An absorbent core and an absorbent article respectively with improved properties, especially rewet performance, are disclosed. The absorbent core has at least two layers, wherein each layer comprising from 0 to 10% by weight fibrous material and from 90 to 100% by weight water-absorbent polymer particles, based on the sum of water-absorbent polymer particles and fibrous material. The surface-postcrosslinked water absorbent polymer particles within the upper layer have a sphericity of at least 0.89 and a CRC of at least 34 g/g. Preferably the water-absorbent polymer particles have a sphericity of at least 0.89 and the sum of the CRC and AUL (0.3 psi, 21 g cm−2) (EDANA 442.2-02) of the water absorbent polymer particles is at least 65 g/g.
