Top 10 Most Popular Female Footballers In The World In 2024

Legendary US female footballer and the striking force of San Diego Wave FC, Alex Morgan, is surely the most popular footballer in the women’s football circuit. Besides, her former fellow teammate, Hope Solo, and legendary Brazilian star, Marta, also deserve their mentions among the most popular female soccer players in the world.

Soccer has always been considered a sport for men. It is where they can show their power and agility; compete with other equally strong men who are not afraid to get all dirty for a game.

But, over the years, women have proven that they are nothing less when it comes to the sport of football. Let us take a look at the most popular female footballers in the world in 2024.

Most Popular Female Footballers in the World

They have shown the strength, skill, and focus required to handle a football and take it to the goal for a score. Some women footballers are extremely popular and have attracted the attention of sports fans.

10. Michelle Akers

Former American soccer player Michelle Anne Akers is a key player in the historic 1991 and 1999 Women’s World Cup victories by the United States.

She scored 15 goals in 24 games from 1985 to 1990 for the U.S. team and scored a record 39 goals in 26 games in the 1991 season alone.

Akers is also the top scorer of the inaugural FIFA Women’s World Cup in China in 1991 with ten goals and is inducted in the tenth spot in our list of top 10 most popular female footballers in the world.

She was named FIFA Female Player of the Century and also inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame. Michelle declared her retirement before the 2000 Summer Olympics as the U.S. national team’s second all-time leading goal scorer with 105 goals, 37 assists, and 247 points.

9. Homare Sawa

Japanese professional football player Homare Sawa last played for INAC Kobe Leonessa in the Nadeshiko League Division 1 besides her international spell with the Japanese women’s national football team.

She was the captain of the Japanese women’s national football team that won the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup. She now holds ninth place in our list of the top 10 most popular female footballers in the world.

Sawa recently helped the Japanese team to win the 2014 AFC Women’s Asian Cup. Homare Sawa scored 6 goals in 41 appearances for the Washington Freedom in the 2009-10 season and scored 6 goals in 33 appearances for the INAC Kobe Leonessa since 2011.

Besides her club career, she also scored 82 goals in 196 international appearances for the Japanese national soccer team since 1993.

8. Birgit Prinz

Retired German female football player Birgit Prinz played mostly for 1. FFC Frankfurt, besides her international spell with the German women’s national football team.

She is the all-time leading scorer alongside Marta at the FIFA Women’s World Cup with 14 goals and is inducted in the eighth place in our list of top 10 most popular female soccer players in the world. She competed in five FIFA Women’s World Cups and four Olympics and scored 24 goals in 43 matches at those nine global tournaments.

Birgit Prinz scored 23 goals in 35 appearances for the Carolina Courage in the 2002-03 season and scored 136 goals in 114 appearances for the 1. FFC Frankfurt between 2003 and 2011.

Besides her club career, she also scored 128 goals in 214 international appearances for the German national soccer team from 1994 to 2011.

7. Kristine Lilly

Retired American soccer player Kristine Marie Lilly Heavey last played professionally for the Boston Breakers in Women’s Professional Soccer besides her international spell with the United States women’s national football team.

She was a member of the United States women’s squad for nearly 24 years.  And she now holds the seventh place in our list of most popular female footballers.

Lily participated in five editions of the FIFA Women’s World Cup. She has also won the title twice, in 1996 and 2004. Kristine Lilly scored 8 goals in 19 appearances for the KIF Örebro DFF in the 2005 season.

She then also scored 3 goals in 20 appearances for the Boston Breakers between 2009 and 2011. Besides her club career, she also scored 130 goals in 352 international appearances for the United States national soccer team from 1987 to 2010.

6. Nadine Angerer

German professional footballer Nadine Angerer last played as the goalkeeper of the Portland Thorns FC of the National Women’s Soccer League, besides her spell as the captain of the German women’s national soccer team.

She made her international debut in August 1996 against the Netherlands. Angerer has named FIFA World Player of the Year on 13 January 2014, which made her the first goalkeeper, male or female, to win the award.

She did not concede a single goal at the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup while setting the record for most consecutive minutes played without conceding a goal in World Cup for 540 minutes.

She now holds the sixth place in our list of the top 10 most popular female footballers in the world. Nadine Angerer was named the best goalkeeper of the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

5. Sydney Leroux

Canadian-born American soccer player Sydney Rae Leroux Dwyer currently plays as a forward for the Angel City FC  in the National Women’s Soccer League besides her spell with the United States women’s national soccer team.

She represented Canada at various youth competitions. And later began playing for the U.S. senior national team in 2012. Sydney was a key player in the American winning squad at the 2012 London Olympics. She now also holds the fifth place in our list of most popular female footballers in 2024.

Sydney Leroux scored 11 goals in 9 appearances for the Boston Breakers in 2013. She also scored 5 goals in 22 appearances for the Seattle Reign FC in the 2014 season.

Besides her club career, she also scored 35 goals in 77 international appearances for the United States national soccer team since 2011.

4. Abby Wambach

American soccer player Mary Abigail “Abby” Wambach is a two-time Olympic gold medalist. She has played for the United States women’s national soccer team since 2001. She also received the FIFA World Player of the Year award in 2012.

Moreover, Abby is a three-time All-American while playing collegiate soccer for the University of Florida Gators. She has played for Washington Freedom, magicJack, and the Western New York Flash at the professional level.

And she now holds the fourth place in the list of most popular female footballers in the world. Abby Wambach scored 9 goals in 11 appearances for the MagicJack in 2011.

She has also scored 17 goals in 29 appearances for the Western New York Flash between 2013 and 2014. Besides her club career, she has also scored 184 goals in 255 international appearances for the United States national soccer team since 2001.

3. Marta

Marta Vieira da Silva currently plays as the forward for the Orlando Pride besides her spell with the Brazilian women’s national soccer team. She received the FIFA World Player of the Year award a record five consecutive times between 2006 and 2010 and then again in 2018.

And without any doubt, she deserves the third place in our list of most popular female soccer players.

Marta won both the Golden Ball and the Golden Boot in the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Marta scored 24 goals in 35 appearances for the Tyresö FF from 2012 to 2014. She has also scored 23 goals in 43 appearances for the FC Rosengård from 2014 to 2017.

Besides her club career, she also scored 115 goals in 171 international appearances for the Brazilian national soccer team since 2002.

2. Hope Solo

Fans widely regard the two-time Olympic gold medalist Hope Amelia Solo as one of the top goalkeepers in the world. Besides, she is also one of the hottest female footballers in 2024.

She currently holds the U.S. record for most career shutouts. Besides, she also holds second place in the list of the top 10 most popular female footballers in 2024. Hope Solo played for the University of Washington at the collegiate level. She then played professionally in the Women’s United Soccer Association for the Philadelphia Charge.

She played for Saint Louis Athletica, Atlanta Beat, and MagicJack in the Women’s Professional Soccer from 2009 to 2011. Solo last played for the Seattle Reign FC in the National Women’s Soccer League.

She has made her appearance in the television show “Dancing with the Stars” and also appeared in the “Body Issue” of ESPN The Magazine.

1. Alex Morgan

One of the richest female soccer players, Alex Morgan, currently plays for the San Diego Wave FC of the National Women’s Soccer League. Besides, she also plays as a forward for the United States women’s national soccer team.

Western New York Flash drafted her for the first time during the 2011 WPS Draft. Alex became the FIFA World Player of the Year finalist and received the U.S. Soccer Female Athlete of the Year award in 2012. She now also deserves the top place in our list of the top 10 most popular female soccer players in the world.

Alex Morgan scored 2 goals in 3 appearances for the Seattle Sounders Women in 2012. And also scored 15 goals in 36 appearances for the Portland Thorns FC from 2013 to 2015.

Besides her club career, she has also scored 118 goals in 196 international appearances for the United States national soccer team since 2010.

Conclusion

It is amazing how these women have etched their names in the male-dominated world of sports. They have taken the help of nothing but their talent and perseverance and turned it all into historic moments in the sport, making themselves popular and memorable athletes. Share your thoughts about the most popular female footballers in the comment box below.

Most Popular Female Footballers – Infographics

FAQs Regarding Most Popular Female Footballers

Q. Who is the most popular female footballer right now?

Legendary American female footballer and the current striker of San Diego Wave FC, Alex Morgan, is surely the most popular female footballer in the world right now. She has achieved her place in the FIFPro World11 team four times and IFFHS Women’s World Team three times till now.

Q. Who is the best female footballer currently active?

Brazilian star player Marta and American soccer star Megan Rapinoe are the best female footballer currently active in the club and international football scenario. Rapinoe achieved her place in FIFPro World XI twice and Marta achieved her place in FIFPro World XI a record four times till now.

Q. Who is the most popular female footballer on social media?

American star player Alex Morgan is the most popular female footballer on social media right now. She currently has more than 9.6 million followers on her Instagram account, 3.8 million followers on her Twitter account, and more than 6.3 million fans on her Facebook page.

Q. Which is the best female football team of all time?

French female football team Olympique Lyonnais Féminin or Lyon is undoubtedly the best female football team of all time. This team has already achieved Division 1 Féminine a record 15 times and Coupe de France Féminine 9 times. Besides, Lyon won the UEFA Women’s Champions League a record 8 times till now.

Last Updated On: April 2024