The Best FIFA Women's Player is a football award presented annually by the sport's governing body, FIFA, since 2016, to honour the player deemed to have performed the best over the previous calendar year. From 2001 to 2015, the award was known as the FIFA Women's World Player of the Year.
History The selection criteria for the players of the year are: sporting performance, as well as general conduct on and off the pitch.
The votes are decided by media representatives, national team coaches, and national team captains. In October 2016, it was announced that the general public would also be allowed to vote. Each group has 25% of the overall vote.
At the 2017 awards, 2016 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup Bronze Ball and Bronze Shoe winner and amateur club player Deyna Castellanos was nominated. Professional players Megan Rapinoe and Sam Kerr criticized the nomination.
Winners YearRankPlayerTeam(s)Votes2016 1st Carli Lloyd Houston Dash 20.68% 2nd Marta FC Rosengård 16.60% 3rd Melanie Behringer Bayern Munich 12.34%2017 1st Lieke Martens Barcelona 21.72% 2nd Carli Lloyd Houston Dash 16.28% 3rd Deyna Castellanos Santa Clarita Blue Heat 11.69%2018 1st Marta Orlando Pride 14.73% 2nd Dzsenifer Marozsán Lyon 12.86% 3rd Ada Hegerberg Lyon 12.60%2019 1st Megan Rapinoe Reign FC 46 2nd Alex Morgan Orlando Pride 42 3rd Lucy Bronze Lyon 292020 1st Lucy Bronze Manchester City 52 2nd Pernille Harder Chelsea 40 3rd Wendie Renard Lyon 352021 1st Alexia Putellas Barcelona52 2nd Sam Kerr Chelsea38 3rd Jenni Hermoso Barcelona332022 1st Alexia Putellas Barcelona50 2nd Alex Morgan37 3rd Beth Mead Arsenal372023 1st Aitana Bonmatí Barcelona52 2nd Linda Caicedo40 3rd Jenni Hermoso Pachuca362024 1st Aitana Bonmatí Barcelona52 2nd Barbra Banda39 3rd Caroline Graham Hansen Barcelona372025 1st Aitana Bonmatí Barcelona52 2nd Mariona Caldentey Arsenal40 3rd Alexia Putellas Barcelona33
Wins by player Player 1st 2nd 3rd Aitana Bonmatí3 (2023, 2024, 2025) — — Alexia Putellas2 (2021, 2022) —1 (2025) Carli Lloyd1 (2016)1 (2017) — Marta1 (2018)1 (2016) — Lucy Bronze1 (2020) —1 (2019) Lieke Martens1 (2017) — — Megan Rapinoe1 (2019) — — Mariona Caldentey —1 (2025) —
Wins by country Country Players Total 2 5 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1
Wins by club Club Players Total Barcelona 3 6 Houston Dash 1 1 Orlando Pride 1 1 Reign FC 1 1 Manchester City 1 1
FIFA Women's Player of the Year (including predecessors) PlayersFIFA Women's WorldPlayer of the Year(1991–2015)The BestFIFA Women's Player(2016–present)Total Marta516 Aitana Bonmatí—33 Birgit Prinz3—3 Mia Hamm2—2 Carli Lloyd112 Alexia Putellas—22 Homare Sawa1—1 Abby Wambach1—1 Nadine Angerer1—1 Nadine Keßler1—1 Lieke Martens—11 Megan Rapinoe—11 Lucy Bronze—11
Wins by player
Player Winner Second place Third place Marta 6 (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2018) 5 (2005, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016) 2 (2004, 2013) Birgit Prinz 3 (2003, 2004, 2005) 5 (2002, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010) — Aitana Bonmatí 3 (2023, 2024, 2025) — — Mia Hamm 2 (2001, 2002) 2 (2003, 2004) — Carli Lloyd 2 (2015, 2016) 1 (2017) — Alexia Putellas 2 (2021, 2022) — 1 (2025) Abby Wambach 1 (2012) 1 (2013) 2 (2011, 2014) Lucy Bronze 1 (2020) — 1 (2019) Homare Sawa 1 (2011) — — Nadine Angerer 1 (2013) — — Nadine Keßler 1 (2014) — — Lieke Martens 1 (2017) — — Megan Rapinoe 1 (2019) — — Mariona Caldentey — 1 (2025) —
Wins by country Country Players Total 4 6 1 6 3 5 2 5 1 1 1 1 1 1
Wins by club Club Players Total Barcelona 3 6 1. FFC Frankfurt 1 3 Umeå IK 1 3 Washington Freedom 1 2 Houston Dash 1 2 Santos 1 1 FC Gold Pride 1 1 INAC Kobe Leonessa 1 1 Brisbane Roar 1 1 VfL Wolfsburg 1 1 Orlando Pride 1 1 Reign FC 1 1 Manchester City 1 1
See also List of sports awards honoring women The Best FIFA Football Awards Ballon d'Or Féminin
Notes
References
External links Official FIFA website Official Facebook website