Dutch · Rotterdam, Netherlands · Born 16 December 1992Dutch professional footballer and winger who won the 2017 Ballon d'Or Féminin and led the Netherlands to their first major tournament victory at Euro 2017.
Lieke Elisabeth Petronella Martens was born on 16 December 1992 in Bergen, in the Dutch province of Limburg, and began her professional career playing for clubs close to home in the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium before moves to Sweden with Kopparbergs/Göteborg and Rosengård raised her profile across European women's football. Martens joined Barcelona in 2017, becoming one of the most technically gifted wingers in the women's game, renowned for her dribbling ability and clinical finishing from wide positions. That same year, she inspired the Netherlands to their first-ever European Championship title, hosted on home soil, and was named UEFA Women's Player of the Year and won the Ballon d'Or Féminin in recognition of her performances. At Barcelona, Martens won multiple Liga F titles and reached several Champions League finals, forming part of one of the most dominant squads in the competition's history, before moving to Paris Saint-Germain in 2022 to close out the later stages of her club career. Martens earned dozens of caps for the Netherlands across a 13-year international career, representing her country at multiple World Cups and European Championships and remaining one of the most recognisable and decorated Dutch footballers of her generation, credited with helping raise the profile of the women's game in the Netherlands during a pivotal period for its growth.
Leading Netherlands to UEFA Euro 2017 victory as top scorer
How They Played
Pacey left winger with excellent dribbling, crossing ability and clinical finishing
Lasting Impact
Key figure in Dutch women's football golden generation and Barcelona's European dominance
Career Honours
- FIFA Best Women's Player 2017
- UEFA Women's Euro 2017 winner
- UEFA Women's Champions League (Barcelona)
- UEFA Euro 2017
- UEFA Women's Champions League 2021
- Liga F 2020
- Liga F 2021
- Liga F 2022
| Club | Period | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heerenveen | 2009–2010 | 18 | 2 |
| VVV-Venlo | 2010–2011 | 20 | 9 |
| Standard Liège | 2011–2012 | 25 | 17 |
| FCR 2001 Duisburg | 2012–2014 | 30 | 7 |
| Kopparbergs/Göteborg | 2014–2015 | 37 | 12 |
| Rosengård | 2015–2017 | 29 | 20 |
| Barcelona | 2017–2022 | 110 | 54 |
| Paris Saint-Germain | 2022–2025 | 32 | 6 |
 Netherlands | — | 168 | 60 |
Dutch Athletes