By OkayGoal 
Women’s football has enjoyed a meteoric growth over the last decade, and nowhere was that more visible than at this summer’s UEFA Women’s Euro 202. The Switzerland-hosted showpiece was the most attended women’s European Championships in history, with a mighty 657,291 spectators through the turnstiles in just 31 games, averaging out at over 21,000 per game.
Record-Breaking European Championships
While the record number of supporters was one talking point, another was England’s redemption after their heartbreak in the 2023 Women’s World Cup Final. In Australia, the Lionesses were stunned by Spain in the final, losing 1-0 despite being heavily favored to claim the crown for the first time ever.
In Switzerland, the two teams met in the final once again, and this time around, it was La Roja who online betting websites made the heavy favorites to repeat their victory. The popular Bovada website listed the Lionesses as a huge +330 underdog pre-match, and those odds were pushed all the way out to +625 when Mariona Caldente gave Spain a first-half lead.
However, Sarina Wiegman’s side is made of sterner stuff, and they found a second-half equalizer through Alessia Russo to force a penalty shootout. From the spot, the talismanic Chloe Kelly was the hero, netting the fifth and decisive penalty to hand England their second straight European Championship and banish the ghosts of the World Cup once and for all.
But while Spain and England starred in facing off in yet another final, where do the two powerhouses rank among the planet’s current best women’s teams? Let’s take a look.
Spain
While Spain might have lost the Women’s Euro 2025 final to new rivals England, it’s hard to argue that they aren’t the best team on the planet at present. Sonia Bermudez has since taken over as manager following that heartbreaking defeat, and she will be aiming to continue the progress made in recent years, with their beloved tiki-taka style, made famous by their male counterparts, yielding a mighty 68% possession, as well as 2.5 goals per game.
Aitana Bonmatí is the orchestrator in chief. The three-time Ballon d’Or winner is the best female player on the planet, and it isn’t even close. She dictates the tempo with a composure that borders on theatrical, pulling the strings behind the rapid Salma Paralluelo. Defensively, Olga Carmona provides grit and solutions against the world’s best, while Vicky López’s Kopa Trophy signals a youth movement refusing to wait its turn.
The collective is forged in La Liga F, a league transformed into a magnet for homegrown superstars. Their 2024 Nations League triumph and agonizing Euro 2025 final loss show both the mountaintop and the razor-line margins at this level. But with a home World Cup looming in 2027, La Roja’s precision and control have made them the team everyone else wants to emulate—and beat.
England
How do you measure resolve? Watch England.
Many thought that the Lionesses’ golden era was dead and buried following that heartbreaking World Cup final defeat two years ago. Manager Sarina Wiegman was coming under increasing pressure heading into Euro 2025, while her team was lagging down the betting charts with punters lumping on the Spaniards. However, England’s resilience borders on legendary.
At the European Championships, the English rallied in all three of their knockout games. They scored twice in the final 11 minutes to overturn a 2-0 deficit to Sweden in the quarterfinals before winning on penalties. They then bagged a 96th-minute equalizer against Italy in the semis before winning in extra time. Then came their finest hour, finding a second-half equalizer once more against Spain in the final before winning a second shootout and claiming the trophy.
YOUR UEFA WOMEN’S EURO 2025 CHAMPIONS!! 👏
England lifts the trophy for the second year in a row! 🏆🏴🏆
pic.twitter.com/fFL5QPsN0d— Bovada (@BovadaOfficial) July 27, 2025
Alessia Russo’s 10 goals throughout 2025 reflected a campaign defined by calm under pressure. Lauren James is the bright spark, while the veteran Chloe Kelly refuses to loosen her stranglehold on the limelight, even if she was reduced to a bit-part role coming off the bench throughout the majority of the Euros. Add to that the Midfield maestro Keira Walsh, England’s metronome, and Hannah Hampton’s Yashin Trophy run, and it’s clear that the Lionesses have quality all over the pitch.
In 2027, Wiegman’s women will be aiming to right the wrongs of 2023 by winning the World Cup for the first time ever. Don’t be surprised to see them come up against hosts Spain in the final once again, ramping up their rivalry to even greater heights.
United States
Count out the USWNT at your peril. The headlines might speak of an evolving world order, but the United States remains the gold standard courtesy of its record haul of four World Cups and five Olympic gold medals. Even though their most recent foray onto the global stage was a disappointment, they simply refuse to be written off.
When former Chelsea boss and arguably the finest female manager in the game, Emma Hayes, took the reins in 2025, some wondered: would the USWNT identity change? In a word—no. If anything, her relentless pressing, attacking dynamism, and tactical flexibility sharpened their edges.
The “Triple Espresso” attack—Sophia Smith, Trinity Rodman, and Mallory Swanson—was unstoppable in Paris last summer, responsible for 75% of the team’s 2024 Olympic goals. Sophia Smith, sharp as a blade, won tournament MVP, while Alex Morgan’s 123rd international goal was a timely reminder that legends still lead the charge. And let’s not overlook Catarina Macario, whose return from injury provided attacking unpredictability with balletic grace.
The NWSL continues to churn out future stars, and that conveyor belt will be crucial should the Americans reclaim their throne in 2027. Till then, they will have to settle for being the third-best team on the planet, sitting narrowly behind the Spaniards and the English… for now.