Mia Hamm

Mia Hamm's 158 international goals made her the face of women's soccer in America and inspired an entire generation of girls to play. She won two World Cup titles (1991, 1999) and two Olympic gold medals (1996, 2004), a collection that surpasses #5 Marta's World Cup wins by one. Hamm also recorded 104 career assists, a 50% higher assist rate than the average forward of her era. Her goal tally remained the world record for 16 years, and she was named US Soccer Athlete of the Year five times — more than any other player in history. Her impact off the field was equally profound, growing the sport's visibility exponentially.