FIFA Women's World Cup awards

This article is about the women's senior tournament. For the men's tournament, see FIFA World Cup awards.

At the end of each FIFA Women's World Cup final tournament, several awards are presented to the players and teams which have distinguished themselves in various aspects of the game.^[1]

Awards

• There are currently five post-tournament awards from the FIFA Technical Study Group:^[2]
  • the Golden Ball (currently commercially termed "adidas Golden Ball") for the best overall player of the tournament (first awarded in 1991);
  • the Golden Boot (currently commercially termed "adidas Golden Boot", formerly known as the Golden Shoe) for the top goalscorer of the tournament (first awarded in 1991);
  • the Golden Glove (currently commercially termed "adidas Golden Glove", formerly known as the Best Goalkeeper) for the best goalkeeper of the tournament (first awarded in 2003);
  • the FIFA Young Player Award for the best player of the tournament under 21 years of age at the start of the calendar year (first awarded in 2011);
  • the FIFA Fair Play Trophy for the team with the best record of fair play during the tournament (first awarded in 1991).

• There is currently one award voted on by fans during the tournament:
  • the Player of the Match (currently commercially termed "VISA Player of the Match") for outstanding performance by a player during each match of the tournament (first awarded in 2003).

• There is currently one award voted on by fans after the conclusion of the tournament:
  • the Goal of the Tournament (currently commercially termed "Hyundai Goal of the Tournament") for the fans' best goal scored during the tournament (first awarded in 2007).

• The following five awards are no longer given:
  • the All-Star Squad for the best squad of players of the tournament (chosen by the technical study group, awarded from 1999 to 2015);
  • the Most Entertaining Team for the team that entertained the fans the most during the tournament (voted on by fans after the conclusion of the tournament, awarded in 2003 and 2007);
  • the FANtasy All-Star Team for the fans' best eleven-player line-up of the tournament (voted on by fans after the conclusion of the tournament, awarded in 2003);
  • the Dream Team for the fans' best manager and eleven-player line-up of the tournament (voted on by fans after the conclusion of the tournament, awarded in 2015);
  • the Players Who Dared to Shine for ten key players of the tournament who "dared to shine" (chosen by the technical study group, awarded in 2019).

Golden Ball

The Golden Ball award is presented to the best player at each FIFA World Cup final, with a shortlist drawn up by the FIFA technical committee and the winner voted for by representatives of the media. Those who finish as runners-up in the vote receive the Silver Ball and Bronze Ball awards as the second and third most outstanding players in the tournament respectively.^[3]

World Cup	Golden Ball	Silver Ball	Bronze Ball
1991 China	Carin Jennings	Michelle Akers	Linda Medalen
1995 Sweden	Hege Riise	Gro Espeseth	Ann Kristin Aarønes
1999 United States	Sun Wen	Sissi	Michelle Akers
2003 United States	Birgit Prinz	Victoria Svensson	Maren Meinert
2007 China	Marta	Birgit Prinz	Cristiane
2011 Germany	Homare Sawa	Abby Wambach	Hope Solo
2015 Canada	Carli Lloyd	Amandine Henry	Aya Miyama
2019 France	Megan Rapinoe	Lucy Bronze	Rose Lavelle
2023 Australia/New Zealand	Aitana Bonmatí	Jennifer Hermoso	Amanda Ilestedt

Golden Boot

The Golden Boot award goes to the top goalscorer of the FIFA World Cup. It was introduced as the Golden Shoe at the 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup and renamed to Golden Boot in 2011.^[4]

If more than one player finishes the tournament with the same number of goals, the tie goes to the player who has contributed the most assists (with the FIFA Technical Study Group deciding whether an assist is to be counted as such). If there is still a tie, the award goes to the player who has played the least amount of time (most goals per minute).^[4]

Silver and Bronze Boots are awarded to the second- and third-placed players.^[4]

World Cup	Golden Boot	Goals	Silver Boot	Goals	Bronze Boot	Goals
1991 China	Michelle Akers	10	Heidi Mohr	7	Linda Medalen Carin Jennings	6
1995 Sweden	Ann Kristin Aarønes	6	Hege Riise	5	Shi Guihong	3
1999 United States	Sun Wen Sissi	7			Ann Kristin Aarønes	4
2003 United States	Birgit Prinz	7	Maren Meinert	4	Kátia	4
2007 China	Marta	7	Abby Wambach	6	Ragnhild Gulbrandsen	6
2011 Germany	Homare Sawa	5	Marta	4	Abby Wambach	4
2015 Canada	Célia Šašić	6	Carli Lloyd	6	Anja Mittag	5
2019 France	Megan Rapinoe	6	Alex Morgan	6	Ellen White	6
2023 Australia/New Zealand	Hinata Miyazawa	5	Kadidiatou Diani	4	Alexandra Popp	4

Golden Glove

The Golden Glove award recognizes the best goalkeeper of the tournament since 2011. In 2003 and 2007, a Best Goalkeeper award was given, and in 1999 two goalkeepers were named to an All-Star Team. The FIFA Technical Study Group recognises the top goalkeeper of the tournament based on the player's performance throughout the final competition.^[5] Although goalkeepers have this specific award for their position, they are eligible for the Golden Ball as well.

World Cup	BG / Golden Glove Award	Clean sheets
1999 United States	Gao Hong	4
	Briana Scurry
2003 United States	Silke Rottenberg	2
2007 China	Nadine Angerer	6
2011 Germany	Hope Solo	2
2015 Canada	Hope Solo	5
2019 France	Sari van Veenendaal	3
2023 Australia/New Zealand	Mary Earps	3

FIFA Young Player Award

The FIFA Young Player Award is given to the best player in the tournament who is at most 21 years old. For the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup this meant that the player had to have been born on or after 1 January 1998. The FIFA Technical Study Group recognises the Best Young Player of the tournament based on the player's performances throughout the final competition.

World Cup	Best Young Player Award	Age
2011 Germany	Caitlin Foord	16
2015 Canada	Kadeisha Buchanan	19
2019 France	Giulia Gwinn	20
2023 Australia/New Zealand	Salma Paralluelo	19

FIFA Fair Play Trophy

The FIFA Fair Play Trophy is given to the team with the best record of fair play during the World Cup final tournament. Only teams that qualified for the second round are considered. The winners of this award earn the FIFA Fair Play Trophy, a diploma, a fair play medal for each player and official, and $50,000 worth of football equipment to be used for youth development.

World Cup	FIFA Fair Play Trophy Winners
1991 China	Germany
1995 Sweden	Sweden
1999 United States	China
2003 United States	China
2007 China	Norway
2011 Germany	Japan
2015 Canada	France
2019 France	France
2023 Australia/New Zealand	Japan

Player of the Match

The Player of the Match (POTM) award picks the outstanding player in every match of the tournament since 2003.^{[6][7][8][9][10]}

While the awards from 2003 to 2015 were chosen by the technical study group,^{[11][7][12][9]} from 2019 the winner has been chosen through an online poll on FIFA's website.^[13]

Leading player of the match winners by tournament

World Cup	Player(s) with most POTM wins	Wins
2003 United States	Birgit Prinz Bettina Wiegmann Dagny Mellgren Victoria Svensson	2
2007 China	Daniela Marta Kelly Smith Nadine Angerer Birgit Prinz Ane Stangeland Horpestad	2
2011 Germany	Aya Miyama Homare Sawa Lotta Schelin Abby Wambach	2
2015 Canada	Carli Lloyd	4
2019 France	Megan Rapinoe	3
2023 Australia/New Zealand	Hinata Miyazawa Amanda Ilestedt	3

Leading player of the match winners all-time

Rank	Player	Wins	World Cup(s) with awards
1	Marta	5	2003, 2007, 2011, 2019
	Aya Miyama	5	2011, 2015
	Carli Lloyd	5	2011, 2015
4	Birgit Prinz	4	2003, 2007
	Megan Rapinoe	4	2015, 2019
6	Daniela	3	2003, 2007
	Amandine Henry	3	2015, 2019
	Nadine Angerer	3	2007, 2015
	Alexandra Popp	3	2019, 2023
	Homare Sawa	3	2007, 2011
	Hinata Miyazawa	3	2023
	Lieke Martens	3	2015, 2019
	Amanda Ilestedt	3	2023
	Lotta Schelin	3	2007, 2011
	Alex Morgan	3	2019, 2023
	Abby Wambach	3	2007, 2011

Player of the match award winners by country

Rank	Country	Awards
1	United States	25
2	Germany	24
3	Sweden	22
4	England	20
	Japan	20
6	Brazil	17
7	Australia	15
8	France	14
9	Norway	13
10	Netherlands	11
11	Canada	8
	China	8
13	Nigeria	7
	Spain	7
15	Colombia	5
16	Italy	4
	Switzerland	4
18	Cameroon	3
	Denmark	3
	Jamaica	3
	Mexico	3
	New Zealand	3
	North Korea	3
24	Argentina	2
	Chile	2
	Costa Rica	2
	Ghana	2
	Morocco	2
	Republic of Ireland	2
	Russia	2
	South Africa	2
32	Philippines	1
	Portugal	1
	South Korea	1
	Scotland	1
	Thailand	1
	Zambia	1

Player of the match award winners in the final

Final	Player	Opponent
2003 United States	Bettina Wiegmann	Sweden
2007 China	Nadine Angerer	Brazil
2011 Germany	Ayumi Kaihori	United States
2015 Canada	Carli Lloyd	Japan
2019 France	Megan Rapinoe	Netherlands
2023 Australia/New Zealand	Olga Carmona	England

All-Star Squad

World Cup	Goalkeepers	Defenders	Midfielders	Forwards
1999 United States	Gao Hong Briana Scurry	Wang Liping Wen Lirong Doris Fitschen Brandi Chastain Carla Overbeck	Sissi Liu Ailing Zhao Lihong Bettina Wiegmann Michelle Akers	Jin Yan Sun Wen Ann Kristin Aarønes Mia Hamm
2003 United States	Silke Rottenberg	Wang Liping Sandra Minnert Joy Fawcett	Bettina Wiegmann Malin Moström Shannon Boxx	Charmaine Hooper Maren Meinert Birgit Prinz Victoria Svensson
2007 China	Nadine Angerer Bente Nordby	Ariane Hingst Li Jie Ane Stangeland Horpestad Kerstin Stegemann	Daniela Formiga Kelly Smith Renate Lingor Ingvild Stensland Kristine Lilly	Lisa De Vanna Marta Cristiane Birgit Prinz
2011 Germany	Hope Solo Ayumi Kaihori	Elise Kellond-Knight Erika Alex Scott Sonia Bompastor Laura Georges Saskia Bartusiak	Jill Scott Genoveva Añonma Louisa Necib Aya Miyama Shinobu Ohno Homare Sawa Kerstin Garefrekes Caroline Seger Shannon Boxx Lauren Cheney	Marta Lotta Schelin Abby Wambach
2015 Canada	Karen Bardsley Nadine Angerer Hope Solo	Kadeisha Buchanan Lucy Bronze Steph Houghton Wendie Renard Saori Ariyoshi Julie Johnston Meghan Klingenberg	Elise Kellond-Knight Amandine Henry Eugénie Le Sommer Aya Miyama Mizuho Sakaguchi Rumi Utsugi Carli Lloyd Megan Rapinoe	Lisa De Vanna Élodie Thomis Anja Mittag Célia Šašić Ramona Bachmann

Other all-star selections

FANtasy All-Star Team

The "FANtasy All-Star Team", which was sponsored by MasterCard, featured eleven players decided by a poll on FIFA.com.^[14][15]

World Cup	Goalkeeper	Defenders	Midfielders	Forwards
2003 United States	Briana Scurry	Juliana Charmaine Hooper Sharolta Nonen Sandra Minnert	Bettina Wiegmann Julie Foudy Kristine Lilly	Maren Meinert Birgit Prinz Mia Hamm

Dream Team

World Cup	Goalkeepers	Defenders	Midfielders	Forwards	Manager
2015 Canada	Hope Solo	Kadeisha Buchanan Wendie Renard Julie Johnston Ali Krieger	Aya Miyama Carli Lloyd Megan Rapinoe	Anja Mittag Célia Šašić Alex Morgan	Silvia Neid

Players Who Dared to Shine

The FIFA Technical Study Group announced a list of ten key players of the tournament who "dared to shine".^[10]

World Cup	Goalkeeper	Defenders	Midfielders	Forwards
2019 France	Sari van Veenendaal	Lucy Bronze Crystal Dunn	Jill Scott Julie Ertz Rose Lavelle	Ellen White Vivianne Miedema Sofia Jakobsson Megan Rapinoe

Goal of the Tournament

The Goal of the Tournament award was awarded for the first time at the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup.

• Scores and results list the goal tally of the players' team first.

Winners

World Cup	Player	Scored against	Score	Minute	Result	Round	Details	Ref.
2007 China	Marta	United States	4–0	79'	4–0	Semi-finals	Marta's second goal in the match, a solo effort	[16]
2011 Germany	Abby Wambach	Brazil	2–2	120+2'	2–2 (a.e.t.) (5–3 p)	Quarter-finals	Last-minute headed equaliser in additional time of the second half of extra time and sending the match to a penalty shoot-out	[17]
2015 Canada	Carli Lloyd	Japan	4–0	16'	5–2	Final	Lloyd's third goal in the final, scored from the midfield line	[18]
2019 France	Cristiane	Australia	2–0	38'	2–3	Group stage	Brazil's second goal in their second group stage match, scored via a header	[19]
2023 Australia/New Zealand	Linda Caicedo	Germany	1–0	52'	2–1	Group stage	Colombia's first goal in their second group stage match, a solo effort	[20]

Nominees

World Cup	Rank	Player	Scored against	Score	Minute	Result	Round	Ref.
2007 China	1	Marta	United States	4–0	79'	4–0	Semi-finals	[21]
	2	Cristiane	Australia	3–2	75'	3–2	Quarter-finals
		Formiga	Australia	1–0	4'	3–2	Quarter-finals
	4	Abby Wambach	Brazil	2–0	'58'	2–0	Group stage
		Lisa De Vanna	Norway	1–1	'83'	1–1	Group stage
	6	Kerstin Garefrekes	North Korea	1–0	'44'	3–0	Quarter-finals
	7	Ri Un-suk	Sweden	1–1	'22'	1–2	Group stage
	8	Song Xiaoli	Denmark	3–2	'88'	3–2	Group stage
	9	Heather Garriock	Ghana	3–0	'69'	4–1	Group stage
	10	Aya Miyama	England	2–2	'90+5'	2–2	Group stage
2011 Germany	1	Abby Wambach	Brazil	2–2	'120+2'	2–2 (a.e.t.) (5–3 p)	Quarter-finals	[22]
	2	Nahomi Kawasumi	Sweden	3–1	64'	3–1	Semi-finals
	3	Marie Hammarström	France	2-1	82'	2-1	Third place play-off
	4	Érika	Equatorial Guinea	1-0	49'	3-0	Group stage
	5	Ellyse Perry	Sweden	1-2	40'	3–1	Quarter-finals
	6	Karina Maruyama	Germany	1-0	108'	1-0 (a.e.t.)	Quarter-finals
	7	Heather O'Reilly	Colombia	1-0	12'	3-0	Group stage
	8	Christine Sinclair	Germany	1-2	82'	2-1	Group stage
	9	Élise Bussaglia	England	1-1	88'	1–1 (a.e.t.) (4–3 p)	Quarter-finals
	10	Gaëtane Thiney	Canada	2-0	60'	4-0	Group stage
2015 Canada	1	Carli Lloyd	Japan	4–0	16'	5–2	Final	[23]
	2	Daniela Montoya	Mexico	1–1	82'	1–1	Group stage
	3	Lucy Bronze	Norway	2-1	76'	2-1	Round of 16
	4	Lauren Holiday	Japan	3-0	14'	5–2	Final
	5	Lieke Martens	New Zealand	1-0	33'	1-0	Group stage
	6	Lisa De Vanna	United States	1-1	27'	1-3	Group stage
	7	Maren Mjelde	Germany	1-1	61'	1-1	Group stage
	8	Amandine Henry	Mexico	5-0	80'	5-0	Group stage
	9	Mizuho Sakaguchi	Netherlands	2-0	78'	2-1	Round of 16
	10	Ramona Bachmann	Ecuador	7-0	61'	10-1	Group stage
2019 France	1	Cristiane	Australia	2–0	38'	2–3	Group stage	[24]
	2	Ajara Nchout	New Zealand	2–1	90+5'	2–1	Group stage
	3	Jackie Groenen	Sweden	1–0	99' (a.e.t.)	1–0	Semi-finals
	4	Lucy Bronze	Norway	3–0	57'	3–0	Quarter-finals
	5	Aurora Galli	Jamaica	4–0	71'	5–0	Group stage
	6	Alex Morgan	Thailand	8–0	74'	13–0	Group stage
	7	Asisat Oshoala	South Korea	2–0	75'	2–0	Group stage
	8	Yui Hasegawa	Netherlands	1–1	43'	1–2	Round of 16
	9	Amandine Henry	South Korea	4–0	85'	4–0	Group stage
	10	Sofia Jakobsson	England	2–0	22'	2–1	Third place match

All-time best goal

In 2003, FIFA.com held a poll for the greatest goal in Women's World Cup history (from 1991 to 1999).

The 1991 goal from Michelle Akers-Stahl won the poll.^[25]

Date	Player	Scored against	Score	Minute	Result	Round	Details
24 November 1991	Michelle Akers-Stahl	Chinese Taipei	2–0	29'	7–0	Quarter-finals	Akers-Stahl's second of five goals in the match, a free kick

The similar "15 for 2015" poll was held from 11 May to 5 June 2015, encompassing the best goals from 1991 to 2011.^[26][27]

Abby Wambach, who won the Goal of the Tournament in 2011, was chosen.^[28]

Date	Player	Scored against	Score	Minute	Result	Round	Details
10 July 2011	Abby Wambach	Brazil	2–2	120+2'	2–2 (a.e.t.) (5–3 p)	Quarter-finals	Last-minute headed equaliser in additional time of the second half of extra time and sending the match to a penalty shoot-out

Most Entertaining Team

World Cup	Most Entertaining Team Award
2003 United States	Germany
2007 China	Brazil

See also

• Women's association football portal
• Association football portal
• Sports portal

• FIFA World Cup awards
• UEFA European Championship awards
• Copa América awards
• Africa Cup of Nations awards
• AFC Asian Cup awards
• CONCACAF Gold Cup awards
• OFC Nations Cup awards
• FIFA Women's World Cup
• FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup
• FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup
• List of sports awards honoring women