Women's football continues to rise in popularity, with elite players showcasing their talent across the globe. Whether you are a dedicated fan or a newcomer to the sport, 2025 promises to be an exciting year for women's football, with top-tier leagues and star players pushing the game to a new height.
Here is a detailed look at 20 must-watch women's football players and the leagues they play in for 2025.
# | Player | Club | Country |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Alexia Putellas | Barcelona | Spain |
2 | Sam Kerr | Chelsea | Australia |
3 | Aitana Bonmatรญ | Barcelona | Spain |
4 | Kadidiatou Diani | Lyon | France |
5 | Sophia Smith | Portland Thorns | USA |
6 | Lauren James | Chelsea | England |
7 | Salma Paralluelo | Barcelona | Spain |
8 | Fridolina Rolfรถ | Barcelona | Sweden |
9 | Alessia Russo | Arsenal | England |
10 | Mary Earps | Manchester United | England |
11 | Debinha | Kansas City Current | Brazil |
12 | Wendie Renard | Lyon | France |
13 | Caroline Graham Hansen | Barcelona | Norway |
14 | Lena Oberdorf | Wolfsburg | Germany |
15 | Keira Walsh | Barcelona | England |
16 | Trinity Rodman | Washington Spirit | USA |
17 | Yui Hasegawa | Manchester City | Japan |
18 | Ewa Pajor | Wolfsburg | Poland |
19 | Guro Reiten | Chelsea | Norway |
20 | Linda Caicedo | Real Madrid | Colombia |
Top 10 Must-Watch Women's Football Players in 2025:
1. Aitana Bonmati | Spain | FC Barcelona | Liga F:
Aitana Bonmatรญ is the first women's player to win The Best, Ballon d'Or, UEFA Player of the Year and World Cup Golden Ball in the same year ๐คฏ pic.twitter.com/7hjKNSuG20
โ B/R Football (@brfootball) January 15, 2024
Fresh off winning the Ballon d'Or, Aitana Bonmati remains a crucial figure for both FC Barcelona and Spain. Her vision, dribbling, and ability to control the game from midfield make her a standout performer.
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2. Sam Kerr | Australia | Chelsea | Women's Super League:
SAM KERR PUTS CHELSEA ON THE BRINK OF THE TITLE WITH THIS ๐ณ
โ GOAL (@goal) May 8, 2022
(๐ฅ: @BarclaysFAWSL)pic.twitter.com/h3OKtzNhOD
Sam Kerr's goal-scoring ability and leadership make her one of the most electrifying forwards in the world. Despite injury setbacks, her return in 2025 could be pivotal for Chelsea and Australia.
3. Alexia Putellas | Spain | FC Barcelona | Liga F:
โฝ๏ธโจ Throwback in 2021 when Alexia Putellas won her first Women's Ballon d'Or! #ballondor pic.twitter.com/2ojG9Be241
โ Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) October 16, 2024
A two-time Ballo d'Or winner, Putellas is a creative force for Barcelona. After overcoming injuries, she remains a dominant playmaker and a key player to watch.
4. Trinity Rodman | USA | Washington Spirit | NSWL:
THE ONE AND ONLY, TRINITY RODMAN ๐ค
โ Washington Spirit (@WashSpirit) September 17, 2024
29 goals and 21 assists! pic.twitter.com/ybV1CIuMjt
Trinity, the daughter of NBA legend Dennis Rodman, has carved out her legacy in football. Her pace, technical ability, and work ethic make her one of the most exciting young forwards in the NSWL.
5. Lauren James | England | Chelsea | Women's Super League:
1โฃ3โฃ WSL goals.
โ Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) May 22, 2024
0โฃ2โฃ WSL assists.
0โฃ1โฃ WSL title.
Lauren Elizabeth James, everyone. ๐ pic.twitter.com/qxlIwz0zUr
James is one of the most technically gifted young players in the world. Her dribbling strength and finishing ability make her a crucial player for Chelsea and England.
6. Linda Caicedo | Colombia | Real Madrid | Liga F:
Linda Caicedo's goal was DUTTY ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ pic.twitter.com/lBgsnoyU8L
โ PRESENCE (@TazerBlack) July 31, 2023
Linda Caicedo, a teenage sensation, has already made waves for both Club and Country. Her agility, finishing, and football intelligence make her a rising star in Women's Football.
7. Sophia Smith | USA | Portland Thorns | NSWL:
WHO ELSE BUT SOPHIA SMITH ๐ช
โ The Women's Game (@WomensGameMIB) April 21, 2024
The USWNT and @ThornsFC superstar makes it 2-0 all by herself ๐น
pic.twitter.com/3xAH9iGdJt
Sophia Smith is a clinical forward and a key player for both the Portland Thorns and the U.S.A Women's National Football Team. Her ability to create and score goals makes her a must-watch.
8. Ada Hegerberg | Norway | Olympique Lyonnais | D1 Arkema:
The first winner of the women's Ballon d'Or Ada Hegerberg collecting her award and being asked if she knows how to 'twerk' pic.twitter.com/kVgH1cuHSm
โ Football Daily (@footballdaily) December 4, 2018
The first woman to win the Ballon d'Or, Hegerberg remains a dominant striker in Europe. Her goal-scoring ability makes her vital for Lyon.
9. Caroline Graham Hansen | Norway | FC Barcelona | Liga F:
๐ 31 matches
โ UEFA Womenโs Champions League (@UWCL) April 9, 2024
โฝ๏ธ 26 goals
๐ ฐ๏ธ 25 assists
How highly do you rate Caroline Graham Hansen? ๐ณ๐ด#UWCL pic.twitter.com/Xi8YiMWO35
Caroline Hansen is known for her incredible dribbling and attacking play. She is a key part of Barcelona's dominance in European Football.
10. Mary Earps | England | Manchester United | Women's Super League:
Mary Earps collects her #World11 trophy, and the team reaction says it all โค๏ธ๐@UNFP | @PFA | @PSG_Feminines pic.twitter.com/m5IvHIEXPy
โ FIFPRO (@FIFPRO) February 5, 2025
Regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world, Marry Earps' shot-stopping ability and leadership make her a crucial figure for the club and country.
Top 10 Must-Watch Women's Football Leagues in 2025:
The Womenโs FIFA World Rankings top 10 ๐
โ GOAL (@goal) December 23, 2021
1 - USA ๐บ๐ธ
2 - Sweden ๐ธ๐ช
3 - Germany ๐ฉ๐ช
4 - France ๐ซ๐ท
5 - Netherlands ๐ณ๐ฑ
6 - Canada ๐จ๐ฆ
7 - Brazil ๐ง๐ท
8 - England ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
9 - Spain ๐ช๐ธ
10 - Korea DPR ๐ฐ๐ต pic.twitter.com/8JD4ihEY3j
1. Liga F (Spain):
Clubs to Watch: FC Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.
Why Watch? FC Barcelona's dominance and Real Madrid's rise have made the Spanish League one of the most competitive in women's football.
2. Women's Super League (England):
Clubs to Watch: Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Arsenal.
Why Watch? The WSL boasts some of the best players in the world, with a highly competitive league structure.
3. National Women's Soccer League (United States of America):
Clubs to Watch: Portland Thorns, OL Reign, Washington Spirit, and San Diego Wave.
Why Watch? The NSWL has some of the best homegrown and international talent, making it one of the most unpredictable leagues.
4. D1 Arkema (France)
Clubs to Watch: Lyon and Paris Saint-Germain.
Why Watch? Lyon has been a powerhouse in women's football for years, and Paris Saint-Germain continues to challenge them.
5. Frauen-Bundesliga (Germany)
Clubs to Watch: Wolfsburg and Bayern Munich.
Why Watch? The German league has a strong history of producing world-class players.
6. Serie A Femminile (Italy)
Clubs to Watch: AS Roma, Juventus, and AC Milan
Why Watch? Italy's women's league has been growing in popularity, with Roma and Juventus leading the way.
7. W-League (Australia)
Clubs to Watch: Melbourne City and Sydney FC
Why Watch? Australia's league continues to produce top talents, with many players heading to Europe and the NSWL.
8. Damallsvenskan (Sweden)
Clubs to Watch: Rosengard and BK Hacken.
Why Watch? Sweden's league has a strong reputation for developing young talent.
9. Liga MX Femenil (Mexico)
Clubs to Watch: Moneterrey, Tigres UANL and Club America.
Why Watch? One of the fastest-growing leagues in the world, with passionate fan support.
10. Frauen Bundesliga (Austria & Switzerland- combined league from 2025)
Why Watch? A newly structured league bringing together two strong football nations a develop women's football further.
Rising Stars to Watch in 2025:
Beyond the established stars, these young players are poised to become household names:
-
- Melchie Dumornay (Haiti, Lyon): A dynamic midfielder with incredible dribbling and playmaking skills.
- Esme Brugts (Netherlands, FC Barcelona): One of the brightest young Dutch talents.
- Giulia Dragoni (Italy, FC Barcelona): An exciting midfield prospect.
- Vicki Becho (France, Lyon): A fast, creative winger with a bright future.
What to Expect in 2025?
- UEFA Women's Champions League Excitement - Can anyone stop FC Barcelona's dominance?
- NSWL Expansion - The league continues to grow, with new teams and talent.
- Women's Super League Intensity- Will Chelsea maintain their supremacy, or will Arsenal and Manchester City rise?
- International Showdowns- The build-up to the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup begins.