Women's Player of the Year: the case for Harder

To be captain of your country with 92 caps and 47 goals at the age of 24 is impressive and it is 2016/17 that has really confirmed Pernille Harder as one of the world's best.

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A Denmark regular since before she was 17, Harder had been impressive in the Swedish league since her 2012 move to Linköping, but 2016 marked a step up as she scored at more than a goal a game for the champions, earning a winter move to Wolfsburg into the bargain.

A regular for her new club, the 2015 and 2016 Danish women's player of the year helped Wolfsburg to a league and cup double. Then, at UEFA Women's EURO 2017, she led Denmark to their first major final, performing superbly in their quarter-final elimination of Germany and scoring in the decider against the Netherlands as her side lost 4-2.

Honours: Swedish league (2016), German league, German Cup

Domestic league
Linköping 2016
Appearances: 22
Goals: 24
Wolfsburg 2016/17
Appearances: 12
Goals: 6

UEFA Women's Champions League
Appearances: 2
Goals: 0
Assists: 0

UEFA Women's EURO
Appearances: 6
Goals: 1
Assists: 1

Paul Saffer, UEFA.com women's football editor:

• Harder has proved she can play brilliantly both as a main striker and, as for Denmark, in a supporting role.
• Her superb individual goal to make it 2-2 in the UEFA Women's EURO final showed her skill as well as leadership quality.
• Has proved herself a top performer in two of Europe's leading leagues: Sweden and Germany.