Top 10 female goal scorers of all time: US stars command the rankings

Women’s football has become increasingly popular in recent years, driven by greater investment from organizations and clubs, as well as rising interest from national teams. While women’s football in the United States was extremely popular in the past, the sport is now also thriving in countries such as Spain and England. Below, NowGoal Pro list the top 10 female goal scorers of all time at international level and in the Women’s World Cup.

Top 10 female goal scorers of all time (international level)

Leading the list is Canada’s Christine Sinclair. She holds the all-time international scoring record in women’s football with 190 goals in 331 appearances for the Canadian national team. Over a 23-year career, she helped Canada achieve major successes, including a gold medal at the 2021 Olympic Games and two Olympic bronze medals. She retired at the end of 2023 and is widely regarded as a legend of the sport, and one of the greatest athletes in Canadian history.

Next is Abby Wambach, the leading international goal scorer for the United States, with 184 goals in 255 matches. She played a key role in the team’s two Olympic gold medals and their 2015 Women’s World Cup title. Before Sinclair broke the record, Wambach was the all-time leading scorer from 2013 to 2020. She was also famous for her aerial ability, with around one-third of her goals scored by headers.

Mia Hamm played a major role in popularizing women’s football worldwide. She scored 158 goals and provided 144 assists in 276 appearances for the United States. In terms of achievements, she won two Women’s World Cups (1991 and 1999) and two Olympic gold medals (1996 and 2004). She was also the first player to win the FIFA World Player of the Year award in two consecutive years, in 2001 and 2002.

Maysa Jbarah is a unique presence on this list as the only Asian player. Her scoring record is remarkable, with 144 goals in 140 matches, averaging more than one goal per game, and this total could still increase as she remains active. Thanks to her performances, Jordanian women’s football has grown into a more competitive force in Asia. Known for her physical strength and positioning, Jbarah continues to be a key player for the national team at the age of 36.

Top 10 female goal scorers of all time (international level)

1. Christine Sinclair (Canada) - 190 goals - 331 caps - Retired

2. Abby Wambach (United States) - 184 goals - 255 caps - Retired

3. Mia Hamm (United States) - 158 goals - 276 caps - Retired

4. Maysa Jbarah (Jordan) - 144 goals - 140 caps - Active

5. Carli Lloyd (United States) - 134 goals - 316 caps - Retired

6. Kristine Lilly (United States) - 130 goals - 354 caps - Retired

7. Birgit Prinz (Germany) - 128 goals - 214 caps - Retired

8. Alex Morgan (United States) - 123 goals - 224 caps - Retired

9. Marta (Brazil) – 121 goals - around 200 caps - Active

10. Julie Fleeting (Scotland) - 116 goals - 121 caps - Retired

Top 7 female goal scorers of all time (Women’s World Cup)

The top scorer in Women’s World Cup history is Marta, the legendary Brazilian forward. She holds the record for the most goals scored in World Cup history and is the first player to score in six different tournaments, having appeared in every Women’s World Cup from 2003 to 2023. At 40 years old, she is still active and may continue her career with the aim of playing at the 2027 tournament in Brazil.

Second on the list is Germany’s Birgit Prinz, one of the most iconic players in European women’s football. She scored 128 goals in 214 international matches, including 14 goals at the Women’s World Cup. Prinz helped Germany win back-to-back World Cup titles in 2003 and 2007. Individually, she won the FIFA World Player of the Year award three consecutive times from 2003 to 2005. At club level, she won eight Bundesliga titles and three UEFA Women’s Cups.

Michelle Akers is another American legend and is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of the 20th century. She set an extraordinary record by scoring 10 goals in a single World Cup, achieving this in the 1991 tournament, which ended with the United States winning the title. She also played a vital role in the team’s gold medal at the 1996 Olympic Games and was named FIFA Women’s Player of the Century in 2002. Despite health issues related to chronic fatigue syndrome, she continued her career with determination.

The list also features Sun Wen, an icon of Chinese women’s football. Alongside Michelle Akers, she was named one of FIFA’s best female players of the 20th century. The highlight of her career came in 1999, when China finished as runners-up at the Women’s World Cup. In that tournament, she won both the Golden Ball and the Golden Boot with seven goals. Across four World Cup appearances, she scored 11 goals and ranks fifth on the all-time list.

Top 7 female goal scorers of all time (Women’s World Cup)

1. Marta (Brazil) - 17 goals - 6 World Cup appearances (2003-2023)

2. Birgit Prinz (Germany) - 14 goals - 5 World Cup appearances (1995-2011)

3. Abby Wambach (United States) - 14 goals - 4 World Cup appearances (2003-2015)

4. Michelle Akers (United States) - 12 goals - 3 World Cup appearances (1991-1999)

5. Sun Wen (China) - 11 goals - 4 World Cup appearances (1991-2003)

6. Bettina Wiegmann (Germany) - 11 goals - 4 World Cup appearances (1991-2003)

7. Cristiane (Brazil) - 11 goals - 5 World Cup appearances (2003-2019)

This article overview highlights the top female goal scorers of all time at international level and the Women’s World Cup history. These players have left a lasting impact on the sport and continue to shape the legacy of women’s football worldwide. For more information on results and interesting facts about football, please read our page here.