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| The Best FIFA Women's Player | |
|---|---|
| Name | The Best FIFA Women's Player |
| Awarded for | Excellence in women's association football |
| Presenter | Fédération Internationale de Football Association |
| Country | International |
| First awarded | 2016 |
The Best FIFA Women's Player is an annual association football award presented by Fédération Internationale de Football Association to the outstanding female footballer worldwide. Instituted as part of FIFA's restructured awards following the end of the FIFA Ballon d'Or partnership with France Football, the prize recognizes individual performance for clubs and national teams over a calendar year. Recipients typically are elite players from top clubs, continental competitions, and global tournaments such as the FIFA Women's World Cup, UEFA Women's Champions League, and Olympic football tournament.
FIFA created the award in 2016 after separating from the Ballon d'Or arrangement, establishing a distinct set of honors including The Best FIFA Men's Player and coaching awards. The inaugural presentation followed debates during the 2015–16 seasons of National Women's Soccer League, FA Women's Super League, and NWSL Championship. Early years saw winners drawn from established powerhouses like United States women's national soccer team, Germany women's national football team, France women's national football team, and Netherlands women's national football team. As women's club football professionalized with investments from UEFA, CONCACAF, CONMEBOL, and AFC members, the award became linked to performances in UEFA Women's Champions League, Copa Libertadores Femenina, and continental championships such as the SheBelieves Cup and CONCACAF Women's Championship.
The selection combines inputs from national team coaches, national team captains, media representatives, and an online fan vote organized by FIFA. Voters evaluate candidates based on achievements in club competitions like Liga F, Frauen-Bundesliga, Division 1 Féminine, and international tournaments including FIFA Women's World Cup qualification and UEFA Women's EURO. The FIFA Football Committee and a specially appointed panel of experts compile a shortlist drawing on objective statistics from competitions administered by FIFA, UEFA, CONCACAF, CONMEBOL, AFC, CAF, and OFC. Criteria emphasize sporting performance, technical skill, fair play as recognized by FIFA Fair Play Award principles, and overall contribution to team success in matches and tournaments such as the Olympic Games and youth events like the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.
Winners have included prominent figures from clubs such as Olympique Lyonnais Féminin, FC Barcelona Femení, Portland Thorns FC, and Chelsea F.C. Women. Notable recipients and frequent nominees hail from national teams including United States women's national soccer team, Sweden women's national football team, Norway women's national football team, Spain women's national football team, and England women's national football team. Players often shortlisted combine domestic league dominance in NWSL, FA WSL, Division 1 Féminine, and continental success in UEFA Women's Champions League or regional tournaments like the SheBelieves Cup and Arnold Clark Cup. The shortlist process has featured celebrated athletes whose club careers intersect with storied institutions such as FC Bayern Munich (women), Paris Saint-Germain Féminine, VfL Wolfsburg (women), and Juventus Women.
Statistical records track multiple winners, repeat nominees, youngest and oldest recipients, and national-team representation by country such as United States, Netherlands, Germany, and Spain. Club representation statistics often highlight dominance by Olympique Lyonnais Féminin alumni and the influence of players from FC Barcelona Femení during seasons culminating in UEFA Women's Champions League titles. Voting trends show correlations between appearances in finals of the FIFA Women's World Cup, performances in the UEFA Women's EURO, and award outcomes. Individual records note goal-scoring tallies accrued in league play—Frauen-Bundesliga, Division 1 Féminine, FA Women's Super League—and in international tournaments like the FIFA Women's World Cup and CONCACAF Women's Championship.
Critiques have centered on perceived eurocentrism or anglophone bias favoring players active in UEFA competitions, debates over weighting club versus national team performance, and the influence of the fan vote component managed via FIFA.com. Disputes arose when nominees from less-publicized confederations such as CAF, OFC, and certain CONCACAF members felt underrepresented relative to performances in tournaments like the CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations and AFC Women's Asian Cup. Media and pundits associated with outlets covering women's football—including national broadcasters and specialized publications—have questioned transparency in shortlisting and the roles of coaches and captains in voting. Incidents of campaign lobbying by clubs and agents, and controversies around award timing relative to major tournaments like the FIFA Women's World Cup have also prompted calls from stakeholders including player unions and national associations for procedural reforms.
The award has elevated global profiles of female footballers, reinforcing career-defining recognition for athletes from clubs such as Olympique Lyonnais Féminin and FC Barcelona Femení and national teams including United States, Spain, Netherlands, and Germany. Recognition has influenced sponsorship deals with multinational brands, visibility on platforms run by broadcasters and leagues like NWSL, FA, LaLiga, and has spurred research and coverage in sports media outlets. It contributes to a broader institutional ecosystem alongside honors such as the Ballon d'Or Féminin, UEFA Women's Player of the Year Award, and continental player awards, shaping narratives of excellence in women's football and informing debate within governing bodies including FIFA, UEFA, CONMEBOL, and CONCACAF about investment, development pathways, and equality initiatives.
Category:Association football trophies and awards