![]() ![]() That was classic Prinz, who had a killer instinct. Prinz gave her team-mate a look of disbelief. But instead of passing to her teammate, Meinert took the shot, and put it wide. Maren Meinert and Prinz found themselves on a break towards the Brazilian goal. Photograph: Eirik Forde/Bongarts/Getty Images for DFBĪs stoppage time was running down in Germany’s 2-1 win over Brazil in the group stage of the 2000 Sydney Games, Prinz almost became the first women to register an Olympic hat-trick. ![]() 4) Birgit Prinz (Forward/attacking midfielder, Germany)īirgit Prinz helped German football hit new heights in the 21st century. A member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame, Akers retired at the age of 34, having scored 105 times in 153 international games. We can only wonder what more magic Akers could have produced had she not been struck down by illness (until then she was scoring at almost a goal a game). She retired just before the 2000 Sydney Olympics. In the USA’s second international match ever in 1987, Akers scored the team’s first goal and went on from there. Little surprise that Akers was named Fifa’s female player of the 20th century along with China’s Sun Wen. She helped the red, white and blue to the 1996 Olympic gold medal and to the 1999 World Cup crown as well. After she was diagnosed with chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome in 1994, Akers began a second life as a defensive midfielder, preventing goal opportunities instead of finishing them. She struck twice in the first Women’s World Cup final in 1991, including the game-winner in the final minutes of a 2-1 triumph over Norway. At 5ft 10in, her speed was deceptive because she could outrun defenders with her long stride. In her younger days, Akers was a lethal striker. Akers defined not one, but two, positions in women’s soccer. Michelle Akers (center) used her speed and height to deadly effect. 3) Michelle Akers (Forward/defensive midfielder, USA) Hamm is part of the ownership group of the Los Angeles Football Club, which is scheduled to start playing in Major League Soccer in 2017. She was also part of two Olympic gold-medal winning sides (1996, 2004) and earned a silver medal in 2000. A member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame, Hamm also played a vital role for two Women’s World Cup winning teams in 19, converting a penalty in a shootout in the latter final. She won the Fifa women’s world player of the year the first two years of the award in 20. Hamm, who made her international debut at 15 in 1987, earned 275 caps while starring for the USA. Regardless, her skill, vision and innate scoring ability made her the most dangerous and the best-known women’s player of her generation. It certainly didn’t hurt that Hamm was bolstered by a talented supporting cast, some of whom have made this top 20 list. ![]() If they managed to force her outside, she would deliver a lethal, spot-on cross to a teammate on the far side. If defenders allowed her to run inside, she would go to goal. Pacey and skillful, she was nominally a forward but often played like a midfielder. Hamm, who finished with a world-record 158 international goals when she retired in 2004, was a double threat. Mia Hamm (left) wrestles with China defender Bai Jie at the 1999 World Cup final.
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