Yahoo Sports 2024 FIFPRO Women’s World 11: Record-breaking 7,000 players decide star-studded team
A record-breaking 7,000 players voted to decide the 2024 FIFPRO Women’s World 11. England is the most represented nation with five players named in the star-studded team of the year.
Footballers voted for their peers based on their performances from 21 August 2023 to 10 August 2024. Qualified recipients must have appeared in at least 20 official matches during that period. Let’s take a closer look at each player named in the Women’s World 11 and what they achieved during the 12-month window.
Who are the 2024 FIFPRO Women’s World 11 winners?
Goalkeeper
Mary Earps (Manchester United/Paris Saint-Germain, England)
Defenders
Lucy Bronze (Barcelona/Chelsea, England)
Olga Carmona (Real Madrid, Spain)
Alex Greenwood (Manchester City, England)
Midfielders
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona, Spain)
Alexia Putellas (Barcelona, Spain)
Keira Walsh (Barcelona, England)
Forwards
Barbra Banda (Shanghai Shengli/Orlando Pride, Zambia)
Linda Caicedo (Real Madrid, Colombia)
Lauren James (Chelsea, England)
Marta (Orlando Pride, Brazil)
The winners at a glance
Marta announced her retirement from international football in April 2024 and played her final game in the Olympic final in Paris, where Brazil lost out on gold to the USA. At club level, Marta’s contract with Orlando Pride ends after the 2024 season, but she has said she plans to play professional football for at least two more years. She made Olympic history as the first women’s footballer to score three Olympic hat-tricks.
There are five Lionesses in the squad — Lauren James, Lucy Bronze, Alex Greenwood, Keira Walsh and Mary Earps. Bronze appears in the Women’s World 11 for the seventh time, equalling Wendie Renard’s record. Olga Carmona, Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas of Spain have made the team, along with Colombia’s Linda Caicedo, and Barbra Banda of Zambia.
Banda is the first African player to make the FIFPRO Women’s World 11. James makes the cut for the second year in a row, while Marta makes her third appearance. Here is what they all achieved this season.
Barba Banda: A record-breaking year
Barbra Banda won BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year, the NWSL Championship Most Valuable Player, and was named in NWSL Best XI First Team.
In March of this year, Orlando Pride paid Shanghai $740,000 (£581,000) to sign Banda, making her the second most expensive women’s signing in history, behind Zambia teammate Racheal Kundananji. Banda ended her debut campaign with 13 goals in the regular season and four in the playoffs — a NWSL post-season record — as Pride won its first title.
Olga Carmona and Aitana Bonmatí: Spain’s shining stars
Olga Carmona and the following two players on this list all played for Spain. In 2024, she won the first UEFA Women’s Nations League final with Spain and helped them qualify for the Olympic Games in Paris. She gained 6,000 votes from other women’s football players.
Aitana Bonmatí, who won back-to-back Ballon d’Or Femini awards in 2023 and 2024, also won the Laureus World Sports Award for Sportswoman of the Year, and became the first footballer to win it. Bonmatí won the continental quadruple and the second continental treble with Barcelona. Bonmatí also won the Champions League, the League Cup, and the Copa de la Reina, they also won the Liga F title, too.
Alexia Putellas and Linda Caicedo: Inspiring performances
Alexia Putellas captained Barcelona to achieve their first continental quadruple. She was also part of Spain’s debut at the Olympics, where they placed fourth. Putellas has come back after an ACL injury to top performances this season. She came off the bench in the Champions League final to score a goal against Olympique Lyonnais.
Linda Caicedo played a leading role in Colombia’s Olympic run in Paris, helping them reach the quarter-finals, where they were defeated by Spain on penalties. Caicedo was also named the Player of the Match twice at the Olympics, and her goal against Germany was named Goal of the Tournament.
Lucy Bronze and Keira Walsh: Dominating the global stage
Lucy Bronze, and Barcelona players in general, dominate time and time again. The Lioness was shortlisted for the best FIFA Women’s Player award and received an honorary doctorate from Leeds Beckett University.
Bronze told FIFPRO: “It feels amazing to be in the FIFPRO World 11. It’s voted for by your fellow players who you play with and against throughout the season, throughout the year, so it’s always the most special award.”
Like her international and former club teammate, Keira Walsh won every trophy possible with Barcelona in the 2023/24 season. Bonmatí said of the key midfielder: “It’s a pleasure to play with her because we understand each other perfectly.”
Walsh was nominated for the Best FIFA Women’s Player award and placed fourth in the IFFHS Women’s World Best Playmaker ranking. She is also included on ESPN’s list of the 50 best women’s footballers.
Lauren James: A rising star on and off the pitch
Lauren James was nominated for the Ballon d’Or Feminin alongside her compatriot on this list, Lucy Bronze. Last season, James won the WSL title with Chelsea, and received multiple Player of the Month awards throughout the 2023/24 campaign.
In September, James also launched a scholarship program to help girls from minority backgrounds get into football. She was named the PFA Young Player of the Year for the 2022/23 season, and Chelsea’s Player of the Year for 2023/24.
Alex Greenwood: A stonewall defender for club and country
Alex Greenwood has been a key figure for not just England but also Manchester City after the retirement of Steph Houghton. Although she did not come away with any silverware, she was given the captaincy of Man City and brought the fight to Chelsea for the WSL title to the very last day.
Speaking of her back-to-back wins, the defender told FIFPRO: “I’m proud to make the FIFPRO World 11. To be nominated by your fellow players, not only who you play with but against, is special.”
Mary Earps: A year of triumphs and milestones
Mary Earps has had her challenges this year, with Hannah Hampton competing for England’s No.1 spot in goal. However, at club level, she helped beat Chelsea for the first time in the FA Cup semi-final and ruined Emma Hayes’ hope for a double.
Earps went on to win the FA Cup at Wembley with Manchester United and subsequently left to join Paris Saint-Germain. She won the Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper award for the second year, becoming the first two-time winner. She is now an MBE and the first professional female footballer to have a waxwork in Madame Tussauds.
Earps told FIFPRO: “I’m pretty shocked, to be honest. I know that the players could have voted for a few goalkeepers who had an excellent season. I didn’t expect it but, of course, it’s very nice. I’m very grateful that my peers — the people I play with and against — voted me into this position.”
