When Spain beat England 1-0 during the final match of the FIFA Women’s World Cup on August 20th they broke viewership records for women’s football. Over the course of the tournament, more than 1 billion people worldwide tuned in to watch. It was a glorious moment for women’s international football and hopefully heralded changing attitudes to women’s sports in general.
Female football players don’t receive the same massive salaries as their male counterparts, though their opportunities for sponsorship deals and promotions have been growing. They also receive less media coverage – though they must appreciate not attracting much attention from the tabloids. The lack of publicity matters less than one might expect, there are now many female footballers who are big stars.
It wasn’t just viewership figures that rose worldwide. More people than ever were also betting on the Women’s World Cup. Sports betting has always been a big part of sports in certain countries and thanks to the rise of online sports betting and the relaxation of betting laws in the United States and elsewhere, it is finding new audiences too.
These new audiences have the luxury of never having to go into betting shops or struggling to find a legal bookmaker operating in their area. Online betting apps are more convenient and accessible. They also offer more payment options to make things even easier for bettors.
Learning from the neighboring casino industry, sportsbooks have adapted to offer an ever-increasing variety of payment methods. Pay by mobile casinos are popular options, and one of the latest innovations in sports betting payments, which allows deposits to be made either by mobile or simply added to a monthly phone bill.
The top betted female football players
Betting on players is not as widely known as betting on the outcomes of matches but it still has a dedicated following. Betting on female players is even more niche but as interest in women’s football continues to grow, it has also become a more popular option.
Bets on players usually fall under the category of prop bets. These are bets on things that will happen on the field. The most common player-related prop bets are on actions like goal scoring, saves, assists, corner kicks, and getting carded.
In this article, we’ll look at some of the most betted on female football players in the world. These are some of the biggest names in the world of women’s sports as a whole, not just in football.
Olga Carmona
Real Madrid FFC made a very smart decision when they signed Olga Carmona as a left-back. At only 23 years old, Carmona has already proved herself on the international stage. Fans and bettors saw her abilities shine through when she scored the winning goal for Spain in both the semi-final and the final. At the same time, being named captain showed that she had the maturity to lead under pressure. Her career is going to be very exciting to watch.
Lucy Bronze
Lucy Bronze plays for Barcelona after several seasons at the major English clubs and at Lyon. She is a right-back and is widely regarded as one of the best of all time. She has been a key part of the English national team. Her stamina and confidence make her a formidable defender. Her talents have seen her recognized as the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year in 2018 and 2020, the UEFA Women’s Player of the Year in 2019, and the Best FIFA Women’s Player in 2020.
Wendie Renard
Wendie Renard turned 33 during the World Cup and that tournament was another fine example of her impressive skills as a center back. Her experience and authoritative presence as the captain of both France and Lyon have served her and her teammates well. She is one of the most reliable players and that is a quality that both managers and bettors appreciate.
Sam Kerr
Australian forward Sam Kerr is regarded as one of the best players at that position in the history of the sport. At 30 years old, she is at the height of her career and Australia’s all-time leading goal scorer. At Chelsea, she displays the same dedication and hunger for goals that have made her an unstoppable force on the international stage.
Lena Oberdorf
Lena Oberdorf is one of the most versatile players in women’s football. The German player has played successfully as a central midfielder, center back, left back, and defensive midfielder. This is particularly impressive as she is only 21. She is one of the rising talents at her current squad, VfL Wolfsburg. As she gains more experience, it’s likely that her understanding of so many positions could make her a strong leader for whatever team she’s on.
Aitana Bonmati
Aitana Bonmati was given a chance to shine this past season when fellow Barcelona player Alexia Putellas was unable to play due to an extended injury recovery. Shine she did, rapidly becoming an essential piece of the team’s structure. Bonmati plays at center midfield but has shown that she is a versatile player happy to play where she can be the most effective.
Beth Mead
Beth Mead is an English forward who plays for Arsenal. She was absolutely central to England winning the UEFA Women’s Euros in 2022. Her performance during that tournament was so dominant that she was named the top assist provider, Player of the Tournament, and the winner of the Golden Boot award. That year was capped off by the BBC naming her Sports Personality of the Year. From a very young age, she has been inspiring other girls and women to play football and she will obviously continue to do so.
Alexia Putellas
Alexia Putellas is another member of Spain’s winning squad. She plays for Barcelona as a center midfielder. She is particularly revered for her abilities as a playmaker, a talent that she has continued to develop over the course of her career. Her scoring ability is obvious from her back-to-back wins of the Ballon d’Or trophy.
Alex Morgan
When Alex Morgan first joined the USA team just over a decade ago she was given the nickname “Baby Horse” and it has stuck ever since. The name referenced both her speed and her energetic style of play. Even though she is now 34, the striker hasn’t slowed down at all.
Unlike many American female football stars who play for established teams in Europe, she has chosen to spend almost her entire career in the USA. This further endears her to American fans and bettors with a soft spot. She currently plays for the San Diego Wave.
Racheal Kundananji
Unless you’ve been paying close attention to Madrid CFF’s recent season, you probably weren’t aware of striker Racheal Kundananji. That is, until her impressive performance during the World Cup for Zambia. Zambia may not have been able to make it out of the round of 16 but this young player caught everyone’s eye. After all, she’s Liga F’s second-top scorer.
Caroline Graham Hansen
Caroline Graham Hansen is a Norwegian player who is currently playing as a winger for Barcelona. She spent the early days of her career at VfL Wolfsburg where she mastered the German style of pressing play. She has overcome a serious injury to her knee to become one of the best wingers in the game today. Her 2023-24 season is off to a great start, with 3 goals in 4 appearances.
