ESPN’s Top 50 Women’s Footballers: Moroccan World Cup Stars Absent, Spain’s Bonmatí Leads

While they achieved feats during the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand from July 20 to August 20, 2023, reaching the round of 16 for the first time in their history, the Atlas Lionesses are absent from ESPN’s ranking of the world’s 50 best players in 2023. Midfielder Aitana Bonmatì tops the ranking. The Spaniard is described as a talented player who "dictates matches, rarely loses the ball, can get out of the biggest problems and contributes to goals and assists. She was the best player of the Barça team that won the Liga F and the Champions League."

"Her quality on and off the ball is virtually unmatched and she shone brighter than anyone this year, doing both the invisible work and creating plays and goals worth the price of admission," says a voter who justifies his vote. "Bonmati has been at the heart of everything good at Barcelona and Spain, and her composure in the face of bigger issues off the field has also earned her the respect and admiration of the entire sporting world. It’s hard to argue with that," writes another voter. Australia’s Sam Kerr, England’s Mary Earps, Colombia’s Linda Caicedo and Spain’s Salma Paralluelo complete the top 5.

To compile its ranking, ESPN surveyed 32 women’s football experts from around the world this fall. The site invited current and former high-level club team and national team coaches, general managers, administrators, players and journalists to anonymously choose their top 50 players of 2023. "Using a preferential ballot, each No. 1 vote was worth 50 points, and each No. 50 vote was worth 1 point. In the end, we tallied the points to get our list," ESPN explains. England (10 players) and Spain (9 players) dominate the ESPN FC 50 Women’s Rank.