Mariona Caldentey

Spanish international midfielder Mariona enjoyed a sensational first year in England, winning the WSL Player of the Season award and lifting the UEFA Champions League for the fourth time in five years, having won the trophy three times with previous club Barcelona.

She netted 19 goals in 41 appearances, including nine in the WSL (plus five assists) and eight in Europe, with her strike in the 4-1 win at Lyon in the semi-final second leg also earning her the Champions League Goal of the Season award – and that goal return was despite spending the final two months of the campaign in a deeper midfield role, where her partnership with Kim Little blossomed and her relentless running, pressing and tackling was as invaluable as her passing and creativity.

Versatile, strong and technically superb, Mariona won the treble and netted a personal best 18 times in her final season at Barca, where she won 25 trophies and scored 105 goals in 295 appearances over a decade.

A full international since 2017, the Mallorca-born forward was a key player as Spain won the 2023 World Cup and 2024 Nations League, scoring in the 2-0 win over France in the final of the latter.