Top 15 Best Midfielders in Women’s Soccer (2023)

Caroline Graham Hansen
(Photo by Martin Rose – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

Soccer, also known as football, is a game that demands a combination of physical, technical, and tactical skills. The midfield position is often regarded as the engine room of the team, responsible for linking the defense and the attack.

The role of midfielders in a team is an important one as they can be tagged as the link, the bridge that connects the defensive side to the attacking part of the team.

Sometimes they also take the responsibility of being the strikers or even defenders if the need arises. That’s why there are defensive midfielders and attacking midfielders.

Oftentimes, defensive midfielders stand in as defenders, while attacking midfielders have also played either as a winger or as false nine.

In female football, like in men’s football, all attention is given to the strikers and sometimes the defenders.

In recent years, female soccer has seen a tremendous rise in popularity and has become a platform for talented players to showcase their skills. 

Among these players, midfielders have a vital role to play in the team’s success, and their contributions often go beyond just scoring goals. 

In this article, we will highlight some of the best female soccer midfielders who have excelled in their craft.

15. Dzsenifer Marozsán (OL Reign & Germany)

Dzsefiner Marozsan best women's football midfieldersOn loan from Olympique Lyonnais in France, the 29-year-old German international midfielder currently plies her trade with OL Reign in the American National Women’s Soccer League.

Known for her tenacious style and occasional goal-scoring prowess, she boasts an impressive collection of medals from her time with various clubs, including victories in multiple leagues, cups, and continental competitions.

As the current captain of the German women’s national team, she led them to Olympic gold in football in 2016.

Unfortunately, Dzsenifer was forced to withdraw from both the 2022 UWCL Final and UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 after suffering a right knee ACL rupture on April 12, 2022.

14. Daniëlle van de Donk

Daniëlle van de Donk
(Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

Regarded as one of the top female footballers in the world, the 29-year-old Dutch midfielder possesses the technical prowess and skill that is synonymous with players from the Netherlands.

With an impressive track record of playing for several women’s club sides across Europe, she experienced a great deal of success with Arsenal Women’s team, earning a league and cup title.

Her contributions to the Dutch women’s national team have also been noteworthy, helping them secure their first UEFA Women’s Championship trophy and leading them to their first FIFA World Cup final, though they lost to the United States. 

In 2021, she joined Olympique Lyon, and is currently representing the Netherlands at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics Women’s football tournament.

13. Lena Oberdorf (VfL Wolfsburg & Germany)

Lena Oberdorf best female football midfielders
(Photo by Christian Kaspar-Bartke/Getty Images for DFB)

Lena Oberdorf has been raising her profit as a top-level midfielder in women’s football, especially with her performances for Germany at the Euro 2022.

She also impressed for Wolfsburg as they won a league and cup double in the 2021/22 season in Germany.

The 21-year-old is combative, energetic, and intelligent and could become one of the best players of her generation if she continues on this path.

12. Lina Magull (Bayern Munich & Germany) 

Lina Magull best midfielders in women's soccer
England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

28-year-old Lina Magull was part of the German midfield that led the county to the final 2022 UEFA Women’s Euros, where they lost to England.

The technical Bayern Munich player had three goals from her position, including one against the host England in the final.

She helped Bayern Munich to the Women’s Bundesliga title last season, scoring four times and three assists in 20 games.

11. Kim Little (Arsenal & Scotland)

Kim Little best midfielders in women's football
(Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)

Although Kim retired from international duty in 2021, she continues to do her thing for Arsenal, where she has had two different stints loaded with trophies and titles.

She is one of the most decorated British women’s footballers with individual honours, including titles won with Arsenal ladies, Seattle Reign, and Melbourne Victory.

Last season she had six goals for Arsenal in the WSL, and she’s already on two this season in six matches.

10. Patri Guijarro (Spain & Barcelona)

Patri Guijarro best midfielders in women's football
(Photo by Aitor Alcalde – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

In a star-studded Barcelona and Spain national women’s football team, Guijarro is one of the most underrated players.

However, consistency in such things year in and year out continue to help increase the recognition she deserves.

The 24-year-old is primarily a defensive midfielder, but her eye for a pass has made her a valuable contributor to the team’s attacking prospects.

Last season she had nine assists and four goals in 25 La Liga games, and She’s already made six assists this season in 14 games.

9. Saki Kumagai (Bayern Munich & Japan)

Saki Kumagai best midfielders in women's soccer
(Photo by Simon Hofmann – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

The 32-year-old Japanese midfielder is a dominant force in the center of the pitch, known for her exceptional ball shielding and passing abilities that often stymie opposing teams’ attacks.

With numerous league, cup, and continental titles under her belt, including a victory at the 2011 FIFA World Cup as part of the Japanese national team, she has earned 134 caps for her country.

Currently competing at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, this former Lyon player is widely regarded as one of the top female midfielders in the world.

In 2021, she secured a transfer to Bayern Munich.

8. Amandine Henry (Olympique Lyon & France)

Amadine Henry highest paid female soccer players 2023
(Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Amandine Henry, a defensive midfielder and the captain of the French national team, boasts an impressive record of club titles.

She is one of the highest-paid women’s soccer players in the world today.

Her exceptional game reading skills enable her to neutralize threats effectively.

Additionally, Henry is adept at infiltrating the opposing team’s box and scoring goals.

She presently plays for Lyonnais and has earned 93 caps for the French national team.

7. Catarina Macario (Lyon & USA)

Catarina Macario top female soccer midfielders
(Photo by Valerio Pennicino – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

Twenty-seven-year-old Catarina Macario is one of the best-attacking midfielders in the women’s game. 

Although she represents the United States of America at the international level, Brazilian traits show in our style of play.

The midfielder also plays for Olympique Lyon in the French League. Last season, he had 14 goals and five assists in twenty league games and helped them to the UEFA Champions League title last season, albeit an unfortunate injury escaped out of the game this season.

6. Caroline Graham Hansen (Norway & Barcelona)

Caroline Graham Hansen
(Photo by Martin Rose – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

Caroline Hansen scored six goals and 14 assists last season as Barcelona again went on to win La Liga.

It was more remarkable for Hansen as she came back from a health problem.

Her performances for Norway didn’t help much at the UEFA Women’s Euros championship last year. The 27-year-old has had 44 goals in 97 matches since 2011 for the national team.

5. Fran Kirby (Chelsea & England)

Fran Kirby best women's football players in the world
(Photo by Harriet Lander – Chelsea FC/Getty Images)

Fran Kirby is an English professional soccer player who currently plays as a forward for Chelsea FC Women and the England national team. 

Kirby made her senior debut for Reading in 2011, where she played for three seasons and helped the team win promotion to the Women’s Super League (WSL).

In 2015, she signed with Chelsea FC Women, where she has become one of the team’s most important players. With Chelsea, she has won multiple domestic titles, including the Women’s Super League, the FA Women’s Cup, and the FA Women’s League Cup.

Kirby is also Chelsea’s all-time top scorer despite being an attacking midfielder, and is already one of the best female soccer players in the world right now.

4. Rose Lavelle (United States & OL Reign)

Rose Lavelle top US women's soccer players
(Photo by Jaime Lopez/Jam Media/Getty Images)

Rose Lavelle is a midfield gem, a World Cup winner with USA in 2019, a bronze medalist at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics, and the Bronze ball winner at the last FIFA women’s World Cup.

Her time at Manchester City wasn’t the best, as she was played out of position but having joined OL Reigns, she’s returned to her usual best.

She is highly regarded as one of the best number tens to play for the United States of America, and she is ranked top in the NWSL’s list of players with the most chances created.

She is also one of the best players in terms of ball recovery.

Last year she had five goals and a single assist in 18 NWSL games.

3. Aitana Bonmati – (Spain x Barcelona)

Aitana Bonmatí best female soccer players 2023
(Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

Aitana Bonmati was a nominee for the 2022 Ballon d’Or award and also made the official team of the tournament for UEFA Women’s EURO 2022.

She, alongside Guijarro and Alexia Putellas, forms one of the most efficient midfield in female football at Barcelona.

In the current season, she has scored five goals in six UEFA Women’s Champions League games, and injury permitting, she’ll be one to look forward to at the women’s World Cup.

She is known for her superb passing accuracy and ability to control the tempo of a game, as well as her impressive dribbling skills and goal-scoring prowess. 

2. Keira Walsh (Barcelona & England) 

Keira Walsh best women's football players in the world
(Photo by Charlotte Tattersall – The FA/The FA via Getty Images)

Keira Walsh is a 25-year-old midfielder who can play both as a defensive and an attacking midfielder.

She joined Barcelona for around £400,000 from Manchester City and has been worth every penny.

Her absence on the Ballon d’Or list for 2022 was also a shocker and surprising.

She won the UEFA Women’s Euros championship with England last time out and the women’s La Liga.

1. Alexia Putellas – (Spain & Barcelona)

Alexia Putellas best women's soccer players 2023
(Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

Hardly is there anyone who hasn’t heard of Alexia Putellas, the Barcelona women’s team captain and the first female player to win two consecutive Ballon d’Or. 

She is arguably one of the best women’s soccer players of all time.

In addition to that, she won the FIFA Best Women’s player in 2022; the diminutive forward player suffered an ACL injury just before Spain’s opening game at the UEFA Women’s Euros in 2022.

However, she is in the race against time to be fit enough for the FIFA women’s World Cup in the summer of 2023.

A long injury break doesn’t drop her rank as one of the best female players in the world.

Her exceptional technical ability, vision, and versatility on the pitch makes her the top female soccer midfielder.

Total
0
Shares
Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Prev
11 Best Female Soccer Strikers In The World
Asisat Oshoala best strikers in women's football

11 Best Female Soccer Strikers In The World

Football is a sport that has been dominated by men for decades, but

Next
Top 10 Best Women’s National Soccer Teams
England Top Women's National Football Teams

Top 10 Best Women’s National Soccer Teams

Women’s soccer has grown in leaps and bounds over the years

You May Also Like
Total
0
Share