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Women's football has grown in leaps and bounds since the inaugural FIFA Women's World Cup which was held in China in 1991.
We take a look at the five greatest female soccer players in history.
Mia Hamm
The two-time FIFA Women's Player of the Year is considered to be the first global superstar in women's football having played professionally between 1987 and 2004.
Hamm was the face of the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA), the first professional women's soccer league in the United States, where she played for the Washington Freedom.
A utility player, who could operate as a midfielder and striker, Hamm completed her international career having played in 42 matches and scored 14 goals for the USA.
Hamm held the record for most international goals scored - by a woman or man - until 2013 and remains in third place behind former teammate Abby Wambach and Canadian striker Christine Sinclair since 2017.
"Mia didn't want the tag 'Best Player in the World,' even though, when she was on, there's no question she was," said Tony DiCicco, her former U.S. team coach.
"She had the ability to cause people to hold their breath. It was a lot like what Michael Jordan did in basketball."
Abby Wambach
The six-time USA Soccer Athlete of the Year award winner (a record) was a regular for USA between 2003 and 2015 as she captained her country to a 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup triumph.
Wambach is the highest all-time goal scorer for the national team and is second in international goals for both female and male soccer players with 184 goals behind Christine Sinclair.
Known for scoring goals with diving headers, Wambach became the first-ever soccer player of either gender to be named Athlete of the Year by the Associated Press in 2011.
Wambach, who was named FIFA Women's Player of the Year in 2015, won two Olympic gold medals and played in 29 matches while scoring 22 goals for USA at five international tournaments.
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Christine Sinclair
The accomplished attacker is the world's all-time leader for international goals scored for men or women with 186 goals for Canada since 2000.
Sinclair, who plays professionally for the Portland Thorns FC in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), is also the most-capped active international footballer with 296 caps.
An attacking midfielder, who can also play as a striker, Sinclair is the second footballer of either gender to score at five World Cup editions, preceded by Marta.
She has been shortlisted for FIFA World Player of the Year seven times (in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2016), is a two-time Olympic bronze medalist and a 14-time winner of the Canada Soccer Player of the Year award.
Michelle Akers
The American football legend is regarded as one of the best female soccer players of all time having helped the USA clinch major trophies during her 15-year career.
Known for her ability to flourish as a midfielder and a striker, Akers was named FIFA Female Player of the Century in 2002, an award she shared with Chinese superstar Sun Wen.
Akers and Mia Hamm were the only two women named to the FIFA 100, a list of the 125 greatest living soccer players selected by Pelé and commissioned by FIFA for that organization's 100th anniversary.
She was one of the best players at the 1991 and 1999 Women's World Cup (top goalscorer with 10 goals), as well as the 1996 Olympics which the USA won.
Marta
The Brazilian superstar is often regarded as the best female player of all time having been named FIFA Women's Player of the Year a record six times.
Marta holds the record for most goals scored at FIFA World Cup tournaments having netted 17 goals for Brazil in the global competition.
The 34-year-old forward, who plays for Orlando Magic in the NWSL, is the first footballer of either gender to score at five World Cup editions, a feat matched by Christine Sinclair in 2019.
Marta helped Brazil win the silver medal at the 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympics where she won the Golden Ball award as the best player. She also won the Golden Boot award as the top scorer in the 2007 Women's World Cup.
"If you're any sort of young girl with aspirations to play at the highest level, her ability on the ball - it's absolutely phenomenal, a rarity I'd say," former England coach Hope Powell said about Marta.
"A real leader, a match winner, an inspiration on and off the pitch - with the work that she's done to promote the game she's a real asset. Her longevity in the sport and what she's done for it needs to be admired and respected."
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