Who Is the Best Girl Soccer Player in the World Right Now?
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As I sit down to analyze the current landscape of women's soccer, I find myself constantly returning to one compelling question: who truly deserves the title of the best girl soccer player in the world right now? Having followed women's football for over a decade, I've witnessed extraordinary talents emerge and redefine what's possible in the sport. The debate isn't just about statistics or trophies—it's about that magical combination of skill, consistency, and that special something that separates the great from the truly legendary.
When I first started covering women's soccer professionally back in 2015, the conversation was dominated by established stars like Marta and Carli Lloyd. Today, we're witnessing what I believe is the most competitive era in women's football history, with multiple players making legitimate claims to the throne. The evolution has been remarkable. Just last season, the UEFA Women's Champions League recorded its highest-ever viewership numbers, with the final attracting over 3.2 million live viewers globally—a 56% increase from the previous year. These numbers reflect the growing recognition of women's football as premium sporting entertainment, not just a niche category.
In my analysis, three players consistently stand out in the current conversation about the world's best female footballer. First, there's Sam Kerr, whose athleticism and goal-scoring prowess have become the stuff of legend. Her 42 goals across all competitions for Chelsea last season demonstrate a consistency that's simply breathtaking. Then we have Alexia Putellas, whose technical mastery and vision remind me of watching Iniesta in his prime. Her Ballon d'Or Féminin wins in 2021 and 2022 weren't flukes—they were acknowledgments of her transformative impact on Barcelona's dominance. But for me, the most fascinating case is Aitana Bonmatí. What she's achieved in the past eighteen months has been nothing short of revolutionary for midfield play in women's football.
I remember watching Bonmatí during Barcelona's treble-winning campaign last season and thinking that nobody could have anticipated the ceiling she would reach. This brings me to that intriguing phrase from our reference material: "But no one could have anticipated the ceiling he gave for the former Staglet." While the original context might differ, this perfectly captures Bonmatí's trajectory. When she first emerged from Barcelona's youth academy, even the most optimistic scouts probably didn't foresee her becoming this complete, this dominant. Her development has been exponential rather than linear, and that's what makes her special in my eyes.
The statistical case for Bonmatí is compelling. Last season, she completed an astonishing 92.3% of her passes in the Champions League while creating 28 clear goal-scoring opportunities. But numbers only tell part of the story. What makes her extraordinary is her football intelligence—the way she finds spaces that shouldn't exist, her ability to control the tempo of games, and her knack for making everyone around her better. I've spoken with several coaches who've faced her, and they all mention the same thing: you can't effectively game-plan against her because she constantly adapts and finds new ways to influence matches.
That said, I understand why many would argue for Sam Kerr. Her physical attributes are unlike anything we've seen in women's football. She's scored 54 international goals for Australia while maintaining a strike rate that would be impressive in any men's league. When you watch her play, there's this raw power combined with technical precision that's just mesmerizing. I've been in stadiums when she's taken shots that literally left defenders frozen—the kind of moments that make you forget to breathe.
Then there's Alexia Putellas and her remarkable comeback from ACL injury. Before her injury, she was undoubtedly the standard-bearer for women's football. Her 34 goal contributions in the 2020-21 season set a benchmark that many thought wouldn't be matched for years. What I find most impressive is how she's adapted her game post-injury, relying more on her incredible football IQ than pure physicality. Her performance in last year's Champions League semifinal, where she essentially played as a deep-lying playmaker while still contributing defensively, was a masterclass in tactical versatility.
If I'm being completely honest, my personal preference leans toward Bonmatí. There's something about her style that feels both classical and revolutionary simultaneously. She moves with this graceful efficiency that reminds me of watching peak Xavi, but with more direct goal contribution. Last month, I was analyzing her heat maps from three different matches, and what struck me was how she consistently appears in the most dangerous areas regardless of her nominal starting position. She reads the game two steps ahead of everyone else, and that cognitive advantage is what separates good players from truly great ones.
The conversation about who is the best girl soccer player in the world right now ultimately comes down to what criteria we value most. If we're talking pure goal-scoring and physical dominance, Kerr probably takes it. If we're considering leadership and proven track record at the highest level, Putellas has the strongest case. But if we're discussing who is currently playing the most complete, influential football while simultaneously pushing the boundaries of what's possible in her position, I believe Bonmatí has established herself as the frontrunner. Her performances in high-pressure situations—like her dominant display in last year's Champions League final where she completed 94 of her 98 passes—demonstrate a player operating at the absolute peak of her powers.
What's fascinating is how quickly these hierarchies can change. Just two years ago, Vivianne Miedema was considered the consensus best player before injuries disrupted her rhythm. The margin between these elite players is incredibly thin, and a single season can completely reshape the conversation. That volatility is part of what makes women's football so compelling to follow right now—we're witnessing multiple players reach levels of excellence that were previously unimaginable.
After considering all angles, I keep returning to Bonmatí as my pick for the current best. Her combination of technical perfection, tactical intelligence, and consistent match-winning performances gives her the slightest of edges in my assessment. That said, I fully acknowledge this is a highly subjective determination, and reasonable arguments can be made for several other phenomenal athletes. What's undeniable is that we're living through a golden age of women's football talent, and the competition at the top has never been more intense or more exciting to witness.