3: Ada Hegerberg

Hegerberg had another stellar year, consolidating her reputation as one of the top strikers in the world. She helped an all-star Lyon side win both the Division 1 Féminine and a third consecutive Champions League, scoring in the final against Wolfsburg. The Norwegian ended the 2017/18 season with 31 goals, 10 clear of the next best, and is already well on her way to another stellar campaign. An outstanding tally of 15 Champions League goals, seven more than her nearest rival, emphatically earned her the golden boot, while strikes in both legs against Ajax helped Lyon progress to this season’s quarter-finals. Still in the international wilderness, Hegerberg did not return to Norway duty in 2018 as Martin Sjögren’s side beat Netherlands to an automatic World Cup spot, but her lack of football on that stage has done nothing to downgrade her talent or reputation. Earlier this week she was named the first winner of the first women’s Ballon d’Or but it’s just the bronze medal in our list for the 2016 winner.

⇐ 4. Lucy Bronze

2. Sam Kerr ⇒