FIFA Women’s World Cup Individual Records
Written by Oluwaseun Oyediji
Some players distinguished themselves at the past FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments with some individual records.
Either enviable or pathetic records, some feats at the global women’s football Mundial won’t go unnoticed until such feats are broken in the next World Cups.
Most Tournaments
Brazil’s Formiga has attended seven FIFA Women’s World Cups from 1995 to 2019 which makes her the player with the most tournament attendance. The former Sao Paulo player also holds the record for the player with the most tournament in a squad.
Unfortunately, her side hasn’t been able to win the World Cup despite her experience and long years of service with one of the Greatest of All Time, Marta.
Most Medals
The United States duo of Kristine Lilly and Christie Rampone has won the most Medals at the World Cup. Irrespective of the medal (gold, silver, or bronze), the player has won five medals at the token. Lilly won five medals from the 1991 to 2007 World Cup while Rampone won hers from 1999 to 2015.
Most Matches Played
Kristine Lilly has played the most games at the World Cup. She played a total number of 30 games for the USA from 1991 to 2007. Lilly with 2,537 minutes at the World Cup has the record for most minutes played at the tournament.
The player also won 24 games at the World Cup to emerge as the individual with the most matches won.
Most Matches Drawn
China’s Sun Wen played four FIFA Women’s World Cups with the most number of drawn games as a player. She was involved in five games which her team drew at the tournament from 1991 to 2003.
Most Matches Lost
Former Nigeria captain, Florence Omagbemi has the record for most matches lost as a player. She was involved in 10 games in which Nigeria lost at the World Cup from 1991 to 2003.
Most Appearances In A World Cup Final
Six players have appeared most times in the FIFA Women’s World Cup final emerging as either Champions or losing finalists.
United States Women’s National Team (USWNT) has five players on the list; Tobin Heath, Ali Krieger, Carli Lloyd, Alex Morgan, and Megan Rapinoe.
Germany’s Birgit Prinz also played in three FIFA Women’s World Cup finals alongside the above-listed American players.
Most Appearances As A Captain
Former Chinese captain, Sun Wen holds this record of 16 games at the World Cup as a captain.
She led her team to three FIFA Women’s World Cups from 1995 to 2003.
Most Tournaments As Captain
Canadian ageless captain, Christine Sinclair has played most World Cup tournaments as captain. She captained Canada to four World Cups from 2007 to 2019 and will likely lead the team to this year’s tournament.
Most Appearances As Substitute
America’s Tiffeny Milbrett and China’s Zhang Ouying have played more games at the World Cup as substitutes.
Milbrett played eight games as a substitute for the USA from 1995 to 2003 while Zhang holds the same record with the same number of games from 1999 to 2007.
Youngest Player
Late Ifeanyi Chiejine of Nigeria remained the youngest player to have played at the World Cup. The former Bayelsa Queens player on June 20, 1999, set the record as the youngest player when the Super Falcons played China at the 1999 World Cup.
At 16 years and 34 days, the world awaits the next youngster that will break Chiejine’s record.
Youngest Player In A Final Match
Former German captain, Birgit Prinz set this record at the 1995 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Germany faced Norway in the final match on June 18, 1995, with Prinz playing in the final match at the age of 17 years and 236 days.
Youngest Captain
Nigeria might have not reached the tournament’s semi-final and hold the record for most losses at the World Cup but also has some enviable age records.
Popularly known as “Headmistress” for scoring with her head, Nkiru Okosieme at the 1991 FIFA Women’s World Cup became the youngest captain at the World Cup. It was during a group match between Nigeria and Germany at the maiden World Cup on November 17 that Nkiru captained Nigeria.
Oldest Player
At 41 years and 112 days, Brazil’s Formiga at the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France became the oldest player at the tournament. She set the record as Brazil faced host, France on June 23, 2019.
If she features at this year’s World Cup, she will break her record at age of 45.
Read Also – FIFA Women’s World Cup Streaks
Oldest Player In A Final
At the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, America’s Christie Rampone became the oldest player to play in the final of the tournament.
She was 40 years, 11 days when the USA defeated Japan in the final match to reclaim the World title it lost to the same opponent in 2011.
Oldest Captain
France’s Sandrine Soubeyrand holds the record for the oldest captain at the FIFA Women’s World Cup. She captained France against Sweden at the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup on July 16 at the age of 37 years, 334 days.
Some of the above records are expected to be broken with more records expected to be set at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
The biggest Women’s World Cup in history will witness 32 teams fight for the coveted title which has been won by four teams; USA, Japan, Germany, and Norway.
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