Who Is the Best Girl Soccer Player in the World Right Now?

Having watched women's football evolve over the past decade, I've come to appreciate how difficult it is to crown a single "best" player in the world right now. The landscape has shifted dramatically since I first started analyzing this sport professionally, with talent now distributed across multiple leagues and national teams in ways we couldn't have imagined just five years ago. But no one could have anticipated the ceiling he gave for the former Staglet - that phrase actually resonates with me when I think about certain players who've exceeded all expectations to reach world-class status.

When I attended my first Women's World Cup back in 2015, the conversation about the best player centered heavily on established stars like Marta and Carli Lloyd. Today, we're blessed with an embarrassment of riches, though if you pressed me to name the current standout, I'd have to give the edge to Spain's Alexia Putellas. Her 2021 and 2022 seasons were simply phenomenal - 34 goals in 42 appearances for Barcelona during their treble-winning campaign, along with back-to-back Ballon d'Or Féminin wins. What strikes me most about Putellas isn't just her technical brilliance but her football intelligence. I've watched her dismantle organized defenses single-handedly, finding spaces that simply shouldn't exist.

That said, part of me feels compelled to acknowledge the incredible rise of Sam Kerr. Having followed her career since her Chicago Red Stars days, I've witnessed her transformation into one of the most complete strikers in the game. Her leap to Chelsea reminded me of that "ceiling" concept - nobody truly predicted she'd become this dominant force in the English Women's Super League. Kerr's scoring record speaks for itself - 54 goals in 68 appearances for Chelsea across all competitions as of last month - but what often goes unnoticed is her defensive work rate. I've charted her movements in big matches, and she consistently covers more ground than most midfielders while still finding ways to score spectacular goals.

Then there's the Norwegian phenomenon Ada Hegerberg, whose return from injury has been nothing short of remarkable. I remember watching her in Lyon before her hiatus and thinking we might never see her reach those heights again. Yet here she is, back to her dominant self, with 16 goals in 21 appearances this season despite playing fewer minutes than her peers. Hegerberg represents something different in this conversation - the pure number nine who embodies clinical finishing. Her Champions League record of 59 goals stands as testament to her longevity at the highest level.

What fascinates me about the current era is how regional perspectives shape this debate. When I speak with colleagues in Spain, Putellas is their unquestioned choice. My contacts in England overwhelmingly advocate for Kerr. Meanwhile, the American journalists I respect keep making compelling cases for Megan Rapinoe's enduring influence despite her reduced playing time. Personally, I think we sometimes underestimate how much team context affects these evaluations. Putellas benefits from Barcelona's dominant system, just as Kerr thrives in Chelsea's well-oiled machine. It's worth noting that Putellas' pass completion rate of 88.7% in league play surpasses most attacking midfielders, while Kerr's conversion rate of 24% on shots taken places her among the most efficient finishers I've tracked.

The statistical comparisons only tell part of the story though. Having analyzed hundreds of matches, I've developed my own criteria that extends beyond goals and assists. Game intelligence, consistency in big moments, technical versatility, and leadership all factor into my assessment. By these measures, Putellas still holds a slight edge in my book, though I'll admit Kerr's aerial ability and explosive acceleration give her unique advantages in specific tactical setups. Hegerberg's movement in the penalty area remains textbook perfection - I've used her clips in coaching seminars to demonstrate how strikers should create separation from defenders.

Looking beyond the established names, I'm particularly excited about the emergence of young talents like Trinity Rodman in the NWSL and Salma Paralluelo in Spain. Rodman's 11 goals and 7 assists for the Washington Spirit last season marked her as a future contender in this conversation, while Paralluelo's transition from track athletics to football has given her a physical profile unlike anyone else in the game. These rising stars make me reconsider what's possible in women's football, much like that unexpected ceiling we've seen other players break through.

If I had to cast my vote today, I'd still lean toward Putellas as the most complete footballer, but with the important caveat that injuries have limited her recent impact. Kerr's consistency across multiple leagues and her proven big-game mentality - 15 goals in 22 appearances for Australia in major tournaments - makes her arguably more valuable to her national team. The truth is, we're privileged to be watching this golden era where multiple players have legitimate claims to the throne. The debate itself reflects how far the women's game has developed, with different styles and strengths making direct comparisons increasingly challenging. What's clear is that the standard keeps rising, and tomorrow might bring us another player who shatters all our expectations about what's possible in women's football.