Famous Women Soccer Players
I decided to write a post for you today with a list of famous women soccer players as there are more than 26 million female footballers in the world today. The growth of the women’s game over recent years, particularly in the USA, is certainly what prompted the FIFA Chief Executive Sepp Blatter to argue that “the future of football is feminine”. So I’ve selected just a handful of the very best players today- some of them you may know already- so that you can look out for them on TV or at live matches. I hope you enjoy the list!
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Mia Hamm
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Country: USA
Position: Striker
Accolades: She won the 1991 and 1999 world cups with the USA, becoming her country’s top scorer. She was named in Pele’s list of the top 125 greatest living soccer players in 2004. She was named FIFA Women’s Player of the Year in 2001 and 2002. She is perhaps the most celebrated of all the players on this list.
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Marta
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Country: Brazil
Position: Midfielder
Accolades: After Brazil beat the USA in the 2007 Pan American Games, she had her boots imprinted in cement outside Rio’s Maracana Stadium. She was named FIFA Women’s Player of the Year in 2006.
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Birgit Prinz
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Country: Germany
Position: Forward
Accolades: She won FIFA Women’s Player of the Year in 2003, 2004 and 2005. She won the world cup twice with Germany in 2003 and 2007. In 2005 she helped Germany to their fourth consecutive UEFA Champtionship trophy. Italian club Perugia had tried to sign her for their men’s team in 2003.
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Ma Xiaoxu
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Country: China
Position: Forward
Accolades: In 2006 she was voted Asia’s Young Footballer of the Year ahead of any male player. Goals against Australia in the 2006 AFC Women’s Asian Cup final brought China to victory. She is nicknamed ‘Sun Wen Junior’.
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Sun Wen
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Country: China
Position: Striker
Accolades: Came runner up in the 1999 world cup before she was named Woman Player of the Century by FIFA in 2002 (shared with Michelle Akers). Another talented player called Ma Xiaoxu- as has been discovered- was nicknamed after her!
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Milene Domingues
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Country: Brazil
Position: Midfielder
Accolades: She is the ex-wife of Ronaldo who signed for Atletico Madrid in 2002 for a record transfer fee of £200,000. In 1997 she set a women’s world kick-up record by juggling the ball for more than 9 hourse with 55,187 touches!
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Hanna Ljungberg
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Country: Sweden
Position: Forward
Accolades: She is a hard working and skilful player who finished runner up in the 2003 World Cup and at two European Championships with Sweden. Italian club Perugia tried to sign her for their men’s team.
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Rachel Yankey
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Country: England
Position: Striker
Accolades: She helped the New Jersey Wildcats to win the American W-League in 2005, before helping Arsenal Ladies to the UEFA Women’s Cup in 2007. She is also a popular and very well recognized England international.
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Kelly Smith
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Country: England
Position: Striker
Accolades: She won the quadruple with Arsenal Ladies in 2006/7. She was player of the tournament in the international competition the China Cup in 2007. She was ranked 4th in the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year.
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Faye White
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Country: England
Position: Defender
Accolades: With Arsenal Ladies she has won several titles including multiple victories in the Premier League and the FA Women’s Cup. She has also captained England at Euro Championships and a World Cup.
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Bente Nordby
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Country: Norway
Position: Goalkeeper
Accolades: She has appeared in all 5 Women’s World Cups and is the 2nd most capped international women’s goalie ever. In 2007 she was ranked goalkeeper of the year her the Swedish league, before moving to Lyon. She is also the first goalie to appear on this list of famous women soccer players!
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Kerstin Stegemann
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Country: Germany
Position: Defender
Accolades: She won bronze medals in the 2000, 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympics. She also played in the 2003 Women’s World Cup and is amongst the highest capped German female internationals ever.
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Carla Werden Overbeck
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Country: USA
Position: Defender
Accolades: She is included in the National Soccer Hall of Fame and captained the USA to the 1999 Women’s World Cup, having already been victorious in 1991. She won an Olympic Gold Medal in 1996. From 1993 to 1996 she played 63 consecutive games for the USA!
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Kristine Lilly
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Country: USA
Position: Midfielder
Accolades: She came 2nd in the 2006 Women’s World Player of the Year. She won medals at the 1996, 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games. She has competed in 5 world cups. She is the most capped women’s player ever.
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Michelle Akers
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Country: USA
Position: Striker
Accolades: Member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame. In 1999 she was named FIFA Women’s Player of the Century. She scored 105 goals in 153 appearences for the US national women’s team from 1985 to 2000.
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Julie Foudy
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Country: USA
Position: Midfielder
Accolades: She captained the USA women’s team. In her international career as a whole she won two world cups and two Olympic gold medals. In 2005 she became an analyst for ESPN and is now a reporter and spokesperson for the organization.
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Well that’s it for this selection of famous women soccer players. Of course there are very many other talented female players to choose from such as Sandra Minnert, Hege Riise and Steffi Jones. Hopefully this will have given you a nice selection though of some of the world’s best female players, a summary of their main achievements and a point of reference for your future observations of these past and present stars.
Have fun,
Soccer Geek
dear _____
I am 13 years old, and for the pas 2 years i have been wanting 2 go 2 college on a soccer scholarship. and i want 2 go 2 Oxford…but my dream doesn’t end there i want 2 go oxford, yes but only if i do not get invited 2 a very big soccer college/team.. i want 2 end up playing on the Englan team, but if tht does not work out then the american… i alway wanted 2 go to england… england and america r my favorite countries i only hope my dream dose come true and does not stay a dream……..
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams” (Eleanor Roosevelt)
I think this advice still holds true, though it doesn’t have the whole picture. It’s also essential to take daily action towards your dreams, by practising regularly and really immersing yourself in the game. Break your dream down into long and short term goals, and then consciously aim for these. Reward yourself when you reach each one to keep your motivation high.
It is excellent that you have an ambition. I say don’t give up, and keep trying to put your plans into practice by always improving your game and having fun in the process. In addition to just talent, determination and work rate are important for success. Keep going!
i’m so into soccer and i’m like really good at it,and i wanna get a scholarship 2 play soccer 4 brazil but i say follow your dreamz becoz dreams do come true and dont let anyone hold u back
yes i likediz follow your dreams 4 dreams do come true,we are the soccer players of tomorrow
well i play soccer and when i grow up ill like to be like Martha she is the best well also Mia Hamm there both the besssst!!
well im really really into soccer and im playing high shcool soccer right now and i consider my self really good at it i spend most of my time playing it and im really looking forward to getting a scholarship!! hopefully i get it =D..
[...] Soccer Geek’s list of famous female footballers [...]
Patricia Toledo is the best female soccer player. You shave her no this page.
Thanks for the addition. SG
Mia and Julie are amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It amazes me how people have forgotten about the great Brianna Scurry.
Shame on you all.
Hope solo is also a great famous womens soccer player
I totally love ur website. I have one prob in my personal life. They won’ ttake me on the soccrer team because I can’t shoot a goal… even when there is no goalie. So what?? I think im awesome at sports. I mean I can at least touch the ball without falling over. I think that makes me the best fottaballer of all time. Im wayyy greater than any of these guyz.. u shud write about me. Anyway, i was thinking that u cud write them an email saying how toally awesome i am. thx sooo muxh!! its just that i really want to folllow my dream of become a football star!! (I can already touch the ball and im only 23!!!)
Thank you so much for all this wonder ful information. Ireally lovw ur website. It inspires me to become a preoffessional player when I grow up, since football (or soccer, whatever u call it) is my real passion.
I love mia hamm!! She totally rocks!!