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Women's football has been gaining traction over the past few years due to increased viewership and awareness. The 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup held in France set a record for the highest average live audience. The average live audience over 52 games was 17.27 million per match, registering a 106% increase from the 2015 edition.
FIFA increased the number of teams in the World Cup from 16 in 2011 to 24 in the 2015 edition held in Canada. This was done in a bid to ensure greater reach of the beautiful game in the women's segment.
As far as club football is concerned, many major European clubs have started launching their women's teams. Premier League powerhouse Manchester United launched their women's team in 2018. Spanish giants Real Madrid acquired Club Deportivo TACÓN in 2019 and rebranded it as the club's women's football section in 2020.
While these women's clubs are still in the budding stage, there are various teams that have established themselves as a dominant force in women's football.
We shall now take a look at five of the greatest women's football teams of all time.
#5 Eintracht Frankfurt Women's Football Team (Erstwhile 1. FFC Frankurt) (2000 - 2003)
The Eintracht Frankfurt women's football team, formerly known as 1. FFC Frankfurt witnessed one of its most successful periods at the start of the millennium. Between 2000 and 2003 the club won three consecutive domestic doubles. They also rose to the peak of European football with a victory in the inaugural season of the UEFA Women's Cup in 2002.
Frankfurt looked unstoppable in the Group Stage of the 2001-02 UEFA Women's Cup as they scored 24 goals in three games without conceding a single goal. The club cruised past the quarter-finals and semi-finals with ease against Odense and Toulouse respectively.
Contesting the final in their home city, Frankfurt registered a 2-0 win in regulation time over Swedish side Umeå IK. Goals were scored by defender Steffi Jones and captain Brigit Prinz. Jones also emerged as the top goalscorer with nine goals to her name.
#4 Germany Women's Football Team (2003 - 2007)
The German national football team has been one of the most successful teams in women's football. Die Nationalelf have won the FIFA World Cup twice, registering consecutive victories in the 2003 and 2007 editions.
The 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup saw Germany getting off to a strong start as they won all their group stage games. After thrashing Russia 7-1 in the quarter-finals, Germany set up a tie against hosts United States in the semi-finals.The Germans caused a major upset in the semi-finals as they beat the United States 3-0 to book a place in the final.
In a rematch of the UEFA Women's Euro 2001 final they faced Sweden, who took the lead before halftime. However, Germany responded with an equalizing goal in the first minute of the second half. The Germans then went on to win the game courtesy of a golden goal scored in the 98th minute by defender Nia Künzer.
Germany won their first World Cup title and became the first and till now the only country to win both the men's and women's tournament.
In 2007, the German women's football team repeated their World Cup heroics in China as they went on to defend their title after beating Brazil 2-0 in the final.
#3 FC Barcelona Femení (2020 - Present)
FC Barcelona Femení (women's football team) is currently going through its most successful period and have established themselves as a powerhouse in women's football. In the 2019-20 season, they won the domestic double as a season marred by the COVID-19 pandemic was ended prematurely in January 2020.
During the 2020-21 season, the Catalans were commanding as usual in the domestic competitions. They went on to win the league title with 33 wins and just one loss, having scored 167 goals and conceding only 15. The club also went on to win their first UEFA Women's Champions League title after thrashing Chelsea in the final with a scoreline of 4-0.
With the Champions League victory Barcelona Femení completed a historic continental treble. The win also made FC Barcelona the first club to have won a treble in both the men's and women's sections.
Barca feminí have maintained their good form in the 2021-22 season as well. They currently sit at the top of the league table having won all 21 of their games, scoring 122 goals and conceding only six. Meanwhile, in the Champions League they will face rivals Real Madrid in the quarter-finals.
#2 United States Women's Football Team (2015 - 2019)
The United States Women's soccer team is the most successful side in international women's football. After winning the World Cup in 1991 and 1999, the Stars and Stripes had to face a disappointing exit in three consecutive World Cups.
During the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada, the American side emerged victorious. They defeated Japan in the final by a scoreline of 5-2 in a rematch of the 2011 World Cup final. With this win the United States became the first side to win three women's World Cup titles.
The United States had a disappointing outing at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janiero as they were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Sweden. However, they shook off the disappointment of the Olympics in time and entered the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in France as favorites to defend their title.
The Americans scored 13 goals in their first game against Thailand, setting a new Women's World Cup goal record. The United States won all their group stage games and reached the final after narrow victories over Spain, France and England in the knockout stages.
They went on to beat the Netherlands 2–0 in the final with Megan Rapinoe opening the scoring in the second half. With this win, the United States became the first team in history to win four Women's World Cup titles.
#1 Olympique Lyonnais Féminin (2015 - 2020)
Olympique Lyonnais Féminin witnessed its most successful period from 2015 to 2020 by winning five consecutive UEFA Women's Champions League titles and four continental trebles.
Lyon's dominance in domestic league and cup competitions was unparalleled between 2015 and 2020. They lost only one league game during this period and won four Coupe de France Feminine. As far as UEFA Champions League is concerned, the team was unstoppable as they won five consecutive titles. The team scored 172 goals and conceded only 18 across 43 Champions League games.
Ada Hegerberg has been one of the stand-out names who played a vital role in the club's achievements. During this period she scored 186 goals in 150 games, averaging 1.24 goals per game and won the first ever Ballon d'Or Féminin in 2018.
