History demonstrates that, in contrast to the men’s competition, the FIFA Women World Cup top scorers typically motivate their team to victory. The FIFA Women’s World Cup scoring standard was established by Michelle Akers. Megan Rapinoe, a fellow countrywoman, just won the Adidas, Golden Boot. Football fans can buy Women Football World Cup Tickets from our website.
During that time, legendary figures like Marta and Birgit Prinz also shone. The top scores in the FIFA Women’s World Cup, from Michelle Akers through Megan Rapinoe thru Marta, include some of the greatest players in the history of the tournament.
Also, it highlights a significant distinction from the FIFA World Cup, where record-breaking marksmen – in a fascinating historical quirk – have typically not come from the victorious team. Only six of the tournament’s 22 iterations have seen the top scorer take home a winner’s medal, in contrast to the reverse pattern in the female showpiece.
As you will see below, in the Women’s World Cup, the side with the best goal scorer typically wins. Join us as we take a look back at the athletes who have historically set the bar for those visiting Australia and New Zealand later this year.
China’s 1991 FIFA Women’s World Cup PR
Michelle Akers scored the most (USA)
Attempts made: 10
Winner: USA
The first Women’s World Cup top scorer established a standard that nobody has been able to surpass to this point. Akers was a fantastic attacking force that gave the US military the upper hand attack – – dubbed the “tripled-edged sword” by Chinese media – in which April Heinrichs and Carin Jennings stood on either side of her.
This strong attacker, who scored five goals in a 7-0 quarterfinal rout of Chinese Taipei, saved her best for last, hitting a game-winning double as the Americans edged off Norway to claim the women’s game’s first-ever global championship.
Akers ended three goals ahead of Heidi Mohr of Germany, who was her closest rival, with 10 goals.
Sweden 1995 FIFA Women’s World Cup
Ann-Kristin Aarones top scorer (NOR)
Scored goals: 6
Norway wins
The tournament’s top scorer once again played a crucial role as Norway, who had been defeated in the 1991 final, exacted revenge by defeating the US and claiming a historic victory. The sole goal in a tough semifinal was scored by Aarone’s victory in Vasteras in which the Americans “struck the crossbar three times in the final minutes,” as she told FIFA in 2019.
The then-22-year-old, who had recorded a hat-trick against Canada in the group stage, finished the competition one goal ahead of Hege Riise, her teammate and the current head coach of Norway’s national team, who was named the tournament’s top performer.
USA 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup
Top scorers: Sun Wen (CHN) and Sissi (BRA)
Scored goals: 7
Winner: USA
While the pioneering, championship-winning USA ’99ers may be remembered fondly, their best players weren’t even considered for this year’s Adidas Golden Boot. Surprisingly, Brandi Chastain and Mia Hamm combined for just three goals, with Tiffeny Milbrett (three) scoring the most goals for the Americans on display. Football fans can buy Women Football World Cup Final Tickets from our website.
All were well behind the tournament’s top goal scorers, China PR’s Sun Wen and the lightning-quick Sissi of Brazil, who tied for first place with seven goals and three assists each. Along with splitting the Adidas Golden Shoe, they also took the top two spots on the podium for the player of the competition, with Sissi winning the Silver Ball and Sun the Gold.
USA 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cup
Birgit Prinz scored the most (GER)
Scored goals: 7
Germany wins
It turned out to be a tournament in which the hosts and defending champions, Germany, would dominate once again. No less than three of the four leading scorers were from Tina Theune-winning Meyer’s side, although Prinz ultimately finished comfortably at the head of the pack.
The powerful center-forward, who scored in each of Germany’s five games en route to the championship, finished the competition three points ahead of Katia of Brazil, Kerstin Garefrekes, and Maren Meinert, her teammates. Christine Sinclair, 20, and Marta, a budding teen star, were two of the players on three goals.
2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup in China PR
Marta scored the most (BRA)
Scored goals: 7
Germany wins.
When she returned to the international stage four years later, nobody could stop the same Brazilian prodigy. In reality, it’s unlikely that any player has ever dominated a single Women’s World Cup as Marta did in 2007.
She was an obvious choice for player of the tournament, despite the fact that her brilliance wasn’t quite able to lead Brazil to a first championship. Despite not being a predator in the penalty area by nature, Marta won the race for the Golden Boot, outscoring Americans Abby Wambach and Ragnhild Gulbrandsen of Norway, who both had six goals. Prinz, with a five, was the top shooter for the eventual champions as Germany kept the top spot.
2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany
Homare Sawa scored the most (JPN)
Scored goals: 5
Winner: The Japanese
In Germany, Marta and Wambach once more vied for the honor, but ultimately an unexpected victor prevailed. Sawa scored five goals despite being mostly a midfielder on a side that few predicted would contend A hat-trick against Mexico and a stunning equalizer in the 117th minute of the championship match helped him win the Golden Ball and Golden Boot awards.
With fewer goals scored, no player has ever won the Women’s World Cup’s top scorer award. Yet what Sawa’s goals, which propelled Japan to the tournament’s most unexpected victory, lacked in quantity, they more than made up for in importance.
2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada
Top scorers: Carli Lloyd (USA) and Celia Sasic of Germany
Scored goals: 6
Winner: USA
Having accrued her six-goal haul in fewer minutes than her American adversary, Sasic went home from Canada with the Golden Boot.
The German striker appeared to be in complete control of the prize after dominating the battle with a hat-trick against Côte d’Ivoire, a brace against Sweden in the Round of 16, and a penalty against France in the Quarterfinals.
That is, until Lloyd shattered all previous records with a stunning final hat trick, the first in tournament history, and almost missed adding the Golden Boot to the Golden Ball she already received for being the best player in the 2015 edition.
2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France
Megan Rapinoe (USA), Alex Morgan (USA), and Ellen White (ENG) have the highest scores
Scored goals: 6
Winner: USA
The winner of the Golden Boot for France in 2019 was decided at the final. Going into the Lyon match, Alex Morgan of the United States and Ellen White of England were deadlocked on six goals, with Morgan apparently set to win top. All of that changed, though, when Megan Rapinoe, another American, converted a penalty shot to start the scoring.
Rapinoe had accumulated her goals in 394 minutes compared to Morgan’s 445, and the two American stars ahead of White on the assists list meant that the award was once again in the hands of a match-winning midfielder.
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