Women’s football has had a relatively shaky start, compared with its male counterpart. In England, it was even banned by the FA for 50 years because it was deemed unsuitable for the female physique.
More recently, women’s football has been gathering momentum internationally with UEFA staging its first Women’s competition in 1984.
The first official Women’s World Cup came in 1991, with the sport becoming an Olympic event in 1996.
Women’s football has become more and more popular with the proliferation of women’s football clubs, coaching, and women’s Football team kit suppliers like https://www.kitking.co.uk. Of course, it has produced some inspirational players, ten more of which are listed below.
1 Silke Rottenberg
Goalkeeper for Germany 125 times, Rottenberg underpinned the defence while her team went on to dominate internationally.
2 Joy Fawcett
Joy’s solid defence ensured the team gained two World Cup Championships and two gold medals between 1991 and 2004.
3. Sissi
Joining the Brazilian side at just 16, midfielder Sisleide do Amor Lima jointly won the Golden Boot in the Women’s World Cup in 1999, where Brazil came third.
4 Hege Riise
One of Norway’s best players, Riise played on boys’ teams from the age of 6 – 14. As an international, she scored 58 goals in 188 matches before she retired in 2004.
5 Christine Sinclair
This formidable forward from Canada scored a hat-trick during the 4-3 defeat to the USA at the 2012 Olympics.
6 Kelly Smith
A forward for England, Kelly’s 20-year career spanned 1995-2005. She played for Arsenal Ladies, England and for Team GB at the 2012 Olympics.
7 Lily Parr
An English forward of a different generation, Lily Parr was a pioneer of early Women’s football, with its rise and fall attributed to World War I.
8 Homare Sawa
Sawa helped Japan win the Women’s World Cup in 2011. Named FIFA world player of the year, she also took home both the Golden Ball and Golden Boot.
9 Marta
Marta Vieira da Silva is Brazil’s female answer to Pele. Golden Boot winner and five-times FIFA world player of the year, she is currently at the height of her career.
10 Sun Wen
A forward for China, Wen delivered her goals in style. A Golden Boot and Golden Ball winner, she was a dependable member of her team.
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