As we close the chapter on 2025, here are some of the most memorable moments on and off the pitch that shaped the year of women’s football across the world.
Japan won its first-ever SheBelieves Cup in their post-transition era. Facing elite opposition across the tournament, Japan combined tactical discipline with technical sharpness, controlling possession and punishing mistakes rather than relying on physical dominance.
Their victory reflected a successful generational refresh—improved efficiency in front of goal and the ability to manage games against top-ranked sides.
Winning the trophy for the first time confirmed Japan’s return as a constistent force against the world’s best, not just in knockout tournaments but across sustained elite competitions.
Another heartwarming moment of 2025 was the return of Sam Kerr. A lot has changed over the 20 months she’s been out injured. This moment when she stepped back onto the pitch was defining, both emotional and sporting. Introduced cautiously, her presence and goalscoring threat were felt immediately and changed the dynamics on the pitch through movement, pressing triggers, and leadership.
Her comeback symbolised the end of the long rehabilitation process and a renewed attacking threat for club and country. A psychological lift for herself, the team, and the fans. While her minutes have been limited so far, she has re-established herself as a focal point and marked the final phase of her recovery toward elite competition.
World record transfer fees were broken four times this season by four different clubs. Firstly It was in January when Naomi Girma joined Chelsea from San Diego wave £900,000 which was the first transfer fee for a women player to break the $1 million barrier. July saw another record when Arsenal signed Canadian forward Olivia Smith from Liverpool for £1 million. She became the first female player in history to command a seven-figure transfer fee in British pounds. One month later, Mexico forward Lizabeth Ovalle transferred from Tigres UANL to Orlando Pride in the NWSL for a fee of around £1.1 million, which set a new record but lasted only briefly. As September was around the corner, the newly promoted London City Lionesses made their presence known in the WSL. When they signed France international Grace Geyoro from PSG for a widely reported fee of approximately £1.43 million, the highest in the club's history, these deals reflected increased investments from clubs, recognition of defensive and all-round players, not just attackers, plus a shift toward long-term squad building. Rather than a single headline moment, the repeated record-breaking signalled a structural change in how elite women footballers are valued.
On those lines, London City Lionesses elsewhere this year as they became the first women-only club to reach the WSL. Their promotion was the result of sustained planning rather than rapid spending. Creating a stable football identity, investing in infrastructure and player development, and ensuring consistency across the league season. The win reinforced Brazil’s continental dominance while highlighting its ability to win not just with flair but also with resilience and nerve.
Brazil won the Copa America in the most dramatic fashion. Like the Euros, it was decided in a shoot-out after a tense final that finished level. The match itself against Colombia was tight and physical, with both sides cancelling each other out over 90 minutes. In the shootout, Brazil's experience and composure under pressure proved decisive. With confident penalty execution, a goalkeeper's performance swung the momentum. The win reinforced Brazil’s continental dominance while highlighting its ability to win not just with flair but also with resilience and nerve.
Continuing with international football, the 2025 Euros set a new overall tournament attendance record of 657,291, reflecting the continued growth of the women’s game across Europe. The numbers were driven by strong host nation support, increased travelling fans, and sell-out group and knockout matches, though if played in a bigger football nation at bigger stadiums, this could have been even higher. Beyond the figures, the atmosphere across stadiums showed women’s football sustaining momentum beyond one-off headline events.
The Afghan refugee women’s team returned to international action for the first time in four years during the inaugural FIFA Unites series. For many players, the match represented the first competitive football since displacement, a rare opportunity to play under national identity again, but also to stand for women’s rights and against discrimination—something that was vital for the athletes whose careers were forcibly paused by those in political power. The occasion was about participation and recognition as much as results, marking a decisive moment of inclusion within the global game.
Nigeria won the women’s AFCON for a record 12th time, extending their record as the most successful team in the competition's history. Their campaign combined the tournament experience with physical intensity and tactical audibility across the matches. The victory reaffirmed Nigeria’s dominance on the continent while also showing its ability to navigate increasingly competitive African opposition.
Ewa Pajor produced a historic debut season in Liga F, scoring more goals than any player had previously managed in their first campaign. Because of this, she won the Women's Gerd Müller trophy as the best goalscorer of the 2024/25 season, scoring 34 goals in 38 appearances for FC Barcelona, and also won numerous titles. Her impact was built on intelligent off-ball movement, ruthless finishing, and consistency throughout the season. Rather than a short scoring run, Pajor maintained elite output week after week, immediately establishing herself as one of the league’s defining players.
Another goal-scoring weapon, Vivianne Miedema, reached 100 international goals at the Euros, becoming the first Dutch player, male or female, to do so. This milestone showed her longevity at the elite level, her consistent scoring across tournaments and qualifiers, and her adaptability through tactical changes and injury setbacks. It confirmed her status as the Netherlands’ most influential attacking player of all time.
Finally Wales. Poland, like many other countries, qualified for its first-ever women’s senior major international tournament, marking a watershed moment for women’s games in the country. Qualification was achieved through defensive organisation, collective resilience and a belief built across multiple qualifying windows. Bonus Wales scored their first-ever goal against England. Their achievement went beyond results, inspiring increased participation and investment at the domestic level and redefining expectations for Welsh and Polish women’s football.
Add comment
Comments