The Best FIFA Women’s Player

The Best FIFA Women’s Player – 2022

Fourteen nominees for The Best Women’s Player prize
Winner will be announced at glittering awards ceremony
Barcelona star Alexia Putellas won the award last year

Women’s football continues to grow at an exponential rate and the 14 nominees for The Best FIFA Women’s Player award underline the incredible depth of world-class talent that now exists. Those contenders include players whose performances lit up the UEFA Women’s EURO, Copa America Femenina and elite club competitions across the globe. The winner will be announced at The Best FIFA Football Awards™ ceremony on 27 February and here, we highlight the outstanding achievements of those shortlisted.

Aitana Bonmati

Club: Barcelona National team: Spain Bonmati enjoyed a stellar 2021/22 campaign as Barcelona won a domestic treble and reached the UEFA Women’s Champions League final. A classy central midfield player with immaculate technique, Bonmati also regularly provides vital final-third contributions – she scored 18 goals in all competitions last season. Did you know? Bonmati idolised Barcelona legend – and current men’s first-team coach – Xavi as a youngster. This is the second successive year she has been on The Best FIFA Women’s Player shortlist. The Best FIFA Women’s Player – 2022

Debinha

Club: N/A (departed North Carolina Courage in December 2022) National team: Brazil Debinha scored five times during Brazil’s triumphant Copa America Femenina 2022 campaign, including the winner in their final victory over Colombia. Her dazzling skills, electric dribbling and deadly finishing also thrilled crowds in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). Debinha scored 12 goals in 18 appearances in her swansong season with North Carolina Courage. The Best FIFA Women’s Player – 2022

Did you know? Only legendary duo Marta and Cristiane have scored more Brazil goals than Debinha

Jessie Fleming

Club: Chelsea National team: Canada

An energetic, versatile and intelligent midfielder, Fleming joined Chelsea fresh from playing a starring role in Canada’s 2021 Olympic Women’s Football Tournament triumph. She added further winners’ medals to her burgeoning collection by helping Chelsea secure a league and FA Cup double. Fleming’s three goals in the 2022 CONCACAF W Championship, meanwhile, saw her finish as the competition’s joint-top scorer. The Best FIFA Women’s Player – 2022

Did you know? Fleming is the second-youngest player in Canada Women’s history, having made her senior international bow aged just 15.

Ada Hegerberg

Club: Olympique Lyonnais National team: Norway The brilliant Norway striker made an explosive return to competitive action in 2021/22 after almost two years out with injury. Hegerberg netted 16 goals in 27 appearances for Olympique Lyonnais and capped off her season in style, scoring in the French giants’ Champions League final win over Barcelona. Did you know? Hegerberg has scored 59 goals in the Women’s Champions League – the most of any player in the history of the competition. The Best FIFA Women’s Player – 2022.

Sam Kerr

Club: Chelsea National team: Australia

Kerr sustained her sky-high performance levels over the past year, winning England’s Women’s Super League Golden Boot prize for the second season running. The Aussie ace underlined her reputation as a player for the big occasion by scoring braces in the 2021 and 2022 FA Cup finals. Chelsea have won a league and cup double in each of Kerr’s two seasons with the club. Did you know? Kerr became Australia’s all-time leading scorer in the men’s and women’s game in 2022, surpassing Tim Cahill’s previous benchmark of 50 goals.

Beth Mead

Club: Arsenal National team: England A skilful, creative attacker with the ability to contribute spectacular goals, Mead’s scintillating performances saw her win the Women’s EURO 2022 Golden Boot and Player of the Tournament prizes. The Arsenal star scored six times and contributed five assists as England’s women won their first major international title. Did you know? In December 2022, Mead became the first female footballer to win the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award – the UK’s premier cross-sport accolade.

Vivianne Miedema

Club: Arsenal National team: Netherlands Miedema’s predatory instincts and clinical finishing have made her one of the most feared strikers of her generation. The Dutch forward hit 14 league goals in 22 appearances for Arsenal in 2021/22 and also showed her value as a creative force, providing eight assists. Did you know? Miedema is just five strikes away from becoming only the 10th women to score a century of senior international goals.

Alex Morgan

Club: San Diego Wave National team: USA The irrepressible forward finished as the NWSL’s top scorer in her debut campaign at San Diego Wave, with 15 goals in just 17 appearances. At international level, Morgan hit the winner as USA beat Canada in the 2022 CONCACAF W Championship final – a competition in which she finished as joint-top scorer and player of the tournament.

Did you know? Morgan made her 200th senior USA appearance in their 2-1 friendly victory over Germany in November. She is the 13th female American player to reach that landmark.

Lena Oberdorf

Club: VfL Wolfsburg National team: Germany Oberdorf consistently performs with maturity, presence and football intelligence far beyond her years. The midfield dynamo, who only turned 21 in December, has firmly established herself as a key player for the Germany national team and excelled during the nation’s run to the EURO final. The 2021/22 season also saw Oberdorf win a German league and cup double with Wolfsburg. Did you know? Oberdorf’s eye-catching Women’s EURO 2022 performances were recognised with the Young Player of the Tournament award.

Alexandra Popp

Club: WfL Wolfsburg National team: Germany

Popp’s physicality, smart movement and stunning aerial ability mark her out as a formidable opponent, capable of unsettling even the most accomplished defences. The prolific striker was another star of the EURO, scoring six goals to finish joint-top scorer with Beth Mead (Mead’s greater number of assists saw her win the Golden Boot).

Did you know? Popp scored in five successive matches at the Women’s EURO, becoming the first player in the competition’s history to do so.

Alexia Putellas

Club: Barcelona National team: Spain Last year’s winner of The Best FIFA Women’s Player award has continued to perform at an extraordinary level. The midfielder’s creativity and goalscoring prowess often makes her the difference-maker in games, and she was the driving force as Barcelona won a clean sweep of domestic trophies and reached the Women’s Champions League final in 2021/22. Injury cruelly deprived Putellas of the chance to display her talents at the Women’s EURO 2022.

Did you know? Putellas scored 34 goals across all competitions for Barcelona in 2021/22.

Wendie Renard

Club: Olympique Lyonnais National team: France

The Olympique Lyonnais captain delivered a series of authoritative displays on the way to winning an astonishing eighth Champions League title. A dominant centre-back with impressive quality on the ball, Renard also possesses a significant goal threat – she has scored well over 100 times for Lyon. The 32-year-old, who finished third in the Best FIFA Women’s Player rankings in 2020, also impressed in France’s run to the EURO semi-finals.

Did you know? In April 2022, Renard became the first player to reach a century of Women’s Champions League appearances.

Keira Walsh

Club: Barcelona National team: England Midfielder Walsh shone during England’s triumphant EURO campaign and her defence-splitting pass memorably set up Ella Toone’s goal in the Wembley final win over Germany. That assist offered a snapshot of Walsh’s outstanding vision and passing ability, which she utilises to dictate the tempo of matches. Shortly after the EURO, Walsh joined Spanish champions Barcelona from Manchester City.

Did you know? Walsh is the most expensive women’s player of all time, with Barcelona reported to have paid £400,000 to prise the midfielder from City.

Leah Williamson

Club: Arsenal National team: England Williamson’s inspiring leadership is frequently cited as a key factor behind England’s historic EURO victory. She was a rock at the heart of the Lionesses’ backline, defending with purpose, composure and class. The Arsenal star predominantly operates at centre-back but also excels in midfield, owing to her first-rate technique and varied passing range.

Did you know? Williamson’s 56 ball recoveries at the Women’s EURO 2022 were the most of any player at the tournament.