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]
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]
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]
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 | |
| Hope Solo | 2 | ||
| 2015 Canada | Hope Solo | 5 | |
| 2019 France | Sari van Veenendaal | 3 | |
| 2023 Australia/New Zealand | Mary Earps | 3 |
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 |
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 | ||
| 1995 Sweden | ||
| 1999 United States | ||
| 2003 United States | ||
| 2007 China | ||
| 2011 Germany | ||
| 2015 Canada | ||
| 2019 France | ||
| 2023 Australia/New Zealand |
The Player of the Match (POTM) award picks the outstanding player in every match of the tournament since 2003.[6] [7] [8]
While the awards from 2003 to 2015 were chosen by the technical study group,[9] [10] [11] [12] from 2019 the winner has been chosen through an online poll on FIFA's website.[13]
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Rank | Country | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 25 | |
| 2 | 24 | |
| 3 | 22 | |
| 4 | 20 | |
| 20 | ||
| 6 | 17 | |
| 7 | 15 | |
| 8 | 14 | |
| 9 | 13 | |
| 10 | 11 | |
| 11 | 8 | |
| 8 | ||
| 13 | 7 | |
| 7 | ||
| 15 | 5 | |
| 16 | 4 | |
| 4 | ||
| 18 | 3 | |
| 3 | ||
| 3 | ||
| 3 | ||
| 3 | ||
| 3 | ||
| 24 | 2 | |
| 2 | ||
| 2 | ||
| 2 | ||
| 2 | ||
| 2 | ||
| 2 | ||
| 2 | ||
| 32 | 1 | |
| 1 | ||
| 1 | ||
| 1 | ||
| 1 | ||
| 1 |
| Final | Player | Opponent | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 United States | Bettina Wiegmann | ||
| 2007 China | Nadine Angerer | ||
| 2011 Germany | Ayumi Kaihori | ||
| 2015 Canada | Carli Lloyd | ||
| 2019 France | Megan Rapinoe | ||
| 2023 Australia/New Zealand | Olga Carmona |
The "FANtasy All-Star Team", which was sponsored by MasterCard, featured eleven players decided by a poll on FIFA.com.[14] [15]
The FIFA Technical Study Group announced a list of ten key players of the tournament who "dared to shine".[16]
The Goal of the Tournament award was awarded for the first time at the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup.
| World Cup | Player | Scored against | Score | Minute | Result | Round | Details | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 China | Marta | 4–0 | 79' | 4–0 | Semi-finals | Marta's second goal in the match, a solo effort | [17] | ||
| 2011 Germany | Abby Wambach | 2–2 | 120+2' | 2–2 (a.e.t.) | 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 | [18] | ||
| 2015 Canada | Carli Lloyd | 4–0 | 16' | 5–2 | Final | Lloyd's third goal in the final, scored from the midfield line | [19] | ||
| 2019 France | Cristiane | 2–0 | 38' | 2–3 | Group stage | Brazil's second goal in their second group stage match, scored via a header | [20] | ||
| 2023 Australia/New Zealand | Linda Caicedo | 1–0 | 52' | 2–1 | Group stage | Colombia's first goal in their second group stage match, a solo effort | [21] |
| World Cup | Rank | Player | Scored against | Score | Minute | Result | Round | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 China | 1 | Marta | 4–0 | 79' | 4–0 | Semi-finals | [22] | |
| 2 | Cristiane | 3–2 | 75' | 3–2 | Quarter-finals | |||
| Formiga | 1–0 | 4' | 3–2 | Quarter-finals | ||||
| 4 | Abby Wambach | 2–0 | '58' | 2–0 | Group stage | |||
| Lisa De Vanna | 1–1 | '83' | 1–1 | Group stage | ||||
| 6 | Kerstin Garefrekes | 1–0 | '44' | 3–0 | Quarter-finals | |||
| 7 | Ri Un-suk | 1–1 | '22' | 1–2 | Group stage | |||
| 8 | Song Xiaoli | 3–2 | '88' | 3–2 | Group stage | |||
| 9 | Heather Garriock | 3–0 | '69' | 4–1 | Group stage | |||
| 10 | Aya Miyama | 2–2 | '90+5' | 2–2 | Group stage | |||
| 2011 Germany | 1 | Abby Wambach | 2–2 | '120+2' | 2–2 (a.e.t.) | Quarter-finals | ||
| 2 | Nahomi Kawasumi | 3–1 | 64' | 3–1 | Semi-finals | |||
| 3 | Marie Hammarström | 2-1 | 82' | 2-1 | Third place play-off | |||
| 4 | Érika | 1-0 | 49' | 3-0 | Group stage | |||
| 5 | Ellyse Perry | 1-2 | 40' | 3–1 | Quarter-finals | |||
| 6 | Karina Maruyama | 1-0 | 108' | 1-0 (a.e.t.) | Quarter-finals | |||
| 7 | Heather O'Reilly | 1-0 | 12' | 3-0 | Group stage | |||
| 8 | Christine Sinclair | 1-2 | 82' | 2-1 | Group stage | |||
| 9 | Élise Bussaglia | 1-1 | 88' | 1–1 (a.e.t.) | Quarter-finals | |||
| 10 | Gaëtane Thiney | 2-0 | 60' | 4-0 | Group stage | |||
| 2015 Canada | 1 | Carli Lloyd | 4–0 | 16' | 5–2 | Final | ||
| 2 | Daniela Montoya | 1–1 | 82' | 1–1 | Group stage | |||
| 3 | Lucy Bronze | 2-1 | 76' | 2-1 | Round of 16 | |||
| 4 | Lauren Holiday | 3-0 | 14' | 5–2 | Final | |||
| 5 | Lieke Martens | 1-0 | 33' | 1-0 | Group stage | |||
| 6 | Lisa De Vanna | 1-1 | 27' | 1-3 | Group stage | |||
| 7 | Maren Mjelde | 1-1 | 61' | 1-1 | Group stage | |||
| 8 | Amandine Henry | 5-0 | 80' | 5-0 | Group stage | |||
| 9 | Mizuho Sakaguchi | 2-0 | 78' | 2-1 | Round of 16 | |||
| 10 | Ramona Bachmann | 7-0 | 61' | 10-1 | Group stage | |||
| 2019 France | 1 | Cristiane | 2–0 | 38' | 2–3 | Group stage | ||
| 2 | Ajara Nchout | 2–1 | 90+5' | 2–1 | Group stage | |||
| 3 | Jackie Groenen | 1–0 | 99' (a.e.t.) | 1–0 | Semi-finals | |||
| 4 | Lucy Bronze | 3–0 | 57' | 3–0 | Quarter-finals | |||
| 5 | Aurora Galli | 4–0 | 71' | 5–0 | Group stage | |||
| 6 | Alex Morgan | 8–0 | 74' | 13–0 | Group stage | |||
| 7 | Asisat Oshoala | 2–0 | 75' | 2–0 | Group stage | |||
| 8 | Yui Hasegawa | 1–1 | 43' | 1–2 | Round of 16 | |||
| 9 | Amandine Henry | 4–0 | 85' | 4–0 | Group stage | |||
| 10 | Sofia Jakobsson | 2–0 | 22' | 2–1 | Third place match | |||
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.[23]
The similar "15 for 2015" poll was held from 11 May to 5 June 2015, encompassing the best goals from 1991 to 2011.[24] [25]
Abby Wambach, who won the Goal of the Tournament in 2011, was chosen.[26]