Your votes have been counted and we can now confirm the overall winner of the women's GOAL50 2022!
GOAL50 is an annual award that gives fans the power to rank the 50 best footballers in the world over the previous 12 months.
This year GOAL50 featured three categories of players to vote on. In addition to the Men and Women categories, we added a special once-off World Cup Wonders category to pay tribute to the legends of the past.
GOAL50 employs a unique voting system that sees fans voting on a series of head-to-head clashes between players in each category.
There were 2,450 possible player match-ups in each category, and the players with the most victories have now been crowned the GOAL50 2022 winners.
Here are the final standings, and the overall winner, of the women's GOAL50 2022!
In 2022, Putellas become the first female player to win the Ballon d'Or for two years in a row – she was also named FIFA Best Women's Player. Had it not been for an ACL injury on the eve of the tournament, Spain may well have enjoyed more success at the Euros. A true force to be reckoned with within the world of football and a worthy GOAL50 winner for the second year in a row.
Named in the official UEFA Women's EURO 2022 Team of the Tournament as well as being nominated for the Ballon d’Or 2022, the Barcelona midfielder is simply a joy to watch whenever she takes to the field of play. Very much the present and future for both club and country, the world is at her feet.
She may have not made Goal’s top 50 last year, but Morgan is back with a bang this time around to break the top three. Despite now being 33 years of age, the striker reminded everyone of her quality netting 15 goals in 17 regular season games to win the golden boot in the NWSL – she also scored the winning goal at the 2022 Concacaf W Championship for the USWNT.
Despite Arsenal finishing the 2021-22 season second in the WSL, Mead’s eight assists was the league’s highest total and made her the WSL’s all-time assists leader. After the Euros, Mead was named BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year, before coming runner-up in the 2022 Ballon d’Or Feminin.
Rolfo made the switch to Barcelona in June 2021, scoring nine goals by the end of 2021-22 as they were crowned undisputed champions of Liga F. Her two goals and an assist were unable to take Sweden past the semi-finals of the Euros, though, as Sweden fell to a 4-0 demolition at the hands of England.
Hansen successfully bounced back from treatment for a heart condition in November 2021 to feature prominently in Barca Femini’s triumphant Liga F campaign in 2022. She provided six goals and 14 assists despite her disrupted league season, although similar performances for Norway were unable to take them beyond the Euros group stages.
Yet another member of the Lionesses’ European Championship-winning side, Bronze’s performances at club and international level earned her a move to Liga F champions Barcelona in June 2022. The right-back scored her first goal for her new club in the Otro Clasico against Atletico Madrid in November.
On the opposite side of the final in Turin was Lyon’s Hegeberg, who scored and assisted to win her sixth Champions League title. After a rare 2nd-placed finish in D1F in 2020-21, the Norwegian striker helped OL to league glory a year later, marking their 15th title in 16 seasons.
Having placed third in Goal’s 2021 list, Oshoala slips to 11th a year later despite her 20 goals that helped Barcelona storm the 2021-22 Liga F with 30 wins from 30 matches. The Nigeria international came on at half-time in their Champions League final against Lyon but to little effect, as Barca Femini lost 3-1.
Toone scored a memorable equaliser as Chloe Kelly's winner sealed a 2-1 victory over Germany and the European Championship for the Lionesses. Since that memorable summer, the 23-year-old has popped up with nine goal contributions in 2022-23 as Manchester United chase Arsenal and Chelsea in the WSL's top two.
Walsh had a stand-out year, as she placed third in England's Women's Player of the Year and sixth in UEFA's award of the same name. After 211 appearances for Manchester City and a summer to remember for the Lionesses, Walsh secured a move to Spanish giants Barcelona in September alongside England teammate Lucy Bronze.
Zaneratto dazzled in 2022 as she celebrated success both at club and international level. She featured in Brazil’s 1-0 victory over Colombia in the Copa America Femenina final, and scored for club side Palmeiras as they defeated Boca Juniors 4-1 to win the CONMEBOL Libertadores Femenina.
Chelsea's attacking midfielder was on target twice for the Lionesses in their triumphant Euros run, while also providing three assists all tournament. Kirby took this form into club level in 2022-23, with six goals in ten matches as the Blues sat atop the WSL before Christmas.
Williamson put in a number of resolute performances in the summer as she led England to European Championship glory with victory over Germany in the final. The 25-year-old has been a typical rock at the back for Arsenal in 2022-23, as they chase their first WSL title since 2018-19.
Regularly called upon for her nation with four appearances at the Euros, the Spanish defender was also a runner-up at the Arnold Clark Cup. She added more silverware to her collection by winning the Primera Division, the Supercopa Femenina, and the Copa de la Reina in 2022 – having already won those competitions with Barcelona in the past.
With 16 direct goal contributions (12 goals and four assists) in 18 NWSL games, Debinha lit up the league despite playing for a mid-table side. Not to mention, she scored the winner from the spot for Brazil in the 2022 Copa America Femenina Final.
One of the best fullbacks in the game but it has been a year of frustration amid all her undeniable quality. Indeed, another unfortunate victim of an ACL injury in the women's game, Gwinn’s 2022 was cut short – while she was also part of the Germany team to lose the Euro final.
Having finished second on Goal’s list last season, this is a drop-off for the experienced Spaniard even though she still lifted three trophies at club level. Paredes started in the Champions League final too, but couldn’t help Barcelona avoid defeat to Lyon.
At international level, Popp's year will sadly be defined by the injury she picked up in the pre-match warm-up ahead of the Euro 2022 final. Still, she was superb in the tournament scoring six goals for Germany and also won the 2021–22 Frauen-Bundesliga with Wolfsburg, while another league title is in sight this season too.
One of Sarina Wiegman's ever-presents during England's victorious Euro 2022 campaign, Hemp's industry and guile down the left-hand side make her equally important for Manchester City too. Her fine form in the run-in ensured City secured a third-place WSL finish last season.
Oberdorf strengthen her reputation as the best young player in Europe this year, starring as Germany stormed to the Euro 2022 final before finally succumbing to England. Since the tournament her intelligence in midfield has helped Wolfsburg make a perfect start to their Frauen-Bundesliga campaign.
It is a surprise to see Kerr so low on this list considering what an incredible 2022 she had. Her incredible eye for goal propelled Chelsea to a domestic double last season and she will be deseperate to light up a home World Cup in the summer.
Batlle ended the year in incredible form and is one of the main reasons United have established themselves as bonafide WSL title challengers. Still just 23-years-old, the marauding full-back is a Red Devils captain in waiting should she elect to stick around.
Sadly, Henry's 2022 will always be remembered for her shock omission from France's Euro 2022 following a public falling out with manager Corinne Diacre. At club level, the midfielder was sublime as ever, rightfully claiming the player of the match award as Lyon clinch the Champions League trophy against Barcelona.
After joining Wolfsburg in 2021 from Arsenal, Roord's performance has climbed further north. She had 15 goal contributions in the Frauen-Bundesliga and scored another four in the DFB-Pokal Frauen, including one in the final against Turbine Potsdam, to help her side win the domestic double.
The versatile Swedish player is one of the defensive mainstays at Chelsea. Eriksson was a key player for the Blues as they went on to bag the WSL title and the FA Cup in 2021-22.
The forward won the Primera Division and reached the UEFA Women's Champions League final with Barcelona in the previous season. She has had a stellar start in the ongoing campaign with four strikes in four matches in the continental competition and another seven goal contributions in the Primera Division.
Buhl was named in the UEFA Women's Euro Team of the Tournament for her heroics in guiding Germany to the silver medal. She was also Bayern's second-highest goalscorer with 13 goals in all competitions.
The 23-year-old forward won the UEFA Women's Champions League with Lyon in the 2021-22 season. She emerged as the third-highest goalscorer of the tournament with eight strikes including one against Barcelona in the final. Macario also got her hands to the domestic league title and the Trophee des Championnes.
Girelli won the domestic treble in 2021-22 bagging the Serie A, Coppa Italia, and the Supercoppa Italiana with Juventus. She is firing on all cylinders in this campaign as well with eight goals and two assists in 11 appearances in the top-flight domestic league.
The Dutch forward is the first player who can boast of scoring against every team she has faced in the WSL. She has been in a rich vein of form in the ongoing campaign, with four goals and one assist in eight WSL apperances. After extending her contract with Arsenal in the summer, she is currently the highest-paid female player in England.
The midfielder is a key member of the Bayern Munich and Germany national team. She played a crucial role in steering Germany to the Women's Euro final with three goals and one assist.
The Australia defender has had an excellent year. At 22, her stock is high and ever-rising as she claimed her second Champions League winners' medal with Lyon and also lifted the Division 1 Feminine title with the French giants.
After playing an important role for Real Madrid last season, the Sweden international made the switch to Italian side AC Milan in the summer. She is off to a great start in Serie A, having scored seven goals despite her side falling far behind Roma and Juventus in the title race.
The defender has had a sensational year. An FA WSL and FA Cup champion with Chelsea, she was also a key part of the England team that won Euro 2022 and was the joint top scorer in the Arnold Clark Cup as the Lionesses beat Spain, Canada and Germany to the title.
Zinsberger was absolutely crucial to Arsenal last season as they came painstakingly close to winning the FA Women's Super League – finishing just one point behind champions Chelsea. The 27-year-old goalkeeper won the Golden Glove in the English top-flight for her exploits that season, having kept 13 clean sheets.
The 30-year-old has become a household name in recent years due to her displays for Wolfsburg, Chelsea and Denmark. Harder was part of the double-winning Chelsea team of 2021-22 and has been important in the Champions League this season.
The 31-year-old midfielder helped Chelsea to the FA Women's Super League and FA Cup double last season before returning to South Korea with Suwon FC. She was vital for the national team this year, too, as they made it all the way to the Women's Asian Cup final, finishing joint second top scorer with five goals.
France forward Diani remains a crucial figure for Paris Saint-Germain, as the 27-year-old proved recently when she scored the winning goal against Lyon to send her team top of the table. Diani is the French top-flight's top scorer this season with nine goals.
A two-time Champions League and four-time Frauen-Bundesliga winner, Frohms has established herself as a star of German football over the last 10 years. The 27-year-old remains vital to the national team and helped them to the runner-up spot at Euro 2022 this year and her displays for club and country convinced Wolfsburg to bring her back four seasons after she initially left for Freiburg.
Paris Saint-Germain may have endured a disappointing campaign in 2021-22, having only won the Coupe de France, but Katoto was still one of French football's standout players. She was a bright spark in the Champions League and was voted Player of the Year by both the French players' union and the French Football Federation.
The centre-back became the first Brazilian to play for the Arsenal women's team when she made the move from China in January 2022. She has impressed since moving to London and has also been a vital player for her national team, having captained them to a fourth straight Copa America Feminina this summer.
The American midfielder played an important role as OL Reign won the NWSL Shield and the Women's Cup in her first season since joining from Manchester City. She was also a key part of the USWNT team that won the CONCACAF Women's Championship and SheBlieves Cup in 2022.
The 26-year-old forward helped Germany to the 2022 Women's Euro final and scored 13 times in the Frauen Bundesliga in 2021-22 as Wolfsburg completed the double. The ex-Hoffenheim star has had a steady rise in recent years to become one of the key figures in German football.
The 19-year-old Ghanaian already looks set to be a star in the future having won the CAF Women’s Young Player of the Year and Interclub Player of the Year in 2022. She lit up the 2021 CAF Women's Champions League, ending the tournament as the top scorer with five goals with Hasaacas Ladies before moving to Norwegian club Avaldsnes IL.
Another French defender who plays for Lyon, Bacha may well be ten years younger than teammate Renard but she features just as regularly for club and country. Indeed, she played five times at the Euros and has made 12 appearances in all competitions domestically, scoring two goals and providing four assists along the way.
The first goalkeeper in our top 50, Dlamini won the CAF Women's Champions League in 2021 (even keeping a clean sheet in the final) with South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns. She nearly repeated the trick this year, making it to the final of the competition once more but ultimately losing to Moroccan outfit AS FAR.
Still only 23 years of age, the forward shone at the 2022 Asian Cup scoring five goals and providing one assist in only five appearances as Japan made it to the semi-final. She is also a reliable goalscorer on the domestic scene, passing the 50-goal mark in all competitions across her time with Beleza.
The towering French captain unsurprisingly caught the eye at Euro 2022 as she led her nation to the semi-final of the competition, their best-ever performance at the tournament. At 32 years of age now, it seems the centre-back still has plenty to offer at Lyon too, having signed a new four-year deal last May which could keep her at the club beyond 20 years.
Having won back-to-back Chinese Women’s Super League titles in 2020 and 2021 with Wuhan Jianghan University FC, Wang is now adapting to life in the NWSL following an August move to Racing Louisville FC (where she has made just five appearances). She also helped fire China to the 2022 Asian Cup, scoring five goals in the tournament.