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