Aitana Bonmatí follows in the footsteps of her Barcelona and Spain teammate Alexia Putellas, securing back-to-back wins in The Guardian’s 100 best female footballers in the world list. The double Ballon d’Or winner garnered votes from all 99 judges this year, finishing 667 points ahead of her club colleague Caroline Graham Hansen, who climbed to her highest ranking following an outstanding year for both club and country.

With top-three regular Sam Kerr absent due to a cruciate ligament injury, the top 10 saw significant changes, including Sophia Smith, Khadija Shaw, Trinity Rodman, Lindsey Horan, Barbra Banda, Mallory Swanson, and Naomi Girma making their debuts in the upper echelons of the list. The resurgence of the US in international football is mirrored by the presence of five Olympic gold medalists in the top 10, with the National Women’s Soccer League also boasting five top-10 players, thanks in part to Zambia forward Banda’s stellar season with Orlando Pride.

Among the notable risers, Chelsea forward Mayra Ramírez stands out, climbing 83 places to break into the top 20. She made her mark on the global stage after joining the Women’s Super League champions, performing admirably in the league and at the Olympics for Colombia. Rodman also advanced, moving from 50th to 5th, closely followed by new Lyon forward Tabitha Chawinga, who rose 51 spots.

The Chawinga sisters make history for Malawi, both securing spots in the top 100 for the first time, with Temwa’s impressive debut season in the NWSL for Kansas City Current. She debuts on the list, shooting straight into the top 20 after placing 297th last year. The list also welcomes 15 new faces, including Chelsea’s Sjoeke Nüsken, Niamh Charles, and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, along with highly-rated defender Tarciane, USA’s Emily Fox, Ballon d’Or nominee Gabi Portilho, Barcelona’s Clàudia Pina, and more.

Veterans like Lucy Bronze, Wendie Renard, Jenni Hermoso, Pernille Harder, and Saki Kumagai continue their streaks of appearing in every top 100 list. Barcelona leads with 14 players, followed closely by Lyon with 12, while Chelsea and Arsenal each have nine. Mexico’s Tigres makes its mark with two players, and several other clubs are represented. Spain tops the nations list, followed by England and the USA, with Germany and Brazil also notable for their Olympic performances.

The Women’s Super League now leads in represented leagues with 27 players, followed by the NWSL with 22. Real Madrid and Colombia’s Linda Caicedo, along with 19-year-old Tanikawa, are among the youngest players, while Marta’s return at 38, after winning the NWSL Championship and an Olympic silver, is a highlight. Young talents like Kika Nazareth, Fuka Nagano, Jess Park, and Rebecca Bernal just missed the top 100, but their time will come.

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