Contenders for BBC Women's Footballer of 2024

Sophia Smith has emerged as a leading striker for the United States women's national soccer team, playing a pivotal role in their Olympic gold medal win, including scoring an extra-time winner against Germany. Caroline Graham Hansen has also made headlines, contributing 60 goals for Barcelona during their historic quadruple-winning season, while being recognized as Liga F's top player. Naomi Girma has received acclaim for her defensive skills, making history as the first defender to win the US women's player of the year award and playing a crucial role in the Olympic victory. Aitana Bonmati, a key figure in Barcelona's success, was instrumental in their quadruple and celebrated her achievements at both club and international levels, including a World Cup title with Spain. Barbra Banda, recently signed by Orlando Pride for a record fee, has continued to impress by becoming Africa's all-time top scorer in Olympic football history with a hat-trick against Australia at Paris 2024. Each of these players has not only excelled individually but also contributed significantly to their teams' successes on both domestic and international stages.