Top 15 Best Spanish Women Soccer Players

Top 15 Best Spanish Women Soccer Players

Everyone loves watching the Premier League on Sunday. Chances are, you have your favorite team, your favorite players, and religiously tune in on the weekends to cheer on your favorite squad.

You might not be too familiar with the women’s side, however. Although women’s football, or soccer, is growing exponentially across the world, the ability to recognize the top players from each country is limited when compared to the men’s players in England.

There are extremely talented Spanish women’s footballers who have made a name for themselves, playing for the Spanish national team and various club teams across Europe. Let’s dive a little deeper and check out the Top 15 Best Spanish Women Soccer Players

15. Lucia Garcia

Lucia Garcia. James Boyes, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Luca Garca Córdoba, a forward for Manchester United of the English Women’s Super League and the Spain national team, was born on July 14, 1998. She is a professional footballer from Spain. Due to the lack of a football field in the 200-person community, the sole female in a set of quadruplets was forced to play on the streets in her childhood. She is currently playing for the English Women’s Super League club Manchester United.

At age 20, she was the youngest player selected for the Spain team to compete in the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup. On June 8, 2019, Garca scored her first goal for her country’s senior team, the third in Spain’s 3-1 comeback victory over South Africa in their opening group match. This was Spain’s first-ever victory at a FIFA Women’s World Cup. She scored four goals in four games for Spain in 2020. She scored twice, once against Japan in a 3-1 victory at the 2020 SheBelieves Cup and once against Moldova in a 9-0 victory for Spain in UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 qualification.

Garca has played a far deeper role than an attacker, playing as a creative playmaker. Because of this, Garca played a crucial role in moving the ball up the field and was able to show off her superb ball control and aptitude for seeking out the best alternatives higher up the pitch. This is undoubtedly one of her primary talents and one that Manchester City will take advantage of in their build-up play next season. Her passing accuracy for this season presently stands at an incredible 64.8%, while 61.9% of her deliveries to the final third have hit their intended target.

She is hoping to maintain the same form as she steps into the field to prove why she is considered among the best players in the 2023 Women’s Football World Cup, in Australia and Scotland, between July and August.

14. Esther Gonzalez

Esther Gonzalez. Alejandro Reguero, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Esther González Rodrguez, a striker for Liga F side Real Madrid and the Spain women’s national team, was born on December 8, 1992, in Spain. She has prior club experience with Atlético Málaga, Sporting de Huelva, and Atlético de Madrid. In her 111-appearance career, Esther Gonzalez has played for both the club and the national teams. 60 goals have been scored by her in her footballing her career. Esther now has a 0.54 goals-to-game ratio.

13. Mariona Caldentey

Mariona Caldentey. copy by Kelsiesmith7, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Spanish professional footballer Mara Francesca Caldentey Oliver (born March 19, 1996), often known as Mariona Caldentey or just Mariona, plays forward for Liga F club FC Barcelona and the Spain women’s national team. At the age of four, Caldentey started playing football as an after-school sport with her neighborhood team. She then participated in three Spanish championships while playing futsal with Manacor, where she won several championships. Despite not growing up in La Masia, Caldentey has always had a link to FC Barcelona because her father was a promoter for Els Tamarells, one of Barcelona’s major penyes.

In the 2019 Algarve Cup, where Spain placed seventh, Caldentey was selected to represent Spain. Additionally, she was selected for the Spain team for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2019. In the group stage of the competition, when Spain earned four points and advanced to the Round of 16 for the first time in their history, she started each game. She replaced Virginia Torrecilla in the Round of 16 match at the 83:00 mark, and Spain ultimately fell to the eventual winners, the United States.

12. Laia Aleixandri

Laia Aleixandri. Alejandro Reguero, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Named in 2020 as one of the ten most promising young football players in Europe by UEFA, Laia Aleixandri is a defender to look out for. The 22-year-old PUMA athlete has achieved a lot this far in her career playing for Atlético Madrid and now Manchester City, as well as Spain’s national team. CATch Up had the opportunity to chat with Laia on her goals, pre-game rituals and her time so far at Manchester City.

She has a ritual of putting her right shin guard on before her left one. And when she is entering the pitch, she always enter with her right foot first as well. She is also a favorite of the Spanish fans.

11. Lola Gallardo

Lola Gallardo. Alejandro Reguero, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Mara Dolores “Lola” Gallardo Nez, a Spanish goalkeeper for Atlético Madrid of the Primera División and the Spain women’s national team, was born on June 10, 1993. Lola began her playing career with Sporting Huelva after leaving Sevilla FC. And joining in 2012 at Atlético Madrid. She received awards for being the best goalie in the U-17 World Cup and the best player at the U-17 European Championship in 2010.

One of two reserves for established first-choice goaltender Ainhoa Tirapu, national team coach Ignacio Quereda chose Gallardo for the senior Spain squad for the UEFA Women’s Euro 2013 in Sweden in June 2013. During a pre-tournament friendly match against Denmark in Vejle, Gallardo earned her maiden senior international cap, which she won 2-2. She competed for Spain in the UEFA Women’s Euro 2017 and the FIFA Women’s World Cups 2015 and 2019.

10. Jennifer Hermoso

Jennifer Hermoso. Anders Henrikson, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Jennifer Hermoso, known as Jenni, is a Spanish footballer who currently is a member of the FC Barcelona squad in the Primera Division in Spain, the top tier of football. She also is on the Spanish women’s national team, having been on the team since 2011 and making 76 appearances. Hermoso has had a distinguished career playing women’s soccer for many teams and the Spanish national team.

She transitioned from an attacking midfielder to a false nine. She started her senior career at Atletico Madrid before switching to Rayo Vallecano, where she made 90 appearances and scored 50 goals, making a huge impact in the team. She then went to Tyreso, a team in the top league of Sweden, before moving on to Barcelona, where she made another 90 appearances. She is a legend of the women’s game and Spain’s and Barcelona’s all-time greatest scorer.

Due to Alexia Putellas’ ongoing ACL injury, who has been named The Best FIFA Women’s Player for the previous two years, Jennifer Hermoso will probably have to take on even more responsibility for La Roja Down Under, as the French women soccer team is fondly known as.

The Madrid native, who made her debut at Canada 2015, when Spain was eliminated in the first round, will be competing in her third World Cup. She made her impact in France 2019 after appearing in just one game in Canada. There, she started all four games and contributed with three goals.

Hermoso stands out because of her flexibility up front. The left footed has the goal in her sights at all times and is equally good as a striker or attacking midfielder. She not only commands respect in the opposition’s box but also knows just how to provide Spain a numerical edge moving forward. The seasoned player enjoys build-up play as well, searching for nooks and crannies to scurry into.

9. Patricia Guijarro

Patricia Guijarro. Steffen Prößdorf, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Patricia Guijarro plays as a midfielder for FC Barcelona and the Spanish women’s national team. A young talent, she is only 22 years old, and represents the most recent generation of youth national team success. She has been a member of the Spanish national team at each level, representing her country for the U17 Team, U19 team, U20 team, and now the senior team, since 2017. She is hoping to catch the eyes of the coach during the final selection of the Spanish football women’s team to the upcoming World Cup.

She has found success in both domestic leagues and European leagues, playing in the UEFA Women’s Champions League, and was a part of the Barcelona squad when they reached the Champion’s League final in 2014. She will be hoping to make a mark in the upcoming Women’s Football World Cup to be played in Australia and New Zealand.

She mostly relies on excellent tackling and the capacity to read the game. She can pass the ball efficiently and has excellent tactical awareness.

8. Irene Paredes

Irene Paredes. Frank, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Irene Paredes Hernandez plays as a defender for French Division 1 Feminine club Paris-Saint Germain, commonly known as PSG, and the Spanish national team. Starting her senior career at CD Zarautz, she moved to Real Sociedad, where she made 82 appearances in 3 seasons. She had her longest stint at Athletic Bilbao, one of the women’s most successful teams in Spain, where she made 128 appearances from 2011-2016.

7. Veronica Boquete

Veronica Boquete. Ailura, CC BY-SA 3.0 AT, CC BY-SA 3.0 AT, via Wikimedia Commons

Veronica Boquete, also known as Vero, plays as forward or midfielder for the American team, Utah Royals FC. Boquete has a decorated career of playing in numerous countries, including the United States, Russia, France, Germany, China, and Sweden.

She has one of the longest records in terms of teams played for in her senior career, starting back in 2005 for Prainsa Zaragoza. She has played on numerous American teams, such as Buffalo Flash, Chicago Red Stars, Philadelphia Independence, Portland Thorns, and now, Utah Royals FC.

Throughout her career, she has won the Copa de la Reina de Futbol in 2009 and 2010, the Damallsvenskan with Tyreso in 2012, the UEFA Women’s Championship League in 2014-15, and the Bundesliga in 2015-16 with Bayern Munchen.

It’s like attempting to explain the color red to a blind person while attempting to describe Veronica’s style of play. You cannot completely understand anything unless you have personally experienced it. To comprehend it, you must experience the warmth, intensity, and other characteristics of the hue.

Trying to understand Boquete’s significance and the specific contributions she will make to Milan as a player is a difficult assignment. Thankfully for the Milanisti, we will be able to experience it ourselves. Footballer Verónica Boquete is a remarkable individual. The best athletes can flourish in a variety of positions, and the Spaniard is no exception. She is versatile enough to play in the center, on the right or left side of the midfield, as a defensive mid, or as a false nine.

6. Claudia Zornoza

Claudia Zornoza Sánchez, a midfielder for Real Madrid CF[1] of Liga F and the Spain women’s national team, was born in Spain on October 20, 1990. She started a 0-0 friendly match against Romania at Mogoşoaia in March 2016, making her senior international debut.

The 22/23 season saw Zornoza, Madrid’s center midfield metronome, excel in a variety of offensive positions for the team. The former Levante center-midfielder’s left foot consistently generated magic, whether paired with Maite Oroz or Tere Abelleira. This balance allowed players like Caroline Weir, Athenea, and the newly included Linda Caicedo to shine higher up the field. Even though Alexia, Aitana, and Patri were the stars of the Spain squad, her name was included in the conversation; but, once the drama began, she has established herself as a mainstay.

Returning from injury, she will be hoping to prove her critics wrong as she plays a key role for her Spanish team in the upcoming Football Women’s World Cup.

5. Alexia Putellas

Alexia Putellas Segura currently plays for FC Barcelona in the Primera Division, where she has won four league titles and two Spanish Cups. She began her senior career at Espanyol, where she made 24 appearances in a single season. After this year, she joined Levante for a season, where she made 34 appearances and scored 15 goals.

Since 2012, she has been a staple for Barcelona, being a member of the squad for nearly 9 seasons. She was named best Catalan Player of the Year in 2015, won the Primera Division with Barcelona in 3 consecutive seasons from 2012-2015, won the Copa de la Reina de Futbol in four seasons, and won the Copa Catalunya every year from 2014-2019.

Alexia has a good eye for detail and uses her game knowledge to direct her initial touch into the wide areas, ensuring that she is fully in control of the ball and prepared to advance.

4. Vicky Losada

Maria Victoria Losada Gomez, known as Vicky Losada, currently captains FC Barcelona and is a member of the Spanish national team. Starting her senior career at Barcelona, she has found her way back in 2016, making 68 appearances for the club.

In between her Barcelona career playing football, she had stints in both the United States and England, playing at Western New York Flash and earning 23 games played, and Arsenal, where she played 25 games. She has made 58 appearances for the Spanish national team, with her first cap being ten years ago against a qualifying match versus England in 2010.

3. Sandra Panos

Sandra Panos. Steffen Prößdorf, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Sandra Panos Garcia-Villamil is a goalkeeper for Barcelona FC. Playing in 114 games for Levante from 2010-2015, she moved to Barcelona in 2015, where she has since had 74 appearances. With her most recent club team, she has won the Primera Division in 2019, Copa de la Reina de Futbol in 2017 and 2018, and the Supercopa de Espana Femenina in 2020.

2. Marta Torrejon

Marta Torrejon Moya plays for FC Barcelona and formerly captained the Spanish national team, compiling 90 appearances and 9 goals as a defender. Despite starting her senior career at Espanyol, she has since played in 171 games for Barcelona since 2013.

She has won the Primera Divison with both RCD Espanyol in 2005 and Barcelona in 3 seasons, the Copa de la Reina de Futbol in 4 seasons for RCD and 3 seasons with Barca, and the Copa Catalunya in 4 seasons with RCD and 5 seasons for Barca.

1. Nahikari Garcia

Nahikari García at a match vs Gemrany in November 2018. EL Loko Foto, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Nahikari Garcia Perez plays as a forward for Real Sociedad and the Spanish national team. She first began her career with Anorga KKE in San Sebastian before joining Real Sociedad in 2014. She made over 100 appearances and holds the record for the most goals scored in a single season with 16 goals in 2016.

She has been nominated for the forward of the season within the Primera Divison and has helped the club to reach the first Copa de la Reina in 2019. She has also represented Spain at all of the youth levels, and now represents Spain at the senior level, having made 14 appearances since 2018. At just 23 years old, she is already a great talent and has an extremely promising future.

As you can see, the women in Spain are extremely talented, playing at the top level in Europe and abroad in the United States.