Lieke Martens
Midfielder / Winger · FC Barcelona / Paris Saint-Germain · Netherlands
About Lieke Martens
The 2017 FIFA Women's World Player of the Year, Lieke Martens was the dazzling heartbeat of the Netherlands' shock 2017 European Championship triumph — a left winger of extraordinary pace, skill, and creativity whose performances that summer were among the finest in women's football history.
Lieke Martens's story
Bergen op Zoom to Barcelona
Lieke Martens was born on 16 December 1992 in Bergen op Zoom, a small city in North Brabant. She came through the youth system at ADO Den Haag and SV Saestum before joining FC Rosengård in Sweden, where she developed into one of the best wingers in the world. Barcelona signed her in 2017 — a transfer that signalled the club's serious ambitions in women's football.
EURO 2017 — The Unfancied Champions
The Netherlands were not the favourites going into their home European Championship in 2017. What followed was one of the great tournament narratives: the Dutch won every game, with Martens electrifying throughout. She scored three times and created numerous others, earning the Player of the Tournament award. The final, a 4-2 win over Denmark, was a moment of national celebration.
Barcelona & PSG
At Barcelona, Martens helped establish the club as one of Europe's leading women's clubs, winning Liga F titles and reaching Champions League finals. She later moved to Paris Saint-Germain, continuing to compete at the highest level. Her career club record of goals and assists across multiple leagues makes her one of the most productive wingers in women's football history.
The Complete Package
Martens is renowned for her ability to operate at full pace while maintaining close control — a combination that makes her extremely difficult to defend. She is strong on both feet despite naturally favouring the left, and her delivery from wide positions is consistently dangerous. She remains one of the most exciting players in the global game.
Did you know?
- Martens won both the FIFA Women's World Player of the Year and the UEFA Women's Player of the Year awards in 2017 — the first Dutch player to win either honour.
- Her performances at EURO 2017 on home soil — three goals, multiple assists, Player of the Tournament — are rated among the finest individual tournament displays in women's football history.
- Martens is in a relationship with her long-term partner and has spoken about the importance of maintaining a stable personal life during what has been an extraordinary football career across three different countries.
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