| Women's soccer never would have been the same if | | | | level close to what men are playing. She is one of |
| Mia Hamm hadn't started up soccer when she was | | | | the two women named in Pele's "List of 125 Best |
| little. She had such an impact on women's soccer that | | | | Soccer Players of All Times" and she is a symbol of |
| she is often thought to mean as much for it as Pele | | | | women's sports throughout the World. She also holds |
| or Cruyff meant for men's soccer. But before being a | | | | two FIFA World Player of the Year awards, which |
| great soccer player and athlete that broke down | | | | she got in 2001 (the first year the trophy was given) |
| almost every possible record at her level, Mia Hamm | | | | and 2002. Unfortunately, she would have gotten a lot |
| is a great person and I'd like you to meet the human | | | | more of these awards, but with the World Player of |
| behind the soccer god in this Mia Hamm biography. If | | | | the Year awards being granted for women when Mia |
| you're like me, you're probably wondering how and | | | | Hamm was already nearing the end of her career, |
| when did Mia Hamm start playing soccer and what | | | | she didn't really have a chance to widen her trophy |
| events drove her to become a super star of | | | | room. In numbers, Mia Hamm was the United States |
| women's soccer. Mia Hamm's childhood circled around | | | | top goal scorer, with 158 goals in 275 matches, a |
| sports and athleticism and as her brother recalled, she | | | | remarkable record that will probably dust and rust |
| was faster and more athletic than most of the boys | | | | before it is beaten. She scored more goals than any |
| on the block, so she was able to play competitively | | | | man or woman for her national team, although many |
| with and against them. After taking up youth soccer | | | | soccer specialists will agree that the level of women's |
| training at her school's football team when she was | | | | soccer is still in an early grade and cannot be |
| only 12 years old, she learned the basics of soccer | | | | compared to men's soccer yet. She won the |
| and started enjoying the sport more and more. Little | | | | Women's World Cup twice, in 1991 and 1999 and also |
| did she know that three years later, when she was | | | | put the US national team through a Gold Medal at the |
| just 15, she would be called up for the United States | | | | Olympic Games in 1996. All these titles, records and |
| national women's soccer team, becoming the | | | | awards make Mia Hamm one of the most important |
| youngest player ever to play for her country at that | | | | players in women's soccer and the fact that Pele |
| level (one of her first broken records). That was kind | | | | considered to put her on the same list as legendary |
| of a weird situation, since Mia Hamm was a soccer | | | | male players such as Maradona, Cruyff, Platini or |
| player for her national squad but didn't have a fully | | | | Beckenbauer says a lot about the influence she had |
| professional playing contract with a club. But after | | | | in the game. |
| seeing her performances, the North Carolina Tar | | | | Niv Orlian is the author and the owner of a Soccer |
| Heels quickly signed her and they made quite a deal, | | | | Fans website that provides information on various |
| since Mia Hamm stayed with the club for 4 seasons, | | | | topics related to soccer. Find out more info on Mia |
| scoring over 100 goals during her time here. Probably | | | | Hamm and other famous soccer players in his |
| one of Mia Hamm's most important accomplishments | | | | website. |
| is that she managed to bring women's soccer to a | | | | |