Mia Hamm

Mariel Margaret "Mia" Hamm-Garciaparra (born March 17, 1972) is an American retired professional soccer player, two-time Olympic gold medalist, and FIFA Women's World Cup winner. Hamm played as a forward for the United States women's national soccer team from 1987 to 2004 and was a founding member of the Washington Freedom in the first professional women's soccer league in the United States, the WUSA. Hamm held the record for international goals, more than any other player, male or female, in the history of soccer, until 2013 when fellow American Abby Wambach scored her 159th goal to break the record and Christine Sinclair of Canada passed her in August 2016. Hamm is also the third most capped female player in soccer history behind Kristine Lilly and Christie Rampone, appearing in 275 international matches. She also holds the national team record for most career assists with 144. Hamm was named the women's FIFA World Player of the Year the first two times that award was given (in 2001 and 2002). She is listed as one of FIFA's 125 best living players (as chosen by Pelé) being one of two women, accompanied by teammate Michelle Akers. She was also inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame as well as the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, and the World Football Hall of Fame. Mia Hamm is the author of Go For the Goal: A Champion's Guide to Winning in Soccer and Life and appeared in the HBO documentary Dare to Dream: The Story of the U.S. Women's Soccer Team. Washington Post columnist Michael Wilbon called Hamm, "Perhaps the most important athlete of the last 15 years." 2Early life Born in Selma, Alabama on March 17, 1972 to parents Bill and Stephanie Hamm, Mariel Margaret Hamm, nicknamed Mia, was the fourth of six children. Born with a club foot, she wore corrective shoes as a toddle