Barcelona and Spain superstar Aitana Bonmatí has been officially named the best female footballer on the planet for 2025, according to the prestigious annual ranking compiled by the Guardian.
The Voting Process: A Global Panel Decides
The result was determined by a distinguished panel of 127 judges from across the world of football. This group, comprising current players, coaches, and respected journalists, was tasked with creating the definitive list for the year. Each judge selected and ranked their top 40 players, with a points system allocating 40 points for a first-place vote down to a single point for a 40th-place selection.
To ensure the final ranking was robust and minimised the impact of any outlier scores, a unique calculation was applied. After totalling the raw points for each footballer, the single highest score awarded to them by any judge was deducted to produce the final, decisive tally. In total, a staggering 104,140 individual votes were cast and calculated to form the list.
Transparency and a New Searchable Archive
In the spirit of full transparency, the Guardian has published the complete breakdown of how every judge voted. While individual voters remain anonymised—identified only by their category and a random number to allow for free expression—the data reveals fascinating details. Fans can see the narrow point margins separating players, such as the gap between Chloe Kelly in 11th and Caroline Graham Hansen in 12th, or how many judges voted for Lia Wälti, who finished just outside the list in 101st place.
A major new feature for this year is the introduction of a searchable archive containing every player who has ever received a vote since the Guardian began the list in partnership with the Offside Rule podcast. Whether searching for legends like Pernille Harder and Wendie Renard or current stars like Rachel Daly and Mary Fowler, their historical voting records are now accessible to the public.
Arsenal Duo Secure Top-Three Finishes
The ranking brought particularly good news for Arsenal Women, with two of their key attackers securing spots in the elite top three. England striker Alessia Russo and Spanish forward Mariona Caldentey, who were pictured celebrating a goal together against Manchester City back in October, both made the podium, underscoring their immense impact for the club. Their high placement highlights the growing strength and recognition of talent within the Women's Super League.
The Guardian's list continues to be the most detailed and transparent ranking in the women's game, offering unparalleled insight into how the sport's top talents are viewed by those within it. With Bonmatí reclaiming the crown and the likes of Russo and Caldentey rising, the 2025 edition paints a picture of a dynamic and fiercely competitive global landscape.
