Wolfsburg star Pernille Harder named No.1 female footballer of 2018

Wolfsburg and Denmark forward Pernille Harder has been named as the best women’s footballer of 2018.

The 26-year-old finished top of “The 100 best female footballers in the world 2018” list published by The Offside Rule podcast in collaboration with The Guardian. A total of 72 judges from 30 countries were involved in the selection process.

According to the Guardian’s Rich Laverty last year’s No.2 Harder moved into the top spot after a “virtuoso year” for club and country.

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Laverty wrote: “With her ability to beat players, her technical prowess and her eye for goal, Harder is now arguably the most complete women’s footballer in the world.”

Australia international Sam Kerr was named in second place after another prolific year in front of goal for Perth Glory and Chicago Red Stars.

Lyon and Norway star Ada Hegerberg, who earlier this week won the first ever women’s Ballon d’Or award, was third and England’s Lucy Bronze was fourth.

Hegerberg and Bronze were joined in the top ten by Lyon teammates Eugénie Le Sommer, Amandine Henry and Wendie Renard.

The top ten

• 1 Pernille Harder (Wolfsburg/Denmark)
• 2 Sam Kerr (Perth Glory/Chicago Red Stars/Australia)
• 3 Ada Hegerberg (Lyon/Norway)
• 4 Lucy Bronze (Lyon/England)
• 5 Eugénie Le Sommer (Lyon/France)
• 6 Amandine Henry (Lyon/France)
• 7 Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride/USA)
• 8 Wendie Renard (Lyon/France)
• 9 Lieke Martens (Barcelona/Netherlands)
• 10 Megan Rapinoe (Seattle Reign/USA)