# FIFA Women's 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.

## Awards

* There are currently five post-tournament awards from the FIFA Technical Study Group:
** 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.
| 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.
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).
Silver and Bronze Boots are awarded to the second- and third-placed players.
| 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. 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 |
| 1999 United States | Briana Scurry | 4 |
| 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.
While the awards from 2003 to 2015 were chosen by the technical study group, from 2019 the winner has been chosen through an online poll on FIFA's website.
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 |
| 1 | Aya Miyama | 5 | 2011, 2015 |
| 1 | Carli Lloyd | 5 | 2011, 2015 |
| 4 | Birgit Prinz | 4 | 2003, 2007 |
| 4 | Megan Rapinoe | 4 | 2015, 2019 |
| 6 | Daniela | 3 | 2003, 2007 |
| 6 | Amandine Henry | 3 | 2015, 2019 |
| 6 | Nadine Angerer | 3 | 2007, 2015 |
| 6 | Alexandra Popp | 3 | 2019, 2023 |
| 6 | Homare Sawa | 3 | 2007, 2011 |
| 6 | Hinata Miyazawa | 3 | 2023 |
| 6 | Lieke Martens | 3 | 2015, 2019 |
| 6 | Amanda Ilestedt | 3 | 2023 |
| 6 | Lotta Schelin | 3 | 2007, 2011 |
| 6 | Alex Morgan | 3 | 2019, 2023 |
| 6 | 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 |
| 4 | Japan | 20 |
| 6 | Brazil | 17 |
| 7 | Australia | 15 |
| 8 | France | 14 |
| 9 | Norway | 13 |
| 10 | Netherlands | 11 |
| 11 | Canada | 8 |
| 11 | China | 8 |
| 13 | Nigeria | 7 |
| 13 | Spain | 7 |
| 15 | Colombia | 5 |
| 16 | Italy | 4 |
| 16 | Switzerland | 4 |
| 18 | Cameroon | 3 |
| 18 | Denmark | 3 |
| 18 | Jamaica | 3 |
| 18 | Mexico | 3 |
| 18 | New Zealand | 3 |
| 18 | North Korea | 3 |
| 24 | Argentina | 2 |
| 24 | Chile | 2 |
| 24 | Costa Rica | 2 |
| 24 | Ghana | 2 |
| 24 | Morocco | 2 |
| 24 | Republic of Ireland | 2 |
| 24 | Russia | 2 |
| 24 | South Africa | 2 |
| 32 | Philippines | 1 |
| 32 | Portugal | 1 |
| 32 | South Korea | 1 |
| 32 | Scotland | 1 |
| 32 | Thailand | 1 |
| 32 | 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.
| 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".
| 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 |
| 2007 China | Marta | United States | 4–0 | 79' | 4–0 | Semi-finals | Marta's second goal in the match, a solo effort |
| 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 |
| 2015 Canada | Carli Lloyd | Japan | 4–0 | 16' | 5–2 | Final | Lloyd's third goal in the final, scored from the midfield line |
| 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 |
| 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 |

### Nominees

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