As the stature of the women’s game continues to grow, so too does the competition to be ranked among the world’s best.
As far as defenders are concerned, Steph Houghton, Jen Beattie and Joy Fawcett are among those to be considered some of the best in the past, but who tops the list now?
That’s what we’re here to find out.
As part of our Top 90 series, the 90min team have predicted who we think are the top 10 best goalkeepers of 2024.
Injury problems over the last 12 months prevents Chelsea’s Millie Bright from appearing further up this list, but she is still one of the best defenders in the game. She made just 12 appearances across all competitions for her club last term, although her availability for England has been a bit more frequent.
It’s a significant season for the 31-year-old ahead of Euro 2025 as she looks to re-establish herself as a consistent performer. Due to the competition for places in the England squad, a solid campaign will be crucial.
But, alongside her centre-back partner in Leah Williamson, the pair are outstanding on their day, and rival any pairing in the game.
Germany right back Giulia Gwinn has had a stellar year for both club and country. She was part of Bayern Munich’s title-winning and record-breaking team in 2023/24 as they clinched the Frauen Bundesliga title without losing a game.
She also helped her country reach the bronze medal match at the Olympics over the summer, and her penalty kick proved to be the difference as they beat Spain to the prize. At just 25 years of age, she still has plenty to offer.
When considering the best female defenders of all time, it’s hard to look past France star Wendie Renard. The 34-year-old has been an ever-present for both her club, Lyon, and country for a number of years.
While she may not be the infallible figure she once was, she still possesses incredible amounts of quality. Her leadership is also crucial, and she helped guide Lyon to another Champions League final earlier this year.
It may not have been the Olympic tournament France would have been hoping for, but the fact Renard remains one of the first names on the teamsheet at 34 speaks volumes.
33-year-old Irene Paredes was a consistent performer for Barcelona last season as they won the league and Champions League. She also featured regularly for Spain as they claimed victory in the inaugural Women’s Nations League, and reached the semi-finals at the Olympic games.
Barcelona didn’t lose a single league fixture last term, and they conceded just twice when Paredes was on the pitch. The defender registered 13 clean sheets from her 19 league outings across the campaign.
Arsenal’s Emily Fox only joined the club in January this year, and she is already proving to be a key figure for manager Jonas Eidevall. She will hope to have a positive 2024/25 campaign for the Gunners as they look to end their trophy drought.
At international level, the 26-year-old is also a key figure for the USWNT defence. Fox featured regularly for the team at the Olympics under head coach Hayes as they clinched gold for the fifth time in their history.
Canadian defender Vanessa Gilles is on loan from NWSL side Angel City at French side Lyon until 2025. Last season, she was part of the squad that won the league and reached the UWCL final against Barcelona, while she also represented her country at the Olympics.
Canada were unable to secure another gold medal at the games, after their historic win at Tokyo 2020. It was a rather disappointing campaign for the team as a whole, and one that was shrouded in controversy due to a spying scandal.
Gilles, however, was the one shining light for her national side. Her goals in two of their group games helped them fight back to qualify from their group despite a points deduction, although their journey eventually ended at the quarter-final stage following a penalty shootout defeat to Germany.
Arsenal fans, England fans, and football fans in general finally get to see Williamson back in action. The 27-year-old probably wouldn’t have made this list 12 months ago due to her ACL injury and nine month absence, but despite only returning to the Arsenal fold in January, she is already proving her importance.
She made her first England appearance in over a year back in April, and it’s unclear how Wiegman’s side survived without her, which is testament to her quality. The calmness she brings, combined with her quality on the ball, makes her an irreplaceable asset to for the Lionesses.
Her fitness and availability will be crucial to Arsenal’s success next season, as well as England’s hopes of retaining their European crown in Switzerland in 2025.
The 2024/25 season marks another significant campaign for England’s Lucy Bronze. The 32-year-old has represented some of the biggest clubs in the game, including Lyon, Barcelona and Manchester City.
She has been successful wherever she has gone, so it’s no surprise to see her embark on the next challenge of her career at Chelsea. The WSL champions will hope to retain their title next season, while they will also aim to finally end their UWCL hoodoo.
A positive campaign from Bronze, as she has consistently shown over the years, will go some way to ensuring the London club progress deep into the competition.
Barcelona’s Mapi Leon has consistently been one of the best in her position in recent years, but injury woes over the last year is probably the only thing keeping her out of top spot as things stand. The 29-year-old has been integral to her club’s success, and arguably dominance, in recent years.
She has been part of five Liga F winning squads with Barcelona, as well as three UWCL winning teams. It was football’s loss that she didn’t feature for Spain during their World Cup triumph due to her refusal to play for the national team, citing unequal and unfair conditions.
It couldn’t be anyone else, could it?
New USWNT boss Emma Hayes described 24-year-old Naomi Girma as the best defender she’s ever seen during this summer’s Olympic Games. That’s quite the statement from the former Chelsea boss given the calibre of players she’s worked with throughout her career so far.
It’s fair to say eyebrows were raised earlier this month when the Ballon d’Or shortlist was unveiled, and the San Diego Wave star was a glaring omission. Girma has increased her profile as one of the best in the world in recent years, and she is already deserving of such accolades.
