
games on the global stage.
7Alex Morgan
Age29

TeamOrlando Pride / USA

PositionForward

Rank8 2017 ▲ 1

Morgan's year has brought vastly differing fortunes for club and country, and it is her
sensational form for the USA national team that places her this high. As Orlando Pride struggled
for consistency in 2018 and said goodbye to their manager, Tom Sermanni, Morgan scored just
five NWSL goals and never struck in consecutive games, although she did find the net in big
early season wins against Portland Thorns and Chicago Red Stars. It was on the international
stage that she really starred, though, as Jill Ellis’s side went unbeaten in 2018. She scored 18
times in their 20 games this year, starting off with a goal against Euro 2017 runners-up
Denmark. Two braces in a row against Mexico followed, while her best moment was a hat-trick
against Japan, their opponents in the last two World Cup finals. While her quality in front of
goal remains unquestionable for her country, one wonders just how much more Morgan can
offer for her club in 2019 – but she should play a key role in the USA's bid to retain the World
Cup next summer.
8Wendie Renard
Age28

TeamLyon / France

PositionDefender

Rank9 2017 ▲ 1

The imposing centre-back has asserted herself as one of the game's best defenders for a number
of years now. Standing at 187cm, Renard is now among the most recognisable players in the
world and, as captain of Lyon, has been pivotal in the club’s success in recent years. Given her
height, it is no surprise Renard also chips in with a goal or two, most recently scoring twice in a
league win against Dijon just days after another brace in the Champions League against Ajax.
Her latest spot in the top 10 reflects an incredible consistency in performance and demonstrates
how highly she is rated around the world. Renard has not always been in favour with new France
head coach Corinne Diacre but, after a spell out at the start of the year through injury, she has
returned to being a regular and will play an important role should Les Bleus win their home
World Cup in 2019.
9Lieke Martens
Age25

TeamBarcelona / Netherlands

PositionForward

Rank1 2017 ▼ 8

How do you follow a year where you helped your country win their first major tournament,
starring throughout in front of your home fans and securing a move to Barcelona? This year was
always going to be the difficult second album for Martens, but she did a fine job of continuing to
show the quality that brought her to the world’s attention at Euro 2017. While Barça missed out
on the Liga Iberdrola title to Atlético Madrid, Martens hit double figures for the season – with
seven of them coming since the beginning of 2018. They had better fortunes in the domestic cup
and, after Martens scored in the 94th minute of the semi-final against Athletic Club, Fran
Sánchez’s side went on to beat Atlético in the final. On the international front, the Netherlands
struggled to build on 2017’s successes but the recent play-off victory over Switzerland – in which
Martens also found the net – ensured them a place at next summer's World Cup. She shone at
the Algarve Cup, scoring twice in a 6-2 win over Japan and again in a repeat of the Euro 2017
final against Denmark.
10Megan Rapinoe
Age33

TeamSeattle Reign / USA

PositionMidfielder

Rank16 2017 ▲ 6

Like a fine wine, Rapinoe seems to get better with age and makes it into the top 10 for the first
time after an impressive year. The winger showed no after-effects of the serious injury that kept
her out for much of 2016 and could hardly have started Seattle's NWSL season much better. She
scored four goals in the opening four games and provided several assists along the way; even
though her form fluctuated after that, Reign reached the play-offs. She was once again
prominent as USA went unbeaten across 20 matches, linking up with her fellow attackers to fine
effect and coming up with the winner in their opening SheBelieves Cup match against Germany.
Rapinoe contributed to five of the USA’s goals in a 6-2 win over Mexico, scoring one and
assisting four others, and helped her side book a place in France to defend their World Cup title.
11Dzsenifer Marozsán
Age26
TeamLyon / Germany
PositionMidfielder
Rank6 2017 ▼ 5

The Germany captain drops out of the top 10 this year but her talent levels have not
waned. Seven goals and the same number of assists helped Lyon to the French title and
the Champions League before illness meant she missed a large chunk of the start of the
2018-19 season. Two goals in a tight game against Montpellier showed Marozsán’s
ability to pop up at important moments and, while she did not find the net for Germany
during 2018, she continued to play a key role as a side in transition between managers
qualified for the World Cup.
12Lindsey Horan
Age24
TeamPortland Thorns / USA
PositionMidfielder
Rank41 2017 ▲ 29

Horan was named MVP in this year's NWSL, crowning the season of her life. She rockets
almost 30 places to the verge of the top 10 and that is no surprise after a campaign in
which she scored 13 goals from midfield. The tally was not enough to see Portland retain
their league title but Horan rightly took plaudits for her performances as they made the
end-of-season play-offs. Her knack of scoring at big moments, including the semi-final
against Seattle Reign, was notable and the midfielder also chipped in with four goals for
the USA during their unbeaten 2018.
13Fran Kirby
Age25
TeamChelsea / England
PositionForward
Rank36 2017 ▲ 23

The England forward makes a big leap in the charts after playing a key role in Chelsea’s
domestic double. Kirby scored at vital moments against Birmingham and Arsenal, and
hit two in the Champions League quarter-final against Montpellier. She was just as
deadly in the FA Cup, providing a decisive double against Manchester City in the semi-
final and a further goal at Wembley as her side beat Arsenal to the trophy. This season
the big contributions have continued, most notably a Champions League hat-trick
against Fiorentina in October. For the national team Kirby has been used in a deeper
role but scored in both recent friendlies against Brazil and Australia.
14Marta
Age32
TeamOrlando Pride / Brazil
PositionForward
Rank4 2017 ▼ 10

The Brazilian superstar may have been voted Fifa's Player of the Year but she drops out
of this year's top 10. Marta managed just four league goals during the NWSL season as
Orlando Pride failed to reach the play-offs. Two goals in the first two games had
suggested a promising season and there were undoubted signs of her quality in her
footwork and technique. She played a regular role in Brazil's Copa América Femenina
triumph, also scoring against World Cup runners-up Japan in the Tournament of
Nations, but she will be hoping for a better 2019.
15Vivianne Miedema
Age22
TeamArsenal / Netherlands
PositionForward
Rank7 2017 ▼ 8

The first and second halves of 2018 could hardly have gone more differently for
Miedema. She scored two league goals in an injury-hit start to 2018, but was on target in
Arsenal's FA Cup final defeat and she has taken off this new season. Miedema has
already bagged 13 WSL goals this time around, including two hat-tricks, and is well on
her way to breaking the golden boot record before Christmas. The Netherlands have also
benefited from her hot streak: she scored in both legs of the World Cup play-off against
Switzerland to help them make it to France next summer.
16Christine Sinclair
Age35
TeamPortland Thorns / Canada
PositionForward
Rank13 2017 ▼ 3

Sinclair continues to defy the odds and it is no surprise that, even at 35, she continues to
lurk around the top end of the rankings. Nine goals and six assists ensured she was at
the heart of everything good the defending NWSL champions Portland Thorns did in
2018, even if it meant ending the year as runners-up on this occasion. Canada’s captain
also had another highly influential year for her country, scoring eight goals as they
qualified for the World Cup and Sinclair personally closed in on Abby Wambach’s all-
time international record.
17Ramona Bachmann
Age27
TeamChelsea / Switzerland
PositionForward
Rank19 2017 ▲ 2

Bachmann might not be the most prolific, but her work ethic and ability to create are
among the reasons she is so highly rated within the game. She did not score a league
goal in the second half of the 2017-18 season but saved her best for the FA Cup final,
where she was unplayable. Her two goals against Arsenal at Wembley played the biggest
part of all in helping Chelsea lift the trophy. While her tenacity, intensity and passion
make her the player she is, she could do little for Switzerland as they were swept aside
by the Netherlands in the European play-off for a World Cup spot.
18Saki Kumagai
Age28
TeamLyon / Japan
PositionMidfielder
Rank23 2017 ▲ 5

Defensive midfielders do not always receive the credit they deserve but Kumagai’s rise
into the top 20 proves that the best get recognised. One of the classiest in the game and
able to combine her duties between midfield and defence, she was not always a starter
for Lyon's all-conquering side but her major success in 2018 came for her country. She
captained Japan as they defeated rivals Australia to win the 2018 Asian Cup – making
this another top year for a top player.
19Alexandra Popp
Age27
TeamWolfsburg / Germany
PositionMidfielder
Rank24 2017 ▲ 5

Popp squeezes into the top 20 this year thanks to her role in Wolfsburg’s title success
and run to the Champions League final. While she is not a regular goalscorer, her five
assists in the second half of 2017-18 showed what a creative influence she is – and that
was underscored by the two goals she set up during her side's Champions League semi-
final against Chelsea. Five goals for Germany also ensured a successful year on that
front but unfortunately Popp may be best remembered for her red card in the
Champions League final while Wolfsburg were leading 1-0 in extra time, allowing Lyon
to go on and win the title.
20Caroline Graham Hansen
Age23
TeamWolfsburg / Norway
PositionMidfielder
Rank35 2017 ▲ 15

Injury once threatened to derail one of Europe’s most promising talents but, at just 23,
Graham Hansen is a worthy addition to this year’s top 20. There were not many goals
but the assists flowed as she forged a deadly partnership for Wolfsburg with Pernille
Harder, keeping her composure to score the winning penalty against Bayern Munich in
the German cup final. She also played a key role in helping her country finish above the
Netherlands in the World Cup qualifiers, guaranteeing an automatic spot in France for
next summer.
21Crystal Dunn
Age26
TeamNorth Carolina Courage / USA
PositionForward
Rank53 2017 ▲ 32

There was keen interest in how Dunn would fare after returning to the NWSL from
Chelsea at the start of 2018, and her rapid rise in the charts demonstrates things went
according to plan. Her ranking as North Carolina Courage's top player shows how
pivotal she was in a year where they dominated the domestic competition. Playing in a
range of positions, she scored eight goals as the Courage won the regular season and
followed that up by beating Portland Thorns for the overall title. Dunn also played a
regular role as the USA went 20 games unbeaten through 2018.
22Amel Majri
Age25
TeamLyon / France
PositionMidfielder
Rank Re-entry

Somewhat unsung in the past, Majri has managed to stand out this year in a star-
studded Lyon side. One of the most creative wingers in the game, she ended 2017-18
with double figures for assists while chipping in with two braces during the second half
of the campaign. Two further pairs have followed early in the 2018-19 campaign; she has
continued to be a regular and important player both for Lyon and the national team and,
if France want to win their home World Cup in 2019, she could be as important as
anyone.
23Kim Little
Age28
TeamArsenal / Scotland
PositionMidfielder
Rank Re-entry

There will always be questions as to whether a world-class player can remain the same
after a serious injury, but Little answered them emphatically in 2018. She had scored in
her last seven games for club and country before a setback ended her year early, but four
league goals early on proved crucial in helping Arsenal forge a gap at the top of the WSL.
She played a key role for Scotland, scoring in her country’s final three qualifiers as
they reached the World Cup for the first time, and has remained the same top-class
player she always was.
24Jordan Nobbs
Age25
TeamArsenal / England
PositionMidfielder
Rank31 2017 ▲ 7

An ACL injury has cruelly ruled Nobbs out for the rest of 2018 and, very likely, the 2019
World Cup but that does not detract from the form she has been in this year. Deservedly
rising seven places in these rankings, her ability to influence games with goals, assists
and general control is unmatched by most around the world. Unleashed by Joe
Montemurro this season, Nobbs had already scored nine goals from midfield in
Arsenal’s opening seven games, proving just how much quality she has and providing a
significant reason for Arsenal's early dominance of the league.
25Tobin Heath
Age30
TeamPortland Thorns / USA
PositionMidfielder
Rank Re-entry

A year broken up by injuries meant Heath only started 16 games for Portland as they
looked to defend their NWSL title, but her impact at key moments showed her
capabilities. She only had three goals to her name as Thorns' campaign reached the
business end but then sparked into life, proving her big-game quality with four goals in
the final four games of the regular season and an important strike in the play-off semi-
final against Seattle Reign. Heath also scored seven times for the USA during an
unbeaten 2018, bringing her overall tally to 14 goals for 2018.
26Nilla Fischer
Age34

TeamWolfsburg / Sweden

PositionDefender

Rank39 2017 ▲ 13

It is unsurprising to see the Wolfsburg captain Fischer rank among the top defenders in 2018, a
reputation she has cemented over many years. Part of a team that kept 13 clean sheets in 18
matches during the second half of 2017-18, she walked away with another league title before
announcing this season would be her last in Germany. She will return to Sweden with
Linköping; meanwhile, under her new national team manager, Peter Gerhardsson,
Fischer continued to play a big role as the Swedes booked their spot in France for the World
Cup.
27Ewa Pajor
Age22
TeamWolfsburg / Poland
PositionForward
Rank New

The Poland striker did not make last year's top 100, but she is undoubtedly the breakout
star of 2018. Pajor had a quiet end to 2017-18 on the goalscoring front – saving her best
for the Champions League, where she scored in both legs against Slavia Prague and in
the semi-final second leg against Chelsea. The youngster has gone up a few gears this
season and by the end of November had 12 league goals, including three hat-tricks,
putting her six clear of her teammate Pernille Harder and anyone else in the league. She
also scored in both legs of Wolfsburg’s Champions League tie against Atlético Madrid
and the signs are she will get better and better.
28Jess Fishlock
Age31

TeamLyon / Wales

PositionMidfielder

Rank22 2017 ▼ 6

The Wales captain ranks inside our top 30 for the third consecutive year and it is a testament to
her consistency that she is rated so highly around the world. Fishlock started the year by once
again helping Melbourne City win the W-League, scoring goals in both the semi-final and final,
before returning to the NWSL for another solid season with Seattle. A play-off semi-final defeat
meant no title though and Fishlock admitted Wales losing out on a World Cup place “took
something from her”, but her year ended on a positive with a move to European champions
Lyon, where she scored on her home debut against Montpellier.
29Daniëlle van de Donk
Age27
TeamArsenal / Netherlands
PositionMidfielder
Rank37 2017 ▲ 8

A rise of eight places shows how good the often underappreciated Van de Donk has been
at times in 2018. Voted Arsenal’s player of the year for 2017-18, she has started the new
season with seven goals already – including a hat-trick against West Ham – and a recent
streak of four in as many games. Van de Donk has remained a regular for her country
under Sarina Wiegman and played an important role in the Netherlands securing their
place at next summer’s World Cup.
30Shanice van de Sanden
Age26
TeamLyon / Netherlands
PositionForward
Rank21 2017 ▼ 9

Van de Sanden drops slightly this year due to a lack of consistency and not always being
a regular starter, but earns her lofty position after the remarkable impact she had in the
biggest game of the year. With Lyon trailing 1-0 in extra time of May’s Champions
League final, Van de Sanden came on and used her fresh legs to devastating effect in
setting up three goals in quick succession. She opened her account for the new season
on the opening day against Lille and scored three goals this year as the Netherlands
qualified for the World Cup, including one against Denmark in the play-offs.
31Sara Björk Gunnarsdóttir
Age28

TeamWolfsburg / Iceland

PositionMidfielder

Rank43 2017 ▲ 12

It has been another solid and consistent year from the classy Gunnarsdóttir. She played a big
part in Wolfsburg’s domestic double and run to the Champions League final, proving especially
prominent with some vital contributions in the latter. The Iceland international scored a big
away goal in the semi-final against Chelsea but was disappointed in the final when injury meant
she had to be substituted after an hour. She was influential as Iceland almost upset Germany to
reach the World Cup but endured further heartbreak when her last-minute penalty miss against
Slovakia meant they did not even earn a play-off.
32Julie Ertz
Age26
TeamChicago Red Stars / USA
PositionMidfielder
Rank33 2017 ▲ 1

Now one of the most talented and consistent midfielders in the game, Ertz has enjoyed
an impressive 2018. She did not score for Chicago during the NWSL campaign but
played a key role in helping her side reach the play-offs. International duty ensured a
stop-start feel to her season but she popped up with goals for USA against Brazil, Mexico
and in a World Cup qualifier against Jamaica during their unbeaten year.
33Jackie Groenen
Age23
TeamFrankfurt / Netherlands
PositionMidfielder
Rank20 2017 ▼ 13

Groenen was always going to find it hard to replicate last year’s rise but she has still
been a consistent performer this time around. Always classy on the ball, she has had a
hard time of it with an inconsistent Frankfurt side but started her year off well with a
goal against Hoffenheim and a brace against Jena. She recently found the net in a
thrilling 4-3 win over Freiburg and, alongside her domestic exploits, remained a regular
starter for the Netherlands throughout 2018. This year might not have been a patch on
her 2017, but Groenen has shown moments of quality nonetheless.
34Nadia Nadim
Age30
TeamManchester City / Denmark
PositionForward
Rank18 2017 ▼ 16

It has been a chalk and cheese year for Nadim, whose form for Denmark keeps her in a
good position. She joined Manchester City in January and started with plenty of
promise, scoring minutes into her debut and following that with the winner against
Chelsea in the WSL Cup semi-final. But a transfer request and struggle for form have
been the unhappy backdrop of a slow start to 2018-19 in which Nadim has failed to
score a WSL goal. Seven goals for Denmark – including a play-off strike against the
Netherlands – have rescued her year.
35Becky Sauerbrunn
Age33
TeamUtah Royals / USA
PositionDefender
Rank27 2017 ▼ 8

The experienced Sauerbrunn enjoyed a consistent season for new NWSL side Utah
Royals under Laura Harvey. In what was always going to be a difficult first campaign for
the team, Sauerbrunn's composed defending helped them to eight clean sheets. She had
to wait until April before making an appearance for USA, but became a more regular
member of the team thereafter and showed that she still has plenty to give.
36Jodie Taylor
Age32
TeamSeattle Reign / England
PositionForward
Rank15 2017 ▼ 21

Taylor's position on this list has fallen after she failed to build on an impressive 2017
with England. She won the European Championship golden boot last year but has
struggled for regular games under the new head coach, Phil Neville, even if she did score
in his first game – against France – back in March. At club level, things were much more
successful after returning to America with Seattle Reign. Taylor warmed up by scoring
in the W-League final for Melbourne City and nine NWSL goals followed, including a
strike on her debut against Washington Spirit.
37Steph Houghton
Age30

TeamManchester City / England

PositionDefender

Rank25 2017 ▼ 12

The England captain endured an injury-hit start to 2018 but Phil Neville believes she has been
playing the best football of her career since the start of this season. Houghton returned to the
national team squad and has retained the armband ever since, picking up her 100th cap in the
final game of the year against Sweden. She recently put aside a difficult personal situation and
returned to top form as Manchester City continued their unbeaten start to the new season,
scoring a sensational last-minute goal against Bristol and another on her 100th WSL appearance
against West Ham.
38Sara Däbritz
Age23
TeamBayern Munich / Germany
PositionMidfielder
Rank Re-entry

Däbritz was frustrated by injuries in 2017, but the 23-year-old showed why she is still
regarded as one of Europe’s most promising players this time around. The midfielder
scored eight goals in the second half of the 2017-18 season, including a beauty against
Hoffenheim and a hat-trick against Werder Bremen. A further four goals in 2018-19
have shown her continued impact on the Bayern team and she is once again a regular for
Germany, scoring in an exciting 3-2 friendly win over Canada in the summer.
39Maren Mjelde
Age29
TeamChelsea / Norway
PositionMidfielder
Rank67 2017 ▲ 28

Norway endured a disastrous 2017 but things have improved significantly for them and
for Mjelde. Her only goal of 2018 came in the first match of the year against Arsenal, but
her quality, composure and ability on the ball have been the most persuasive
demonstrations of her talent. After helping Chelsea to the domestic double, the national
team captain proved influential as her side beat the Netherlands to an automatic spot
for World Cup 2019.
40Anja Mittag
Age33
TeamRosengard / Germany
PositionForward
Rank Re-entry

Club responsibilites were Mittag's sole focus in 2018. She retired from international
duty with Germany last year and the impact on her form for Swedish club Rosengard
has been positive. She scored 17 league goals and six more in the cup, proving that her
eye for goal has not dissipated, although defeat to Gothenburg on the final day denied
Rosengard both the title and a Champions League spot. There was personal consolation
for Mittag in the form of the Damallsvenskan golden boot.
41Ji So-yun
Age27
TeamChelsea / South Korea
PositionMidfielder
Rank34 2017 ▼ 7

Ji’s consistency fluctuated at times during 2018 but her finer moments reminded people
why she remains among the best technicians in the world. Having opened the year with
a goal against Arsenal, she ended her season with two stunning efforts against Liverpool
to save Chelsea’s unbeaten campaign – while she also scored their only goal in their
Champions League semi-final against Wolfsburg. Five goals for South Korea at the
Women’s Asian Games were her highlights on the international stage and they secured
ther country's spot at next summer’s World Cup.
42Nikita Parris
Age24

TeamManchester City / England

PositionForward

Rank96 2017 ▲ 54

By her own admission, Parris is in the best form of her career. A haul of 20 league goals in the
first 11 months of 2018 has taken her above Eni Aluko as the top scorer in the WSL's history and
she has become a regular starter under Phil Neville for England. Her goal in Wales helped
England secure qualification for the 2019 World Cup and she continued her good form by
setting up Fran Kirby’s winner in a recent friendly against Brazil. With pace to burn, Parris will
continue to be a threat to any full-back.
43Lina Magull
Age24
TeamBayern Munich / Germany
PositionMidfielder
Rank59 2017 ▲ 16

Magull’s form in the 2017-18 season, which included a hat-trick against Cologne early
this year, earned her a move from Freiburg to Bayern Munich in time for the current
campaign. She went on to score three goals in her opening two matches for Bayern, but
her assist tally for the year is just as impressive as her goal record. The 24-year-old has
also solidified her role as a key player for Germany, proving her worth as a creative force
but also scoring four goals as the team qualified for the 2019 World Cup.
44Linda Dallmann
Age24
TeamEssen / Germany
PositionForward
Rank New

Fans of Essen and Germany can only be excited about what Dallman might achieve in
the future. She has had a superb year, scoring 11 league goals – including an impressive
hat-trick against Frankfurt – and has been propelled into the top bracket of young
players in Europe. Dallmann found the net twice for the national team in 2018 and it
will be fascinating to see what she can do when the 2019 World Cup comes around.
45Rachel Daly
Age27
TeamHouston Dash / England
PositionForward
Rank Re-entry

It looked like being another "what if" year for Daly when the new Houston Dash
manager, Vera Pauw, kept her in a full-back role. But she moved up front after a few
games and never looked back, entering the top five of the NWSL scoring charts with 10
goals. Dash missed out on the play-offs despite Daly's impressive form, which has
continued with England. Phil Neville has made her a regular member of his team and
she has found the net twice for her country in 2018.
46Lynn Williams
Age25
TeamNorth Carolina Courage / USA
PositionForward
Rank91 2017 ▲ 45

Williams played a big role in North Carolina Courage's NWSL title win this year, only
trailing Sam Kerr in the scoring charts. She found the net 14 times, four of those strikes
coming against the Courage’s main rivals, Portland Thorns. Five assists showed off
another side to her game. Although Williams only appeared in four matches for USA
and none since the SheBelieves Cup back in March, she will be hard to ignore if this
form continues into 2019.
47Almuth Schult
Age27
TeamWolfsburg / Germany
PositionGoalkeeper
Rank New

The Germany No 1 kept 10 clean sheets in 11 Frauen Bundesliga games for Wolfsburg
during the second half of the 2017-18 season, including nine in a row. The only goals
Schult conceded in that run came against Bayern Munich when the league was already
won. She also popped up with a surprise assist for Pernille Harder in the Champions
League final but her finest moment came when she saved two penalties in the shootout
of the German Cup final to help Wolfsburg take the trophy. Schult also maintained her
status as Germany’s No 1 throughout the year.
48Svenja Huth
Age27
TeamTurbine Potsdam / Germany
PositionForward
Rank78 2017 ▲ 30

This has been another consistent and solid year for one of Europe’s most highly-rated
strikers. Eight league goals for Turbine Potsdam during 2018 included several winners
and she continued to consolidate her spot in the Germany national team. Huth played in
all three games at the SheBelieves Cup but saved two of her three international goals for
a critical World Cup qualifier in Iceland, a match that all but confirmed Germany’s spot
at the World Cup.
49Jennifer Hermoso
Age28
TeamAtlético Madrid / Spain
PositionForward
Rank42 2017 ▼ 7

Hermoso split her year between Paris and Madrid, ending her only season at PSG with
five league goals in the first half of 2018 before returning to Spain with champions,
Atlético. She has reacclimatised like a duck to water, failing to score in only two league
matches so far this season, and her tally stood at seven at the end of November.
Internationally, Hermoso continued to be the driving force in Spain’s World Cup
qualifying campaign with goals against Austria, Finland and Serbia as they booked their
spot in France.
50Debinha
Age27
TeamNorth Carolina Courage / Brazil
PositionForward
Rank New

Debinha just missed out on the top 100 last year but her role in North Carolina
Courage's title win propels her straight into the top half. The Brazilian began her year
with the winner against Portland Thorns, ending it by breaking the deadlock against the
same opposition in the NWSL final – which Courage would go on to win 3-0. Another
seven goals in between marked her out as one of the players of the season and, to boot,
she scored four times for Brazil as they reached the 2019 World Cup by winning the
Copa América Femenina.
51Christen Press
Age29

TeamUtah Royals / USA

PositionForward

Rank30 2017 ▼ 21

Press began the year embroiled in a tug of war after being traded to Houston Dash. The USA
forward never played a game for the NWSL side and instead opted to join Gothenburg, in
Sweden, where she would score four league goals before joining Utah Royals. She only scored
two more goals there, often finding herself played out wide, and overall it was hardly the finest
season of her career. Now she must fight to ensure she is part of Jill Ellis's squad for the World
Cup, having mustered only a couple of goals for the national team in 2018.
52Cristiane
Age33
TeamChangchun Zhuoyue / Brazil
PositionForward
Rank26 2017 ▼ 26

One of the most talented and creative forwards in the game, Cristiane has virtually
removed herself from the public eye by moving to China to play for Changchun
Zhuoyue. Six goals so far in the domestic competition – plus four for Brazil as her
country won the Copa América Femenina – mean it has not been a bad year though, and
she has still been able to show her creative ability in a league to which an increasing
number of well-known players are heading. At 33, France 2019 may be her last chance
to star on the big stage.
53Christiane Endler
Age27

TeamPSG / Chile

PositionGoalkeeper

Rank New

The PSG and Chile No 1 has developed into one of the world's top goalkeepers this year after
taking the step up to France's top flight. Endler kept 11 clean sheets for her club this year and
was trusted to play in big games against rivals Lyon, but she will probably be best remembered
for her role in helping Chile qualify for their first World Cup. She kept four clean sheets in the
Copa América Femenina and then was sensational in a recent friendly scalp as Chile upset
Australia 3-2.
54Lia Wälti
Age25
TeamArsenal / Switzerland
PositionMidfielder
Rank New

Given her undoubted quality it seems strange that this is Wälti’s first appearance in the
top 100, but her role in Arsenal’s return to the top of the WSL may well have played a
part. After a solid end to the 2017-18 season with Turbine Potsdam, Joe Montemurro
brought her to London and she has played a vital role both controlling games and
protecting her defence. She will be disappointed to miss the World Cup with Switzerland
but it is no slight on her own personal year.
55Toni Duggan
Age27
TeamBarcelona / England
PositionForward
Rank46 2017 ▼ 9

Duggan says she has improved since leaving Manchester City for Barcelona, and her
form has been consistently good throughout the year. She played a big role as Barça won
the Spanish Cup last season but, perhaps invigorated by Phil Neville naming her as
England captain for a recent friendly, her best performances seem to have been saved
for the latter stages of 2018. A last-minute winner against Atlético was a particular
highlight. Back in March, she scored the first goal of Neville's tenure.
56Mal Pugh
Age20
TeamWashington Spirit / USA
PositionForward
Rank83 2017 ▲ 27

Pugh's form early in 2018 could have merited an even higher position. Two goals and an
assist in USA’s first match of the year against Denmark were followed by four more
strikes for the national team but she has been held back slightly by her club form. She
found the net twice for Washington Spirit at the start of the NWSL season but no goals
came after that; regardless, the 20-year-old has shown a level of promise that bodes well
for the future.
57Sarah Bouhaddi
Age32
TeamLyon / France
PositionGoalkeeper
Rank51 2017 ▼ 6

Bouhaddi tends to be defined by the occasional crazy moment, as shown most recently
in a critical league game against PSG, and is a love-hate figure for many Lyon and
France fans. But she has consistently been the No 1 keeper for Europe's top team over a
number of years and it is hard to argue against her overall quality and her ability to
perform when it matters. In the Champions League final Bouhaddi was only beaten by a
deflection and she will probably start in goal when the hosts look to win the World Cup
next summer.
58Jess McDonald
Age30
TeamNorth Carolina Courage / USA
PositionForward
Rank Re-entry

McDonald had a superb year on a personal level, forming a deadly partnership with
Lynn Williams as North Carolina Courage comfortably led the NWSL from start to
finish. Ten league goals – added to eight assists – included several last-minute winners.
But she saved her best contributions for last, scoring in the play-off semi-final against
Chicago and twice against defending champions Portland Thorns in the final. She then
scored her first goal for USA, against Portugal, ensuring the perfect end to 2018 for a
player who is really showing her quality.
59Lydia Williams
Age30
TeamMelbourne City / Australia
PositionGoalkeeper
Rank56 2017 ▼ 3

Williams' name commonly crops up in discussions about the world's top goalkeepers
nowadays. She kicked off her year by once again helping Melbourne City win the W-
League, keeping a clean sheet in the final. After returning to the NWSL with Seattle
Reign, her 10 clean sheets played a big part in helping them reach the end of season
play-offs, but they fell short against Portland Thorns in the semi-final. She has also
remained the regular No 1 for Australia, keeping another seven clean sheets for her
country this year.
60Abby Erceg
Age29
TeamNorth Carolina Courage / New Zealand
PositionDefender
Rank New

The driving force behind North Carolina Courage’s success this year, club captain Erceg
was a leader and commanding presence at the back. She played every minute of the
NWSL campaign and was rightly voted the league’s defender of the season, even
chipping in with a couple of goals along the way. The sense is that, at 29, the New
Zealander still has plenty more to give.
61Sam Mewis
Age26
TeamNorth Carolina Courage / USA
PositionMidfielder
Rank28 2017 ▼ 33

Injury meant Mewis missed some of USA’s early games in 2018 but, upon returning, she
played a big role in North Carolina Courage's NWSL triumph. She scored in consecutive
away games at Portland, Orlando and Sky Blue before contributing a decisive goal
against Chicago in the play-off semi-finals. Her first national team appearance of the
year did not materialise until June but she has been a regular squad member ever since
and was on target in a World Cup qualifier against Panama.
62Mana Iwabuchi
Age25
TeamINAC Kobe / Japan
PositionForward
Rank New

Playing her domestic football back in Japan after leaving Europe behind, Iwabuchi’s
main accomplishments this year have been with the national team. She found the net
nine times for her country, scoring twice in the Algarve Cup before helping them win the
Asian Cup with a goal in the semi-final against China. Iwabuchi was voted MVP for that
tournament; two goals at the Asia Games followed and she ended her year with two
more as Japan pulled apart a good Norway side 4-1. There is no doubt she is a player to
watch in France next summer.
63Irene Paredes
Age27
TeamPSG / Spain
PositionDefender
Rank86 2017 ▲ 23

Commonly thought of as one of the best defenders in Europe now, the PSG and Spain
centre-back had another solid year. She has continued to be a regular presence for the
French giants, helping them to a domestic cup triumph, and she was part of a watertight
national team defence that kept six clean sheets in a row. It all adds up to a successful
2018 for Paredes, whose improvement continues.
64Marie-Antoinette Katoto
Age20
TeamPSG / France
PositionForward
Rank New

By the end of November Katoto had scored 13 league goals in the calendar year and one
can only wonder how far the 20-year-old superstar will go. Her biggest moment came
when she scored the only goal in the French Cup final against Lyon in May. A
disappointing Under-20 World Cup with France was a low point but her club form
earned a senior debut and she has put herself in the frame to play at her home World
Cup.
65Adrianna Franch
Age28
TeamPortland Thorns / USA
PositionGoalkeeper
Rank58 2017 ▼ 7

Franch split goalkeeping duties with Britt Eckerstrom for parts of Portland Thorns’
season but, once fully fit, asserted herself as one of the best in the NWSL. The Thorns
missed out on their second consecutive title but she was voted NWSL goalkeeper of the
year and justified that with some stunning saves at key moments. Despite several call-
ups to the USA squad she is yet to make her debut, but if her form continues in this vein
she has every chance of changing that in 2019.
66Ellen White
Age29
TeamBirmingham City / England
PositionForward
Rank New

White’s superb year was only marred by the injury that ruled her out of its latter stages.
Before that, the Birmingham and England striker only failed to score in five of the 13
league games she played. She scored two against Manchester City and a hat-trick against
her former club Arsenal, leading the Blues' short-lived charge towards the top end of the
WSL in 2017-18. Her year for the national team started brightly with two goals against
Germany at the SheBelieves Cup before injury ruled her out of the last few training
camps.
67McCall Zerboni
Age31
TeamNorth Carolina Courage / USA
PositionMidfielder
Rank99 2017 ▲ 32

An otherwise successful year for Zerboni was sadly curtailed by injury. She played a
pivotal role for North Carolina Courage during their march towards the NWSL title but
then fractured her elbow in USA's friendly against Chile and did not play again beyond
September. The midfielder enhanced her reputation in 2018, popping up with three
domestic goals, but she has always been more highly valued for her all-round qualities.
After making her international debut at the end of 2017, she made another seven
appearances at that level this year.
68Patri Guijarro
Age20
TeamBarcelona / Spain
PositionMidfielder
Rank New

One of the most talented midfielders in Europe, Guijarro performed strongly at club
level this year and shone in the Under-20 World Cup – earning her a place in the top
100 for the first time. The 20-year-old started 2018 with three goals in as many league
games for Barcelona and, while there would be no league title, she did help her side win
the Spanish Cup. But it was during the summer that Guijarro announced herself to the
rest of the world. A hat-trick in Spain’s opening match against Paraguay, followed by
three further goals in three games, saw her walk away with the golden boot.
69Jill Scott
Age31
TeamManchester City / England
PositionMidfielder
Rank48 2017 ▼ 21

Everyone knows what to expect from Scott by now. The box-to-box midfielder, now 31,
opened her year with a brace away at Reading and bookended that with two goals on the
final day against her former club Everton to seal Manchester City’s Champions League
spot. Scott has featured in every league game of the 2018-19 season so far, with
City pushing hard to catch Arsenal. Scott scored against France in Phil Neville’s first
game as England head coach, found the net twice in a qualifier against Russia and was
on target in the pivotal match against Wales that sealed England’s spot at the 2019
World Cup.
70Formiga
Age40
TeamPSG / Brazil
PositionMidfielder
Rank49 2017 ▼ 21

Formiga's place in the ranking has dropped a little bit but the fact that, at 40, she is still
performing at such a high level says everything about her enduring quality. The
composed midfielder was not always a regular for PSG during 2018 but she started the
French Cup final, helping her side overcome Lyon, and was prominent in Brazil's Copa
América Femenina triumph. After scoring in the group stage against Ecuador she found
the net in the final against Colombia, proving she can still do it at the very top.
71Tabitha Chawinga
Age22
TeamJiangsu Suning / Malawi
PositionForward
Rank29 2017 ▼ 42

A post-season move from Sweden to China saw Chawinga fall off the map slightly in
2018 but her form has been good enough to keep her in the top 100. She comfortably
leads the scoring charts at Jiangsu Suning and there are few players in world football
who have such a keen eye for goal. If her progress continues, it will surely not be long
before one of the top European or American teams gives the Malawian her chance.
72Lea Schüller
Age21
TeamEssen / Germany
PositionForward
Rank New

It’s scary to ponder just how high Schüller’s ceiling might be after another year of rich
promise with Essen and Germany. A dozen league goals in 2018 before the end of
November, including a hat-trick against Werder Bremen, demonstrate her rapid
progress and she has also started to make waves on the international stage. After
making her debut in 2017, Schüller featured in all three matches at the SheBelieves Cup
– but her highlight came in a World Cup qualifier against Czech Republic, when she
scored all four goals in a 4-0 win.
73Alyssa Naeher
Age30
TeamChicago Red Stars / USA
PositionGoalkeeper
Rank New

Naeher hammered home her claim to USA's No 1 shirt in 2018 and looks sure to keep
goal during their World Cup defence next summer. She kept 10 clean sheets during her
country's unbeaten year and helped Chicago Red Stars make the end of season NWSL
play-offs. Seven clean sheets during the league season emphasised her value but there
was little she could do as the Red Stars lost out to the eventual champions, North
Carolina Courage.
74Griedge Mbock
Age23
TeamLyon / France
PositionDefender
Rank88 2017 ▲ 14

The 23-year-old may not yet be bracketed alongside some of her more illustrious Lyon
teammates but her performances have earned a slight move up the rankings. Mbock has
the ideal defensive tutor in the dominant Wendie Renard but she also knows how to find
the net, scoring braces against Marseille and Ajax. She remains a key component of the
France national team and also scored twice for for Les Bleues in their recent friendly
against Cameroon.
75Cláudia Neto
Age30
TeamWolfsburg / Portugal
PositionMidfielder
Rank50 2017 ▼ 25

Neto falls down the rankings this year and it would have been easy for her to disappear
completely given the level of competition at her new club, Wolfsburg. But she held down
a fairly regular spot, proving her quality in the middle of the park, and played an
important role in their domestic double even if she has not yet scored for the German
giants. She was ineligible for the Champions League last season, which had a positive
impact on her number of starts in the Bundesliga. The Portugal talisman helped her
country during a strong showing at the Algarve Cup, but even she could not secure them
a place at next summer’s World Cup.
76Elise Kellond-Knight
Age28
TeamMelbourne City / Australia
PositionMidfielder
Rank76 2017

If anyone needed proof of Kellond-Knight's consistency, she holds exactly the same
place in these rankings as she did a year ago. After leaving behind the Bundesliga, she
began her year in Sweden with Hammarby and then returned to Australia for a crack at
the W-League, where she scored two for Melbourne City against Perth Glory but
ultimately ended up on the losing side. Shefeatured regularly for Australia and should
continue to do so when the Matildas head to France as dark horses next year. Her wand
of a left foot will surely play a big role in any Aussie success.
77Sanne Troelsgaard
Age30
TeamRosengård / Denmark
PositionMidfielder
Rank New

Troelsgaard just missed out on last year's top 100 but her form for Rosengard and
Denmark ensured she could not be ignored this time around. While her club endured
final-day heartbreak in the league despite the 30-year-old's eight goals, she proved
decisive in the cup. Her winner against Linköping landed Rosengard the trophy and she
performed well for her national team too. Four goals at international level capped an
impressive 2018 and it is a shame that her talent will not be on show at next year's
World Cup.
78Guro Reiten
Age24
TeamLSK / Norway
PositionMidfielder
Rank New

Reiten rockets into the charts and it would be no surprise to see the 24-year-old's eye-
catching rise continue. A dominant year for LSK in Norway brought an incredible 21
league goals, including a four-goal haul against Trondheim, and she staked an early
claim for goal of the season with an effort from the halfway line. She also imposed
herself on the Norwegian national team, scoring in a World Cup qualifier against
Slovakia, and will be one of the young players to watch next year after they secured safe
passage to France 2019.
79Lara Dickenmann
Age33
TeamWolfsburg / Switzerland
PositionMidfielder
Rank63 2017 ▼ 16

A solid year for Dickenmann was cruelly ended by injury but she demonstrated her
enduring quality at all levels. Surprisingly she only found the net once in the league in
2018 but her all-round role was pivotal and she scored in the Champions League semi-
final against Chelsea, also setting up two. Four goals in four games for Switzerland saw
her play a more prominent role for her country and she deserved more than a play-off
final defeat to the Netherlands.
80Caroline Seger
Age33
TeamRosengård / Sweden
PositionMidfielder
Rank Re-entry

Seger rolled back the years in 2018 and continued to show the gifts that have long since
marked her out among Europe's top midfielders. She only scored three league goals
during the year but her role in Rosengård’s title charge went much further than that.
What could have been a crucial strike in the deciding final-day clash at Gothenburg was
ultimately for nothing but it does not take away from another superb year for the 33-
year-old. She also continued to be important for Sweden, and it seems the world will be
able to enjoy a quality player on the biggest stage one last time next summer.
81Selma Bacha
Age18
TeamLyon / France
PositionDefender
Rank New

At 18, Bacha's name should become far more familiar in years to come. She is the
youngest player to break into this list after making a greater impact than any teenager
could hope for at Europe's top level. The young Lyon left-back has regularly chipped in
with assists for her teammates and even found the net in a recent Champions League tie
against Ajax. Bacha played every one of France’s games at the Under-20 World Cup and
it seems only a matter of time before she receives a senior call-up. Time will tell whether
it arrives in time for next summer's showpiece tournament.
82Valérie Gauvin
Age22
TeamMontpellier / France
PositionForward
Rank New

Gauvin has had a stop-start year but makes the top 100 for the first time. She did little
wrong domestically for a Montpellier side that underperformed at times. Seven goals,
including recent strikes against Lyon and Paris FC, show she knows how to produce in
big games and she is becoming a more regular part of Corinne Diacre’s France side, too.
She followed a goal against Germany with a hat-trick in a friendly against Nigeria.
83Kadeisha Buchanan
Age23
TeamLyon / Canada
PositionDefender
Rank40 2017 ▼ 43

Buchanan has found it difficult to gain regular game time at Lyon, although that should
be no reflection of her quality. She had only featured three times in the French domestic
season by late November but has been a more regular member of the team in cup
matches. Despite those frustrations the defender has added two more titles to her CV
this year and continued to be a key part of Canada’s defence as they secured a spot at the
World Cup.
84Fridolina Rolfö
Age25
TeamBayern Munich / Sweden
PositionForward
Rank New

Rolfö's peak years are approaching and, accordingly, her form augurs well for the future.
Her league tally in 2018 stretches into double figures, with several more assists, and she
has been one of Bayern Munich’s key performers. For Sweden, she began her year with a
goal against Canada at the Algarve Cup and followed that with a double against Russia
in the World Cup qualifiers. She has not been involved too much since but, with a little
more consistency, the feeling is that Rolfö could achieve great things in 2019.
85Alexia Putellas
Age24
TeamBarcelona / Spain
PositionMidfielder
Rank New

At 24, the classy Barcelona forward is just starting to come into her own. Ten league
goals in 2018 is no bad tally for anyone who has to jostle for prominence in Barça's
attack with Lieke Martens and Toni Duggan, but Putellas stole the show with a stunning
quadruple against Rayo Vallecano. She recently scored for Spain against Israel and
Poland, and might just be one to watch at the World Cup.
86Asisat Oshoala
Age24
TeamDalian Quanjian / Nigeria
PositionForward
Rank61 2017 ▼ 25

Oshoala’s move to China raised eyebrows but the goals have not stopped coming for the
former Liverpool and Arsenal striker. Her form was the key factor in Dalian's second
successive Chinese Super League win, a hat-trick at Shanghai putting them in control of
the title race. The Nigerian found the net 10 times overall as her club completed the
domestic double. She spent November at the Africa Women Cup of Nations, where
another treble in Nigeria’s final group game propelled them to the final four.
87Sherida Spitse
Age28
TeamVålerenga / Netherlands
PositionMidfielder
Rank32 2017 ▼ 55

After scoring what was effectively the clincher in the Euro 2017 final, Spitse was always
going to be hard pressed to enjoy a comparable year this time. A move to Valerenga has
served her well, though, and her quality from midfield was confirmed by the nine goals
she scored in the Norwegian league. She also produced four more for the Netherlands in
World Cup qualifying before scoring the opener in the vital play-off against Switzerland,
once more leading her team to a major tournament.
88Deyna Castellanos
Age19
TeamFlorida State Seminoles / Venezuela
PositionForward
Rank44 2017 ▼ 44

The fact that Castellanos, still a college player, continues to find herself in the top 100
speaks eloquently of her talent and potential. The 19-year-old was in good form for
Florida State during 2018 but, once again, her exploits at international level earned
most of the plaudits. There is a genuine worry that we may never see Castellanos on the
World Cup stage for a struggling Venezuela, but she still scored four goals against
Bolivia at the Copa América Femenina and supplied another against Ecuador. She also
provided a late winner against Jamaica at the CAC Women’s Games.
89Nahomi Kawasumi
Age33
TeamSeattle Reign / Japan
PositionForward
Rank45 2017 ▼ 44

Kawasumi failed to find the net for club or country this year and her importance to
Seattle has dwindled under Vlatko Andonovski. But she is still a quality performer, her
three assists in limited starts showing glimpses of what "Naho" is still able to do. She
remained a regular for Japan and played a big part for the Nadeshiko as they beat
Australia to claim the Asia Cup. Additionally she was a regular at the Tournament of
Nations, overall doing just enough to keep her in the top 100 this year.
90Stina Blackstenius
Age22
TeamMontpellier / Sweden
PositionForward
Rank62 2017 ▼ 28

The talented Blackstenius remains one of Europe’s top young strikers but appeared to be
a victim of Montpellier’s indifferent form this year. She found the net only three times in
the second half of last season and took a while to open her account this time around, but
did so in style with a five-goal haul in the recent thrashing of Metz. Five goals for
Sweden made for a solid 2018 overall but more can be expected from Blackstenius down
the line.
91Millie Bright
Age25
TeamChelsea / England
PositionDefender
Rank73 2017 ▼ 18

The England centre-back is approaching a key part of her career but she continues to
grow as a defender year on year. She played a big role in Chelsea’s run to the domestic
double, scoring a rare but important goal away at title rivals Manchester City in
February. A couple of unfortunate moments at the SheBelieves Cup meant her year did
not begin as planned, but she has continued to hold off stiff competition for a national
team jersey and remained one of England’s starting centre-backs as the Lionesses
qualified for the World Cup.
92Abby Dahlkemper
Age25
TeamNorth Carolina Courage / USA
PositionDefender
Rank77 2017 ▼ 15

Having enjoyed a breakthrough year in 2017, Dahlkemper has consolidated this time
around. She is a regular for the top club side in her country and for the national team,
starring at the heart of North Carolina Courage's defence alongside the experienced
Abby Erceg. There was much to admire in her performances during the team's NWSL
success, while she was a mainstay of the USA team that went the whole of 2018
unbeaten, even though many of her 17 appearances came at right-back rather than her
more natural centre-back position.
93Melanie Behringer
Age33
TeamBayern Munich / Germany
PositionMidfielder
Rank Re-entry

The classy German, listed in our top three just two years ago before injury wiped her out
in 2017, sneaks back in after a decent year. The 33-year-old was a reliable leader as
Bayern tried to chase down a quality Wolfsburg side in both league and cup and her
performances showed glimpses of the qualities she will always be remembered for. Sadly
another knee injury curtailed her year early but there remains hope that she will return
fit and firing next year.
94Tessa Wullaert
Age25
TeamManchester City / Belgium
PositionForward
Rank82 2017 ▼ 12

After struggling to find regular game time at Wolfsburg, Wullaert took on a new
challenge in the second half of 2018 by joining Manchester City. She clicked into
gear against Birminghamand West Ham, scoring one and assisting another two against
the latter. The Belgian has continued to be one of her country's biggest influences but
her talents were not enough to secure them a World Cup spot.
95Kosovare Asllani
Age29
TeamLinköping / Sweden
PositionMidfielder
Rank New

Moving back home to Sweden appears to have done Asllani the world of good. She has
looked like the player many had expected when she joined Manchester City back in 2016
and, even though Linköping missed out in both league and cup, things could have been
even worse without her influence. Ten goals from midfield made for a more than
respectable year and she played a big role in helping Sweden reach the 2019 World Cup.
96Yuki Nagasato
Age31
TeamBrisbane Roar / Japan
PositionMidfielder
Rank Re-entry

Nagasato only found the net four times for the Chicago Red Stars during the American
domestic season and those all came during a red-hot five-game scoring streak. But her
combination and link-up play with Sam Kerr left a lasting impression, with seven assists
providing ample evidence of her creative ability. She has decided to spend the off-season
playing for Brisbane Roar in the W-League before her partnership with Kerr reunites for
another assault on the NWSL next year.
97Wang Shuang
Age23
TeamPSG / China
PositionForward
Rank Re-entry

The China superstar was always destined for a big move and it finally happened this
summer when PSG snapped her up from Wuhan. A tricky attacker, Shuang had already
scored seven goals in the first half of the CWSL season when the French giants came
calling and wasted no time getting started at her new club. Three league goals and a
Champions League strike suggest that she is perfectly at home, but her form for China
has been even more spectacular. Her international tally this year stretches into double
figures, including two hat-tricks, and she looks ready to make a name for herself at the
World Cup.
98Emily van Egmond
Age25
TeamNewcastle Jets / Australia
PositionMidfielder
Rank Re-entry

After dropping out of the rankings last year, an up and down 2018 sees Van Egmond
edge back in at No 98. She began it in the W-League with Newcastle Jets before
returning to the NWSL with Orlando Pride. Van Egmond only started 12 league matches
during a frustrating domestic season but she played regularly in a solid year for the
Matildas. Most recently, the midfielder popped up with two penalties against Chile and
she continues to be a creative spark from the middle of the park for the Jets during the
US off-season.
99Alanna Kennedy
Age23
TeamSydney / Australia
PositionMidfielder
Rank85 2017 ▼ 14

It has been a so-so year with a struggling Orlando Pride side for Kennedy after the high
of winning the W-League with Melbourne City. She popped up with two goals and an
assist during the course of the NWSL campaign, while three goals for Australia have
seen her remain highly valued by Alen Stajcic. Now she has returned to her home
country for the off-season, this time with Sydney FC. Kennedy could not have got off to a
much better start, showing her quality with a super goal against Melbourne Victory
recently even though her team went on to lose.
100Lena Goessling
Age32
TeamWolfsburg / Germany
PositionMidfielder
Rank New

Sneaking into the top 100 this year, the experienced Goessling showed she can still play
a key role for one of the top club teams in the world. Goessling was not always a regular
as Wolfsburg closed out the domestic double in 2017-18 but she started several big
games, including the German Cup final against Bayern Munich. She has continued to
feature regularly for Germany as they prepare for the World Cup, but sadly an injury has
ended her year earlier than planned.