I’m no expert on women’s football but, with it being introduced to Football Manager for the first time in the upcoming Football Manager 26, I wanted to get myself up to pace. And, having done so, the women’s game offers interesting new managerial experiences, a different way of playing the game, and opportunities to develop exciting stories in FM26.
Women’s football may be especially exciting for FM players who, speaking from personal experience, get bored when success is rewarded by players demanding ridiculous wages and teams paying ludicrous transfer fees. And, spoiler, we will be launching a “Journeywoman” save – name TBC – in which we attempt to win all the playable top-tier women’s leagues when the full version of FM26 launches.
This guide will aim to provide an overview of the current best clubs and players in the world of women’s football. We’ll also explore some of the most interesting teams to manage and some potential wonderkids for you to snap up when the game launches. All of these lists are in alphabetical order, and you can easily jump to each section using the links below.
What We Know About Women’s Football In FM26
Which Women’s Leagues Are Playable In FM26?
Best Women’s Football Teams In FM26
Best Women’s Football Challenges in FM26
The Best Female Footballers In FM26
Best Women’s Wonderkids In FM26
What We Know About Women’s Football In FM26
Last month’s women’s football reveal video provided insight into the leagues that will be playable in FM26 and how women’s football will differ from men’s football. That includes:
- A database of 36,000 female footballers, 5,000 non-playing staff and 4,000 women’s teams
- 14 playable leagues in 11 playable countries
- A different transfer system to better reflect the real-life women’s game, which has lower transfer fees, shorter contracts and more players moving between teams as free agents.
- Different injuries to reflect the real-life women’s game, which may be a worry if you’re not a fan of long-term ACL absences.
- The 20-point attributes system we know and love will remain in the women’s game, with the ratings relative to other female players.
- The Newgen process has been adapted to encourage movement of coaches and managers between the men’s and women’s games.
Which Women’s Leagues Are Playable In FM26?
The first version of Football Manager with women’s football included offers 14 playable leagues across 11 nations, as follows:
- Australia – A-League Women: The A-League, previously the W-League, was first established in 2008 and comprises 12 teams. The top six of the regular season proceed to a playoff tournament that culminates in a Grand Final.
- Denmark – A-Liga: Denmark’s top-tier women’s league was founded in 1974 and underwent various rebrands and restructuring processes before becoming A-Liga earlier this year. It’s currently a nine-team league that’s expanding to 10 in 2026/27.
- England – Women’s Super League and Women’s Super League 2: England’s top-tier WSL was founded in 2015 and became fully professional in 2018. The WSL and second-tier WSL 2 are both formed of 12 clubs, with WSL 2 having one promotion place and two relegation places.
- France – Première Ligue: France’s top-tier Premiére Ligue was founded in 1975 and became professional in 2009. Two teams are relegated to Seconde Ligue and, based on the recent announcement, it looks like the French league could be unlicensed.
- Germany – Frauen-Bundesliga: The women’s Bundesliga was founded in 1990 with north and south divisions, before a unified league formed in 1997. The top tier is formed of 14 clubs, with two teams being relegated to 2. Frauen-Bundesliga.
- Italy – Serie A Femminile: Italy’s top-tier Serie A was founded in 1968 and became fully professional in 2022, which saw footballers become the first Italian female athletes to go fully professional. The bottom side is relegated to Serie B, and the 11th-placed team enters a relegation playoff.
- Japan – Women’s Empowerment Professional Football League: Japan’s top-tier WE League began in 2021/22 as Japan’s first professional women’s league. It had 11 founding members before expanding to 12 teams in 2023/24, and has no relegation.
- Spain – Liga F and Primera Federación: Spain’s top-tier Liga F became professional in 2021, which saw the league reduced from 18 teams to 16. Two teams are relegated to Primera Federación, and it appears the Spanish leagues could be unlicensed.
- Sweden – Damallsvenskan and Elitettan: Sweden’s top-tier Damallsvenskan was founded in 1988, when it became the first women’s league to go professional. That attracted some of the biggest stars of the women’s game, including the likes of Marta, Daniela and Hope Solo. The league is formed of 14 clubs and is out of kilter with the rest of Europe, given that it runs from March to November.
- United States of America – National Women’s Soccer League: The NWSL was founded in 2012, replacing the Women’s Professional Soccer (2007-12) and Women’s United Soccer Association (2000-03). The league currently consists of 14 teams, which will expand to 16 in 2026. The team that tops the regular season wins the NWSL Shield, before the top eight go into a playoff tournament to decide the NWSL champion. As of August 2024, the NWSL no longer operates a draft system, and working out how recruitment works could be part of the fun.
- Wales – Adran Premier: An eight-team competition that has relegation down to the unplayable North and South divisions.
Best Women’s Football Teams In FM26
The women’s game has a few dominant forces, with one in particular hoarding a mass of the world’s best talent. Here are some of the best teams you can manage in the world of women’s football.
Arsenal Women FC (England)
Arsenal claimed a fairly unexpected Champions League victory last season. However, its first Champions League success back in 2007 saw it become the only English team to become Champions of Europe. It’s also statistically the most successful English women’s team with 15 league titles, of which the most recent was in 2019, 14 FA Cups and 7 League Cups. The club’s squad is packed with talent, including Lionesses heroes Chloe Kelly, Alessia Russo, Beth Mead and Leah Williamson, along with striker Stina Blackstenius and midfielder Frida Maanum.
FC Barcelona Femení (Spain)
According to the data, the best team in the world by some distance is Barcelona, who count some of the world’s best players among their ranks. The club was European champion in 2024, beating Lyon 2-0 to lift their third European crown in four years, and has won the last six Liga F titles. And their side is packed with world-class talent, including the winners of the last five Ballon d’Or awards in Alexia Putellas (2021, 2022) and Aitana Bonmati (2023, 2024, 2025). So if you want an easy way into the women’s game, feel free to check out Barca.
FC Bayern München (Germany)
Bayern’s women’s team has won the last three Frauen Bundesliga titles and four of the last five, taking it to seven in total. However, last season’s DFB-Pokal success was just its second, and the club has never won the Champions League, unlike three of its domestic rivals. The best players at Bayern include Danish striker Pernille Harder and England’s midfield warrior Georgia Stanway.
Chelsea FC Women (England)
Chelsea have won the last six Women’s Super League titles and seven of the last eight. However, unlike its male compatriot, they are still yet to win the Champions League, which adds a little intrigue to managing a side that’s very much winning domestic titles for fun. Chelsea’s side is packed with talent led by Australian striker Sam Kerr, who recently returned to action after 20 months out, and Lionesses heroes like Hannah Hampton, Lucy Bronze, Keira Walsh and Lauren James.
Juventus Women (Italy)
Juventus has become the dominant force in Italian football in recent years. The club only won its first title in 2018 but has gone on to win five more, including the last four, to move within one of record seven-time winners Torres. However, like the rest of its Italian compatriots, Juventus is yet to taste European glory. The best players at Juve include 34-year-old Italian attacker Barbara Bonansea, who’s scored 64 goals in 141 games for the club.
Olympique Lyonnais Fémenin (France)
The second-best team in Europe is Lyon, also known as OL Lyonnes, who are the most successful European club with eight Champions League victories. OL Lyoness are totally dominant in France, with 18 of the last 19 Ligue 1 titles since their maiden success in 2007, including the last four. Notable players include captain Wendy Renard, a scary strikeforce of Kadidiatou Diani, Norwegian Ada Hegerberg and exciting German wide player Jule Brand.
Orlando Pride (USA)
FM26 may well be your one and only opportunity to manage the legendary Marta, widely regarded as the best female footballer of all time. For that reason alone, it’s worth having the first-time US champions on this list. And, if you do take them on, you’ll also have prolific Zambian striker Barbra Banda among your ranks. That said, they’re currently 4th in NWSL, 24 points behind runaway leaders Kansas City Current.
Paris Saint-Germain FC (France)
Unlike their male compatriots, PSG very much play second fiddle to Lyon in France – as evidenced by them getting thumped 6-1 by Lyon last weekend. PSG Women have won one domestic title, in 2021, along with 4 Coupe de France Féminine successes. The biggest name at PSG is probably charismatic England goalkeeper Mary Earps, along with former Real Madrid captain and left back Olga Carmona. PSG presents an interesting challenge to take down the dominant force Lyon, despite being 4th in the UEFA rankings.
VfL Wolfsburg (Germany)
Wolfsburg won their maiden title in 2013 and went on to add six more, as well as two Champions League titles in 2013 and 2014. However, Bayern seem to be a growing force, as proven by last season’s league and cup double, while Lyon and Barcelona have very much taken over in Europe. The star player at Die Wölfinnen (The She-Wolves) is 34-year-old German attacker Alexandra Popp, who’s third on Germany’s all-time top scorer list (67 in 145 caps) and has scored 112 in 219 games for Wolfsburg.
Best Women’s Football Challenges in FM26
We’ve covered the best teams in women’s football, but which teams should you be looking to in an attempt to topple them in FM26? Here are a few exciting challenges to take on, with at least one from every playable country in the game:
1. FFC Turbine Potsdam (Germany)
Before the domination of Wolfsburg and Bayern, the best team in German women’s football was Potsdam. The club won six Frauen Bundesliga titles between 2006 and 2012 and 2 Champions Leagues in 2005 and 2010. However, it slumped from a 4th-place finish in 2022 to finish 12th and suffer relegation in 2023, but won 2. Frauen Bundesliga to gain an immediate return to the top flight. Last season, the club began Bundesliga with five successive defeats, and an inevitable relegation followed. Therefore, your challenge will be to strengthen Potsdam and take the fight back to Wolfsburg and Bayern to restore their former glory.
Alingsås IF (Sweden)
This may be one of the most difficult saves on FM26, attempting to lead little Alingsås to Swedish glory. The club, based just outside Gothenburg, only gained promotion to Damallsvenskan last year, and very little information is available about it. So your mission is to take on a Swedish minnow and build it up to become the dominant force in the country.
Angel City Football Club (United States)
Since the NWSL launched in 2013, only seven of the 14 teams have been US champions, which is about to become eight with Kansas City Current dominating the current season. Two California clubs have been added in the last three years, Angel City and Bay FC, and both find themselves in the bottom half of the table this campaign. Our tip is to take control of Angel City, which counts the likes of America Ferrera, Eva Longoria, Mia Hamm and Natalie Portman among its superstar ownership group and is considered the world’s most valuable women’s sports team following last year’s purchase by Walt Disney Company CEO, Bob Iger. Use those finances (which may or may not be reflected in-game) to develop the world’s best youth system and lead Angel City to its maiden title.
Boston Legacy FC or Denver Summit FC (USA)
As alluded to above, the USA’s NWSL is expanding to 26 teams with the addition of Boston Legacy FC and Denver Summit FC. This very much relies on that expansion being built into FM26 but, if so, holiday for a year to the start of the 2026 season and take on the challenge of managing one of these brand new franchises.
Brighton & Hove Albion FC Women (England)
Only four clubs have been champions of England since the Women’s Super League was established in 2011 – Arsenal (3), Liverpool (2), Manchester City (1) and Chelsea (8). If you’re looking for an interesting challenge to become the fifth winner, you could consider Brighton, who have plenty of attacking threat in former England midfielder Fran Kirby, now 32, and England’s summer hero Michelle Agyemang on loan from Arsenal.
Cerezo Osaka Yanmar Ladies (Japan)
Only three clubs – INAC Kobe Leonessa, Tokyo Verdy Beleza and Urawa Red Diamonds – have won Japan’s WE League, giving you nine opportunities to establish a first-time winner. The biggest challenge to achieve that feat is Cerezo Osaka, who were the most recent team to be added to the league when they gained promotion in 2023/24 and finished 12th out of 12 teams in their first campaign.
Inter Women (Italy)
Inter’s women’s team was only founded in 2018 and, as such, has yet to win the Italian title. However, it’s definitely a team on the rise, having qualified for the Champions League for the first time last season. Also, intriguingly, Inter play at the historic Arena Civica, which first opened in 1807 and was previously the home of the men’s team between 1930 and 1947. Your challenge is to usurp the increasingly dominant Juventus, surpass city rivals ACF Milan’s four titles, establish Inter as the best team in Italy, and become the country’s first-ever European champions.
Le Havre AC (France)
Taking on any club other than OL Lyonnes in France is sure to be one of the biggest challenges in FM26. So you may as well make it an interesting one by taking control of Les Havraises, who only returned to France’s top tier last season.
London City Lionesses (England)
England’s Lionesses may have conquered Europe in the last two Euros, but another option to take on the English elite is WSL newcomers London City Lionesses. The club was only founded in 2019 as a breakaway from Millwall Lionesses, but has made rapid strides under the leadership of ambitious owner Michele Kang, who also owns OL Lyonnes. Last season, they became the first fully independent team (as in, not affiliated with a men’s team) to gain promotion to WSL, then brought in 16 new players led by France international Grace Geyoro – for whom the club refuted claims it set a new world record fee on deadline day – exciting English striker Nikita Parris and former Arsenal and Lyon midfielder Danielle van de Donk. So your challenge is to survive the first season, then surpass fellow London sides Chelsea and Arsenal to claim the Lionesses’ maiden league title.
FC Midtjylland (Denmark)
Only three of the 10 teams in Denmark’s top tier have never been national champions: Aarhus GF, Kolding IF and newly promoted FC Midtjylland. In fact, the club was only founded in July 2024, having absorbed B-Liga side Vildbjerg SF, but gained promotion in its first season. The Danish title has been shared around the likes of current holders and joint-record 12-time winners Fortuna Hjørring, HB Køge, who won their first three titles in 2021, 2022 and 2023, and first-time winners FC Nordsjaelland in recent years. So your challenge is to bring Midtjylland into that title mix.
Real Madrid Femeníno (Spain)
Think of Real Madrid, and you probably imagine a club with countless successes to its name. However, Real Madrid Femeníno was only founded in 2021 and has yet to overcome the might of Barcelona – so it doesn’t have a single trophy to its name. It’s finished 2nd in four of its five seasons, and 3rd in the other, so the next step is to usurp Barca and win that first Spanish title. You’ll have Colombian starlet Caicedo to build around, as well as Scottish midfielder Caroline Weir. But overcoming that ludicrous Barca team is no easy feat.
The New Saints FC Women (Wales)
The New Saints Ladies was founded back in 2002, before adopting the name Wem Town LFC after claiming women’s football was low on the priorities of dominant men’s football force TNS. However, the women’s side was refounded under the new name in 2021 and became Wales’ women’s fourth semi-professional club last year. However, unlike the men’s team, TNS Women have yet to win a Welsh title, which has been dominated by Swansea and Cardiff for the last six seasons. Therefore, your challenge is to build a TNS Women’s side capable of taking on the big two in Wales.
Wellington Phoenix (Australia)
Fancy a challenge of winning a women’s league with a club from a different country? I’m pretty sure that Wellington Phoenix is your only opportunity to do that in FM26. The New Zealand club joined Australia’s A-League in 2021, but this season’s finish of 9th is the highest in the club’s history so far. So your challenge is to bolster the Wellington squad for a chance to win the Australian title with a club from New Zealand.
The Best Female Footballers In FM26
Looking to build a team of galacticas on FM26? We’ve got you covered with a list of the best players in the women’s game, from which we’ve undoubtedly missed one of your favourites.
Barbra Banda (Orlando Pride)
If you’re after a prolific striker to kickstart your FM26 career, look no further than Zambian sharpshooter Banda. The 25-year-old striker scored 15 goals in 23 games to fire Orlando to their maiden title, following 15 in 28 for Spanish side Logroño, which saw her become the first Zambian woman to play in Europe, and 18 in 13 for Shanghai Shengli. She’s also bagged 57 goals in 63 caps for Zambia.
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona)
The world’s best female footballer is undoubtedly three-time Ballon d’Or winner Bonmatí, who led Barcelona to a league and Champions League double in 2024. That’s in addition to being the player of the tournament as Spain won the World Cup and came runner-up to England at the Euros in the summer. Bonmatí, now 27, came through the Barcelona academy, making her debut for the first team in 2016 and has scored 72 in 204 league games since. She’s also scored 31 in 83 caps for Spain.
Lucy Bronze (Chelsea)
The England international is arguably the best full back in women’s football, and arguably the most heroic footballer in the world – given she won the Euros with a broken leg! The 140-time capped right back offers attacking threat alongside defensive nous. She’s won an impressive five Champions Leagues and five league titles with Lyon and Barca, before joining dominant English side Chelsea last summer.
Mariona Caldentey (Arsenal)
Spanish star Caldentey spent 10 years at Barcelona before leading Arsenal to European glory in her first season in England. The midfielder, compared by many back home to the legendary Andres Iniesta, has scored 31 goals in 95 caps for Spain and scored 19 in 41 in her first campaign at Arsenal. Caldentey recently came second to Bonmatí in this year’s Ballon d’Or, in addition to winning PFA Player of the Year and WSL Player of the Season.
Delphine Cascarino (San Diego Wave)
Anyone who watched the Euros in the summer will have been impressed by the direct attacking talent of French winger Cascarino. The 79-time capped 28-year-old winger won six Champions Leagues with Lyon before heading out to the USA last year.
Hannah Hampton (Chelsea)
We had to work a goalkeeper into this list, and England’s summer hero Hampton has to be top of it. Hampton began her career at Birmingham before joining city rivals Aston Villa in 2021, earning a move to England’s dominant force Chelsea in 2023. Last season, she kept 13 clean sheets as Chelsea became the first team to finish a 22-game season unbeaten and topped it off with her Lioness heroics. As a result, Hampton was named as the inaugural winner of the Yashin Trophy earlier this month,
Caroline Graham Hansen (Barcelona)
Norwegian winger Hansen is one of my favourite players to watch. She’s a very skilful winger who, again, plays for Barcelona – and topped the goals and assists charts in Liga F in 2023, then racked up 40 goal involvements in the 2024 season. Indeed, the 29-year-old has scored 64 in 120 league games for Barca, which is impressive for a wide player.
Patricia Guijarro (Barcelona)
I promise this isn’t intended to be the Barcelona list – and I’m not quite sure how Barcelona manage to select a midfield – but Guijarro is another phenomenal midfield talent. She’s more of a deep-lying playmaker but is widely considered one of the most complete footballers in the women’s game. At just 27, she’s already racked up over 300 league games for Barca, scoring 43 in the process.
Lauren Hemp (Man City)
Another of my favourite players to watch, Hemp is an electric, very direct winger who has an eye for goal and the ability to create chances for others. Hemp came through the academy at Bristol City before joining Man City in 2018. And at just 25, she’s already played more than 100 league games for City, scoring 43 goals, and racked up 70 caps for England.
Sam Kerr (Chelsea)
A name that will be familiar to many football fans, regardless of whether you’ve ever watched a women’s football match, is Australian striker Sam Kerr. Kerr missed the majority of the World Cup in her home country but returned with a typical bang, scoring a stunning goal against England in the semis. She played in Australia and the US before joining Chelsea in 2020, for whom she scored the FA Cup winner and bagged two goals on the final day to win the Women’s Super League in 2023 and now has 59 goals in 76 league games. To date, Kerr has scored 249 goals in 348 domestic club games.
Marta (Orlando Pride)
While her best days may be behind her, it’s well worth having the 39-year-old Brazilian superstar on this list. Marta Vieira da Silva is widely considered the greatest female footballer of all time and has won FIFA World Player of the Year six times, including five in a row between 2006 and 2010. She also holds the world record for most goals at a World Cup, scoring 17, and is Brazil’s record goalscorer with 122 goals in 214 caps.
Marta made her debut for Vasco da Gama way back in 2000 before moving to Santa Cruz, then Umeå IK in Sweden in 2004. A storied career saw her play for several sides in the US, scoring 39 goals in 26 games across two spells at Santos, and playing for two more Swedish teams. She joined Orlando in 2017, where she’s scored 40 goals in 118 games. In total, Marta has 316 goals in 420 matches across her domestic career. But arguably more impressively, she’s scored 122 in 214 caps for Brazil, where she’s nicknamed Rainha (Queen).
Vivianne Miedema (Man City)
Miedema is one of the most deadly strikers in women’s football, racking up 80 goals in 106 WSL games for Arsenal, despite some significant injuries. The Dutch forward joined rivals Man City last summer, scoring 7 in 13 games as she formed a lethal partnership with Jamaican star Khadija Shaw. She’s also scored a pretty incredible 100 goals in 127 caps for the Netherlands.
Lena Oberdorf (FC Bayern)
Widely considered one of the best young midfielders in the world, Oberdorf consistently impressed in five years at Wolfsburg and won the best young player award at Euro 2022. That earned the now 23-year-old a move to FC Bayern, where her progress was hindered by a season-ending cruciate ligament injury. She returned to the team in style this season, scoring twice on her full debut for Bayern in a 3-0 win over RB Leipzig.
Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)
Bonmatí’s predecessor as the best player in the world is her teammate and fellow midfielder Putellas. Known as La Reina (The Queen), Putellas is a left-footed centre midfielder or number 10, who possesses superb skills to retain possession and unlock opposition defences. She came through the academy at city rivals Espanyol before joining Levante in 2011. But she joined Barcelona a year later and has since scored 147 goals in 317 games for the club, as well as scoring 37 in 134 caps for Spain. Any thoughts of her slowing down at the age of 31 were dashed by scoring 16 in 23 league games for Barca last season.
Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit)
The daughter of basketball legend Dennis Rodman, American winger Trinity Rodman was the youngest player to be selected in NWSL history when she was picked up by Washington Spirit, the US team owned by Michelle Kang. She’s gone on to score 23 goals in 83 league games and score 11 in 47 caps for the US.
Alessia Russo (Arsenal)
Lionesses hero Russo is a deadly striker who’s scored 36 goals in 72 games since joining Arsenal in 2023. Russo joined the Chelsea academy before joining Brighton, but began her career in the US at the University of North Caroline, before returning to England with Manchester United. She was named FWA Women’s Footballer of the Year last season, ahead of spearheading the England attack to Euro success. In addition to 25 goals in 57 caps, 26-year-old Russo is heralded for her high work rate.
Khadija Shaw (Man City)
The aforementioned Shaw has to be on the list, given she scored 21 goals in just 18 WSL appearances in 2024, winning the Golden Boot as City missed out on the title to Chelsea. The 6ft attacker is one of the biggest threats to WSL defences, scoring 63 goals in just 63 games for City. The Jamaican attacker came through the US college system, scoring 51 goals in 56 games for two university sides. She soon moved to France with Bordeaux, scoring 32 in 35 games before her move to City in 2021. As if that didn’t prove her goalscoring ability, Shaw has 57 goals in 44 caps for Jamaica. However, problems with injuries have limited her gametime in recent seasons.
Keira Walsh (Barcelona)
Another Barcelona player, England star Keira Walsh is the all-round midfielder. Walsh has superb passing ability that allows her to dominate midfield battles and has an eye for goal. Pairing her with Bonmatí and the array of midfield talent at Barca will undoubtedly be a cheat code in FM26.
Sophia Wilson (Portland Thorns)
The United States has traditionally been a stronghold of world football, and the American league remains home to some of the world’s best players. Top of that list is Portland Thorns striker Wilson, who impressed in the college game with 24 goals in 33 games for Stanford Cardinal. But she’s maintained that in the professional game, scoring 44 in 75 for Portland and 24 in 58 for the US.
Best Women’s Wonderkids In FM26
Looking for the best young talent to help you build an exciting young team of talented female footballers? We’ve amassed a list of potential wonderkids aged 22 or under to target in FM26, most of whom already ply their trade for some of the world’s biggest clubs. But we’re sure you’ll enjoy unearthing more exciting young female players in the game.
Michelle Agyemang (Brighton, on loan from Arsenal)
Where else to begin this wonderkid list than Lionesses hero Agyemang, who won Young Player of the Tournament at Euro 2025. She’s scored 3 goals in 5 games for England, but hasn’t been so lethal domestically, with 3 goals in 19 games at Brighton last season.
Ainhoa Alguacil (Valencia)
It’s safe to say that the future of Spanish football is very bright with talents like Alguacil coming through the ranks. Alguacil made her Valencia debut aged just 15 in 2021 and established herself as a regular starter in the midfield, allowing her to showcase an impressive passing range.
Jule Brand (OL Lyonnes)
Exciting winger Brand’s reputation was bolstered by becoming the maiden winner of the Golden Girl award in 2022. Now 22, and already with 65 caps to her name, the German signed for OL Lyoness in the summer after 63 league games and two DFB-Pokal Frauen successes at Wolfsburg.
Linda Caicedo (Real Madrid)
Colombian winger Caicedo, 20, is rapid and has a superb eye for goal, with the talent to win matches singlehandedly. Caicedo not only made her debut for América de Cali aged just 14, but scored 7 in 7 to lead the club to the national title. Aged 14! She then scored 16 in 37 for Deportivo Cali before earning a move to Madrid in 2023. Her goal tally has slowed a little in Spain, with 14 in 64 league games, but she’s already scored 17 in 51 for Colombia, won the Golden Ball at Copa America Femenina aged 18 in 2022, and won the Golden Girl award in 2023.
Giulia Dragoni (AS Roma, on loan from Barcelona)
Milan-born Dragoni became the youngest player to feature in a Serie A match when she made her Inter Milan debut 13 days after her 16th birthday in 2022. Two months later, her potential was recognised by the mighty Barcelona, where she impressed for the club’s B team. She’s played 5 league games for the first team but played 24 games on loan at Roma last season, where she’s returned for the current campaign. Renowned for her dribbling and passing ability from central midfield positions, Dragoni already has 12 caps for Italy and is widely heralded as one of the best young talents in Europe.
Dudinha (San Diego Wave)
She may have the coolest name on this list, but Dudinha backs it up with impressive ability. The 20-year-old attacking midfielder ripped it up at youth levels before becoming a regular starter for São Paulo in 2023, displaying superb ball control and creativity alongside the ability to bang in long-range screamers. That talent earned her a move to US side San Diego Wave this summer, she’s already scored 2 goals in 3 caps for Brazil, and looks set to become a global star.
Signe Gaupset (Brann)
If you’re looking for a wonderkid you might actually be able to sign, then Gaupset may be top of the list. The Norwegian midfielder scored twice and created the other goal to win the Norwegian Cup for Brann when she was just 17 and was prolific at youth levels. Now 19, her creativity, shooting ability and impressive form in the Champions League, including an equaliser to nick a draw with the mighty OL Lyonnes, is sure to attract attention from the world’s biggest clubs.
Aline Gomes (North Carolina Courage)
Another exciting Brazilian talent, Gomes offers a level of footballing intelligence that’s rare in such a young player. The 19-year-old scored 10 in 16 in her first senior season for Ferrevario, which earned her first call-ups to the Brazil national team and a move to the US with North Carolina Courage in July. She has a very direct style of play and is equally adept playing wide or as a striker.
Claire Hutton (Kansas City Current)
Staying in the US, combative midfielder Hutton cites Sergio Busquets as an inspiration, along with Ronaldinho, and possesses similar qualities, including great vision, technical skill, plus solid defensive ability. The 19-year-old came through the college system before signing for Kansas City in December 2023, and started all but one game for the Current last season. A sign of her style saw her rank 2nd in the NWSL tackling charts during the regular season, as she was nominated for Rookie of the Year.
Wieke Kaptein (Chelsea)
Versatile Dutch midfielder Kaptein won a league title with FC Twente at the age of 17, before earning a big move to Chelsea. Kaptein is an energetic midfielder with good vision and passing, who pairs strong attacking talent with solid defensive capabilities, making her the ideal box-to-box midfielder. The youngest player to represent the Netherlands at a World Cup, she’s already won 24 caps at the age of 20, and was recently named in 3rd place for the inaugural Kopa Trophy.
Toko Koga (Tottenham Hotspur)
Japanese 19-year-old Koga signed for Spurs from Feyenoord this summer. Koga impressed enough to go to the 2023 World Cup as a training player, then played every match but one as Japan lost the Olympic Final to the US on penalties.
Vicky López (Barcelona)
The Madrid-born attacking midfielder only turned 19 in July but has already scored 24 goals in 90 league games – after becoming the youngest player to debut for the club in 2022 – and scored 4 in 15 caps for Spain. Furthermore, she won two league titles and two Champions Leagues before she even turned 18! López undoubtedly possesses generational talent, including incredible passing ability, sensational skills, fantastic movement and individual game-winning brilliance. Indeed, López succeeded Caicedo as the Golden Girl winner back in November and won the inaugural Kopa Trophy earlier this month.
Salma Paralluelo (Barcelona)
Paralluelo is arguably already one of the stars of women’s football, but at the age of 21, it’s worth having her in this wonderkid list. A former sprinter, Paralluelo offers pace to burn and a ridiculous goalscoring record of 23 in 37 for Villarreal and 38 in 53 for Barcelona – including 20 goals in 19 league games in 2023/24 – plus 14 in 35 for Spain. She’s also the first player to have won all three women’s World Cups, backing up the 2018 U17 World Cup and 2022 U20 World Cup with Spain’s World Cup win in 2023.
Casey Phair (Angel City FC)
Exciting teenager Phair had scored 4 goals in 5 caps for South Korea before she’d even played a domestic match! Phair became the youngest player to feature in a World Cup when she made her debut aged 16 years and 26 days in 2023. Born in South Korea, Phair’s family moved to the US when she was one month old, and she was raised in New Jersey. She signed for Angel City FC through the NWSL Under-18 Entry Mechanism in January, and has played five league games to date, while adding 12 more caps for South Korea.
Sheika Scott (Alajuelense)
Costa Rican phenom Scott may be one of the easier wonderkids to snap up on FM26. Still playing in her homeland, the 18-year-old attacker scored in the Costa Rican Premier Division aged just 14 and impressed as a 16-year-old at the 2023 World Cup.
Sydney Schertenlieb (Barcelona)
Yet another potential superstar plying her trade for Barcelona is Swiss midfielder Schertenlieb. Still only 18, Schertenlieb came through at FC Zürich, where she played with boys teams until she was 15 and led the club to a FIFA Youth Cup success over OL Lyonnes in 2022. She moved to city rivals Grasshopper in 2023, before earning a huge move to Barca a year later, where she’s already scored 1 goal in 5 league games plus 2 goals in 8 caps for Switzerland.
Alara Şehitler (FC Bayern)
Sehitler was the star of the Under 17 Euros aged just 15 in 2022, where her deadly left foot was a threat from range and set pieces. The midfielder, now 18, has an eye for the spectacular and already has 5 goals in 32 league games for Bayern.
Momoko Tanikawa (FC Bayern)
The exciting Tanikawa has a knack for scoring impressively accurate long-range efforts with both feet. The 20-year-old is considered one of the most exciting young talents in the world with fantastic technique and dribbling ability, evidenced by earning a move to FC Bayern before a loan to Sweden with Rosengard, where she scored 16 goals in 20 games. And she’s already scored 3 goals in 9 caps for Japan.
Lily Yohannes (OL Lyonnes)
Last, but certainly by no means least, is promising 18-year-old attacker Yohannes, who opted to play for the US over the Netherlands. Yohannes signed for Ajax in 2023 and became the youngest player to start a Women’s Champions League game aged 16 that November. Impressive performances in the Netherlands earned her a move to OL Lyonnes this summer, and she scored on her debut against Marseille.
Hopefully, these lists offer some insight into women’s football ahead of the highly anticipated launch of FM26 on 4 November, with Advanced Access likely available towards the end of October. But we’re excited to dig into the women’s database, find new ways of playing FM and discover more of the best players and wonderkids in women’s football.
Stay tuned for plenty more FM26 content coming soon, including our upcoming guide to the best teams to manage on FM26.
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