GOAL's World-Class Club: Alex Morgan, Alexia Putellas and the 25 exclusive members of the women's football's elite

One of a number of top full-backs to have thrived in France in recent years, Bacha can operate on the left of the defence or further forward, and is fantastic in both roles. At 22 years old, she’s still only young and can get even better – but that she's a key part of Lyon's XI tells you all you need to know.

Bacha has already got four Champions League titles to her name as a result and is so often a player who can deliver a real moment of quality in those big games, particularly with her crossing ability.

While still only 24 years old, Batlle is arguably the best player in the world in her position. There might not be a full-back on the planet that balances the defensive and attacking elements of that role better than she does, while her physical attributes developed well, too, during three years in England with Manchester United.

That Barcelona, the European champions, saw it fit to bring Batlle back to the club this summer says all you need to know about how good she is.

Unsurprisingly, a number of Barcelona midfielders feature on this list, such is the club’s ability to form world-beating technicians in that area of the park. Bonmati was the pick of the lot in the 2022-23 season, with no player involved in more goals in the Women’s Champions League as the Catalans won a second title.

She is not just about goals and assists, though. That Bonmati has a very well-rounded game, making her an asset defensively as well as in attack, is what makes her one of the best in the world.

Maybe because of Lyon’s dominance in France and Europe, PSG forward Diani hasn’t always got the credit she’s deserved, which is a shame because she’s one of the best in the business. With great speed, skill and decision-making, she provides wonderful service for her team-mates from out wide but, having hit double figures for league goals in each of the last five seasons, she's also a massive goal threat.

With Marie-Antoinette Katoto out injured, Diani filled the No.9 role at PSG during the 2022-23 campaign and picked up the Golden Boot at its end, stepping up when her team needed her most.

One of the best goalkeepers in the world for many years, there was a period where Endler did let errors creep into her game from time to time, but she has returned to almost faultless levels as of late.

In 2023, the Chilean won her third Goalkeeper of the Year award at the French league's end of season awards, underlining her consistently high level. There might not be a 'keeper in the world with better reactions.

This past season was Frohms’ first as the No.1 goalkeeper for a top, top club, but she has settled into the top level seamlessly at Wolfsburg off the back of a truly exceptional Euro 2022 campaign.

Her reflexes and shot-stopping are outstanding, with her one of those goalkeepers that really wows you with what she can do. On top of that, Frohms has excellent distribution, is calm under pressure and rarely makes errors.

An important player and captain for PSG for many years now, Geyoro has consistently been one of the best midfielders in the world for a long time – despite only being 26 years old.

She is excellent at combining with others, fantastic at keeping the ball and composed under pressure. Her movement allows her to get into great areas to score herself, as well as creating for others, but she's a complete player, too, because of her defensive traits. Geyoro is more than capable of filling in at centre-back if needed and playing at a very high level there as well as in midfield.

Another relatively young name on this list, Girma is only 23 but is already one of the first names on the teamsheet for the San Diego Wave, one of the top sides in the NWSL, and has become a regular starter for the U.S. women's national team, too.

She is absolutely excellent on the ball and, when her team is on the back foot, reads play very well to intervene in a timely manner. There’s still room for growth, but Girma is among the best in her position.

When it comes to one-v-one situations, Graham Hansen is the absolute best winger in the world. Her close control is simply incredible, complemented by useful agility, a high footballing IQ and a knack for producing the unpredictable.

The Norwegian is great at picking out a team-mate once she’s danced past her marker, too, and has an eye for goal herself. It all comes together to make Graham Hansen one of the most difficult players in the world to contain.

As a deep-lying midfielder, Guijarro doesn’t always get the credit she deserves, especially because there are so many stars at Barcelona. That said, she’s certainly not under-appreciated within the club, as every team-mate and coach speaks so highly of what she does.

Guijarro’s intelligence on the ball is absolutely central to Barca’s play, with her ability to control a game, start attacks and also break play up all making her a world-class footballer.

Had the Ballon d’Or been awarded in 2020, Harder would’ve almost certainly won it. The Dane capped her final season at Wolfsburg by scoring 38 goals in 22 games, leading them to the Women's Champions League final for the second time in her three-and-a-half-year spell.

Harder’s ability to create for others is what sets her apart from most in the game, though, with the new Bayern Munich star absolutely devastating when she floats around in the free spaces. Indeed, the way she changed the course of the 2023 FA Cup final in Chelsea’s favour was a perfect illustration of that.

It’s remarkable to think that there were people who doubted Kerr when she arrived in England with Chelsea. After becoming the all-time top goal-scorer in the top leagues in Australia and the United States, she has won two Golden Boots in three years in the WSL – taking her total across the world to seven.

When it comes to being in the right place in the right time, Kerr is the very best. There’s a lot more to her game, too, be it her defensive work, the way she creates room for others or her ability to score something spectacular.

One of the best playmakers in the game, Lavelle announced herself on the biggest stage when she scored in the 2019 Women’s World Cup final and she has only enhanced her reputation since. Nimble footed and full of skill, the midfielder has the ability to unlock any defence, no matter how stubborn, and she’s got goals in her game, too.

You’ve got to be a special player to be a regular starter for the U.S. women’s national team, and Lavelle certainly is.

A well-established defender at the highest level for some time now, Lawrence is another example of a full-back who is excellent on both sides of the ball. For both club and country, she has proved that she is one of the best in her position time and time again, helping Paris Saint-Germain to win a first ever league title on the women’s side and starring as Canada claimed Olympic Gold in 2021.

Lawrence is consistent, reliable and a player of real quality, and Chelsea fans can look forward to seeing her in action after her summer arrival in London.

The best centre-back in the women’s game by some distance, Mapi Leon is the perfect modern day defender. Her ability on the ball is absolutely superb, with her wonderful left foot able to start attacks from deep, while her set-piece deliveries are almost always pinpoint.

As for when Barca are on the back foot, Leon reads play to a tee to intervene at the perfect time. She’s a Rolls Royce of a centre-back.

Ever since she made her debut in the Eredivisie as a 15-year-old, Miedema has been smashing records. It was in the Women's Super League, after joining Arsenal from Bayern Munich, that she really established herself as one of the world's best, quickly becoming the division's all-time top goalscorer and making a case for being one of its greatest-ever players.

In recent years, though, Miedema has shown that she is not just a goalscorer, operating in a deeper role where she can showcase that she is an excellent playmaker, too.

A two-time World Cup winner and an Olympic champion, Alex Morgan might be 34 years old, but she remains at the very top of the game, winning her first NWSL Golden Boot just last year. The San Diego Wave star is still as clinical as ever and as important as ever to her national team, her experience and know-how complementing the youthful exuberance that often lines up around her.

It’s a massive testament to the level that she is playing at that she is still the USWNT’s undisputed starting centre-forward, given how much attacking talent is in its player pool.

Another young player already deserving of being on this list is Germany star Oberdorf, who was crowned the Women’s NXGN winner back in 2020 . There are few better than the Wolfsburg midfielder at breaking up an opponents’ play and getting her own team on the attack, with her battling attitude balanced out with excellent technique.

Oberdorf is only growing with experience, too, becoming more and more of a commanding presence as the years go by.

Among the deadliest strikers in world football, Pajor’s record since she joined two-time European champions Wolfsburg as an 18-year-old speaks for itself. The Poland international has netted over a century over goals for the club, despite not bagging more than five in the league until her fourth campaign.

It was that year, the 2018-19 season, where Pajor really announced herself, with 24 goals in 19 league games. Her consistency in the years since has been incredible, with her clever movement, high-energy pressing and ability to link up with others all marking her out as one of the best on the planet.

One of the stars of the PSG team that pipped Lyon to the league title for the first time in 2021, Paredes returned to Spain to join Barcelona a few weeks later and her stock has only risen in the time since.

The centre-back has formed a solid partnership with Leon in the heart of defence and only improved her ability to play out from the back, while maintaining the commanding presence she brings to the table. Aerially, she’s excellent in both boxes.

Players in Germany don’t always get individual recognition, but Popp is another name that is certainly renowned as world-class by those in the game. She’s a nightmare for defenders with her strength, power and intelligent movement, while her aerial presence is difficult for anyone to deal with.

What makes Popp most impressive, though, is that she is capable of performing at a very high level not just as a centre-forward, but also as a winger, a No.10 and a holding midfielder.

A two-time Ballon d’Or winner, those achievements speak volumes of Putellas’ ability. Usually an attack-minded midfielder, her skill and vision is complemented by her goalscoring capabilities, whether it’s arriving in the box at the right time or doing something spectacular.

Putellas can also fill in in a deeper role if needed and has been performing at an incredibly high level for several years, even before the individual awards started to recognise as much.

A goalkeeper who has seen her stock steadily rise over the years, Sheridan has a wonderful all-round game. She makes great saves, she commands her area well to collect aerial balls and her distribution has improved year-on-year.

After building her reputation at Gotham FC, she’s gone up another level with the San Diego Wave, something emphasised by the fact she has recently become Canada’s No.1, too.

A rising star in the women’s game but one already at the very top, Smith became the youngest-ever recipient of the NWSL’s Most Valuable Player award in 2022, her goals and assists helping to fire the Portland Thorns to the Championship. She’s carried that form onto the international stage, too, where she has pushed her way into the USWNT’s starting XI already, at 22 years old.

Able to play out wide or through the middle, Smith's off-ball movement, ability to shoot with both feet and tendency to create for others all make her an extremely dangerous forward - and one that will only get better.

Walsh was brought in for a world-record fee last year by Barcelona after she spent eight years at Manchester City becoming one of the tidiest players around. The England international can do all the simple things right, but she can also pick passes that few others can see – such as her unbelievable assist for Ella Toone in the Euro 2022 final.

That she was named Player of the Match on that occasion underlines her ability to put in a world-class performance on the biggest stage, and it’s something she has been doing consistently for many years now.