da wazamba： Ahead of Saturday's Champions League final between Barcelona and Wolfsburg, GOAL ranks the 21 best players in the women's game in Europe this season

da brdice： It's been a thrilling season of women's football in Europe, with so many exciting title chases and races to be in next season's Champions League across the domestic leagues. The continent's premier competition has been extremely entertaining, too, with it set to come to its climax on Saturday as Barcelona and Wolfsburg meet in the Champions League final in Eindhoven.

We've seen new signings settle in brilliantly in new environments, experienced players discover new levels in their game and, among it all, those same consistently world-class talents shine.

So, without further ado, here are GOAL's 21 best players in the European women's game this season…

Getty Images21Leah Galton (Manchester United)

A crucial part of the United team that finished second in the Women's Super League standings and reached the Women's FA Cup final, Leah Galton's contributions to the growth of her team this season were massive.

She scored in big moments, at the Etihad against Man City and in the dramatic FA Cup semi-final against Brighton, and generally shone with productive wing play that made this the best season of her career.

AdvertisementGetty20Valentina Giacinti (Roma)

One of the signings of the season in Europe, Valentina Giacinti has spearheaded the attack in Roma's historic campaign that has seen them claim the Serie A title and the Suppercoppa Italiana, while reaching the Champions League quarter-finals on their debut in the competition. There's still a chance of Coppa Italia glory this weekend, too.

Her return of 13 league goals, and four in the Champions League, wasn't enough to top the charts, but it doesn't tell the full story of her all-round contributions to the team's wonderful play, a style she fits like a glove.

Getty19Selma Bacha (Lyon)

It's been a difficult year for Lyon with so many of their star players missing throughout due to injuries. Selma Bacha had her own spell on the sidelines at the beginning of 2023, but she's been outstanding either side of that.

No player in France's top-flight registered more assists than the versatile wide player, who also ranked second for chances created despite missing a handful of games. That creativity helped Lyon stave off the pressure of Paris Saint-Germain to win a domestic treble, softening the blow of a disappointing Champions League quarter-final exit.

Still only 22 years old, Bacha is set for a big future.

Getty18Salma Paralluelo (Barcelona)

Salma Paralluelo made a huge move over the summer when she left Villarreal to join Barcelona. As part of the Yellow Submarine, she was battling relegation. With the Catalans, she'd be chasing a treble. Oh, and she made that move at just 18 years old.

Despite the increased weight of expectation, Paralluelo has delivered impressive performances in her first season and some fine goalscoring form. The Spain international started only nine league games but scored 11 goals, while her sole Champions League strike gave Barca a crucial first-leg lead in their quarter-final against Roma.

What a bright, bright future she has.