BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year 2025 nominees announced as voting opens to the public

BBC World Service has announced the shortlist for the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year 2025 award, as voting opens to the public.

Now in its eleventh year, the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year award sees an expert panel made up of coaches, journalists and former professionals nominate their top five players over the past year. Members of the public can vote for their standout player until 31 October 2025 on bbc.com/womensfootball.

The footballers shortlisted for the award this year are:

Aitana Bonmati - Spain and Barcelona

Hannah Hampton - England and Chelsea

Mariona Caldentey - Spain and Arsenal

Alessia Russo - England and Arsenal

Patri Guijarro - Spain and Barcelona

Previous winners of the award include Zambian forward Barbra Banda, England goalkeeper Mary Earps, England striker Beth Mead, Netherlands forward Vivianne Miedema, English defender Lucy Bronze, Norwegian forward Ada Hegerberg and Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala.

Voting is free and open to the public on bbc.com/womensfootball. The vote will close at 9am GMT on Friday 31 October 2025, with the winner announced on Tuesday 25 November.

Jon Zilkha, Controller of BBC World Service English, says: “I am delighted that our expert panel has selected a shortlist of exceptionally talented players for this award, now in its eleventh year. Since the inception of BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year in 2015, we have witnessed 11 years of remarkable growth and increased recognition for women’s football. I’m delighted we continue to shine a light on that story and to see who our audiences crown the winner for 2025.”

In the lead up to voting, the BBC World Service spoke to the sportswomen nominated for this year’s award.

Aitana Bonmati said, reflecting on her success with Barcelona: “I’ve been at the club for 14 years, Barcelona is my home, all of these accolades are down to the collective. It has been a difficult year, we won with Barca but lost the Euros Final (with Spain), but we have made progress.

Our generation has the chance to be a great example for girls and boys. When I was a kid I didn’t think women’s football could exist.”

On being nominated for the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year 2025 Hannah Hampton said: “It’s a bit of a shock to me. A nomination for me, is a nomination for all the goalkeepers out there and the praise that we're finally getting as a union. I think in the Euros, I was growing in confidence game after game.

I don't think doctors or anyone would have ever predicted, for a national goalkeeper who has got no depth perception and was born with a squint, that it would be possible. But I think I've just always tried to prove doctors wrong from the get-go.”

Mariona Caldentey said, on being nominated for the BBC award: “It’s an honour to be recognised. It was not easy to come in a new club, Arsenal, but I just really enjoy playing football here. It was a really special journey winning the Champions League and we’re so happy that Arsenal could win it again after 18 years.

On losing in the Euro 2025 Final, she said: “It still hurts a bit when I think about the final. But we need to remember that we made history because we have never played even a semi-final of the Euros, so it means we continue making history, but of course the main goal was winning.”

Alessia Russo said, reflecting on her year as a player: “From the Champions League to the Euros, winning both trophies, I think when I'm retired, I'll look back saying that they were the best four months ever. It was incredible.”

On winning the Euros for a second time, Russo said: “The whole tournament was a complete rollercoaster. Winning in 2022 changed the game for a lot of different reasons and really elevated women's football. To do it back to back was just incredible.”

Patri Guijarro said, on being nominated for the BBC award: “I am very flattered. I've always said that I feel very valued by players, by staff and for me that's the ultimate compliment. To play for the national team and obviously defend this jersey, your home, that’s what any footballer wants to do.”

Guijarro became the first female player to graduate from Barcelona’s famous La Macia academy in 2015: “I've been here ten years now and the truth is that these last few years have been incredible, with results and we are evolving. My intention has always been to enjoy myself, to do what I am passionate about, strive to do what you love, which in this case was soccer.

Members of the public can now vote online for their favourite player and learn more about the award on bbc.com/womensfootball

The winner of the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year 2025 will be revealed on the BBC World Service’s flagship news programme, Newsday, on Tuesday 25 November.

ES

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