By Deborah Oluwumi
The 9th edition of the Women’s FIFA World Cup commenced on 20th July, hosted by Oceania. When delving into the rich history of women’s football, it is impossible to overlook the remarkable stories of several prominent female players. These individuals not only showcased professionalism but also achieved great success in their football careers, earning numerous international appearances.
Below, you will find a list of the ten most capped players in Women’s FIFA history.
Name | Age | Nationality | No. of Caps in FIFA World | Total No of International Caps |
| Kristine Lily | 51 | USA | 30 | 354 |
| Formiga | 45 | Brazil | 27 | 234 |
| Carli Lloyd | 41 | USA | 25 | 316 |
| Abby Wambach | 43 | USA | 25 | 255 |
| Homare Sawa | 44 | Japan | 24 | 205 |
| Birgit Prinz | 45 | Germany | 24 | 214 |
| Joy Fawcett | 55 | USA | 23 | 241 |
| Mia Hamm | 51 | USA | 23 | 276 |
| Julie Foudy | 52 | USA | 23 | 274 |
| Sarina Wiegmann | 53 | Germany | 22 | 104 |
Table 1.0 showing the Most Capped players in women’s FIFA world cup history
Kristine Lilly – The Reigning Queen of Women’s World Cup Appearances.
Image Source: Goal.com
Kristine Lilly, also known as “the Queen of caps,” is a legendary football player from the USA. She holds a remarkable record of 30 appearances in the Women’s World Cup and has played a total of 354 games for her national team. Over her impressive 24-year career, Lilly played a significant role in the success of the USA team, helping them win two Women’s World Cup titles in 1991 and 1999.
She holds a remarkable record of 30 appearances in the Women’s World Cup and has played a total of 354 games for her national team.
She made history as the first female player to participate in five editions of the tournament, with her last appearance in 2007. Out of her 30 World Cup games, Lilly achieved an incredible 24 victories, making her the only player with at least 20 wins in the competition. Her impact on women’s football is unparalleled, and she continues to inspire future generations as the most-capped player in history.
Formiga – A Brazilian Dynamo in Seven Women’s World Cups.
Image Source: Getty Images via First and Pen
Formiga, whose birth name is Miraildes Maciel Mota, is a prominent figure in Brazilian football history. She holds the record for the most appearances by any Brazilian player, with 234 games played. What truly sets her apart is her remarkable feat of participating in seven Women’s World Cup editions, from 1995 to 2019, making her the only male or female player to achieve such a milestone.
Formiga started her journey in the tournament at 17 years and 96 days old and concluded it at 41 years and 112 days, becoming the oldest player in the competition’s history.”
Formiga started her journey in the tournament at 17 years and 96 days old and concluded it at 41 years and 112 days, becoming the oldest player in the competition’s history. Formiga’s legacy extends beyond her defensive prowess, as she also holds the record for the oldest goal scored in the Women’s World Cup, achieved at the age of 37 years and 99 days. Though she never won a Women’s World Cup title, she earned two medals, a bronze in 1999 and a silver in 2007, further solidifying her impact on the Brazilian national team’s success over the years.
Carli Lloyd – From Medals to Hat-Trick
Image Source: Shutterstock via The Washington Post
Carli Lloyd, one of the most capped players in the history of the US Women’s national team with 316 caps, had an illustrious career in international football. She participated in 25 Women’s World Cup matches and earned four medals, including two golds, one silver, and one bronze.
Her standout performance was during the 2015 Women’s World Cup, where she was awarded the “Player of the Tournament” despite not scoring in the group stage games. In the 2019 World Cup, she made history by becoming the first player over 35 to score a brace in a match. She also set a tournament record by scoring in six consecutive games.
Carli Lloyd retired from international football in 2021 after a remarkable career. Her retirement marked 25 appearances in the global finals, two tournament victories, and one unforgettable hat-trick. This hat-trick in a crucial match earned her the adidas Silver Boot and the Goal of the Tournament prize, ultimately leading to a momentous 5-2 victory to lift the prestigious Women’s World Cup trophy.
Abby Wambach – Goal-scoring Legend
Image Source: ESPN
Abby Wambach, the former USA striker, is one of the most decorated players in Women’s World Cup history. She made 25 appearances in the tournament from 2003 to 2015, scoring 14 goals, which is the second-highest in the competition, behind Brazil’s Marta (17). Wambach and Marta share the record for scoring in 12 different games at the World Cup. Notably, Wambach is the only player to have scored multiple goals in extra-time at the Women’s World Cup. She achieved this in the 2011 quarter-final and the final, where she scored the latest goal in the competition’s history.
25 appearances in the tournament from 2003 to 2015, scoring 14 goals, which is the second-highest in the competition, behind Brazil’s Marta (17).”
With 184 international goals, Wambach is the highest all-time goal scorer for the USA. She won the World Cup once in 2019 and bid farewell to the international stage as a winner in 2015. She finished as the joint-second top scorer in the 2015 World Cup, tied with Birgit Prinz and second only to Marta.
Homare Sawa – A Record-Breaker and Trailblazer
Image Source: ESPN
Homare Sawa, the former captain of Japan’s national women’s football team, holds the record for 24 appearances in the Women’s World Cup, making her joint-fifth for most games played in the tournament. She participated in six editions of the tournament from 1995 to 2015.
Homare Sawa in six editions of the tournament from 1995 to 2015.
In the 2011 Women’s World Cup, Sawa’s exceptional performance earned her the title of player of the tournament, with five goals scored. This achievement led her to become the first Asian player, male or female, to receive the FIFA World Player of the Year award in 2011.
Birgit Prinz – A Stellar Journey in the Women’s World Cup
Image Source: Wikipedia
Birgit Prinz, a German soccer player, is the only non-US player to participate in three Women’s World Cup finals (1995, 2003, and 2007). With 24 appearances, she is tied for fifth place for most games played in the tournament. Her contributions were vital in leading Germany to consecutive victories in 2003 and 2007, and she was named the player of the tournament in 2003.
Prinz scored 14 goals in total during the Women’s World Cup, second only to Marta. She is the only player to have scored at least five goals in multiple editions of the tournament, achieving this feat with seven goals in 2003 and five in 2007. Birgit Prinz earned seven FIFA World Player of the Year awards, establishing herself as a soccer superstar.
Joy Fawcett: The Unyielding Defender and World Cup Hero
Image Source: historyofsoccer.info
Joy Fawcett was a versatile and formidable defensive player in soccer, known for her skill in both centre-back and full-back positions. She made history as the only USA player to play every minute of the 1995, 1999, and 2003 Women’s World Cup editions. She scored goals in three World Cups, with a memorable strike during the quarter-final clash against Germany at USA 1999.
Joy Fawcett 27 goals and made 241 international appearances”
Throughout her career, she scored 27 goals and made 241 international appearances. Fawcett also excelled at the club level, playing for the San Diego Spirit in the Women’s United Soccer Association from 2001 to 2003, earning recognition as a WUSA all-star in 2003. She displayed remarkable dedication, returning to play just six weeks after giving birth to her third child during her WUSA seasons.
Mia Hamm: First female inductee into “Football Hall of Fame”
Image Source: alizersoccers.com
Mia Hamm, a soccer prodigy from the United States, gained international fame during the 1991 Women’s World Cup in China. She scored the decisive goal in a 3-2 victory over Sweden and another goal against Brazil, leading her team to their first World Cup title. Her star continued to shine in subsequent World Cups, particularly in the 1999 edition where she scored crucial goals for the team’s triumph. In 2013, she was the first woman to be inducted into the prestigious World “Football Hall of Fame.” Hamm’s illustrious 17-year career included two World Championships and two Olympic Gold Medals.
With 276 international appearances, she retired in 2004, leaving behind a lasting legacy as one of the most significant female figures in sports history, inspiring generations to come.
Julie Foudy: The Soccer Legend
Image Source: insider.com
Julie Foudy was a legendary figure in 1990s USA soccer, with an extensive international career spanning three decades. As a skilled midfielder, she represented the US National Team from 1987 to 2004, earning an impressive 274 caps. Her on-field achievements were remarkable, including gold medals at the 1996 and 2004 Olympics, a silver medal in 2000, and four FIFA World Cups where she played a crucial role in the USA’s victories in 1991 and 1999 and bronze medals in 1995 and 2003.
Foudy served as the captain of the US National Team from 2000 to 2004, showcasing her leadership and dedication. She scored goals in four consecutive tournaments, starting in 1991 with a memorable strike in the Women’s World Cup quarter-final. Julie Foudy was elected to the US Soccer Hall of Fame in 2007, honouring her outstanding contributions to the sport. Her legacy as an exceptional athlete and leader continues to inspire future generations of soccer players.
Sarina Wiegmann: From Midfielder into Coaching
Image Source: 247newsaroundtheworld.com
Sarina Wiegman, during her time as a midfielder, made a significant impact on the field, earning 104 caps for her country, 22 out of which involved the women’s world cup. She achieved the remarkable milestone of being the first female player to reach a century of international appearances and also served as the captain.
On 14 June 2001, Wiegman bid farewell to her international playing days, marking her final match with the national team in a 2–0 away defeat against the Czech Republic.
Transitioning to coaching, Wiegman continued to break barriers in her homeland, establishing herself as a prominent figure in women’s football, earning a reputation as one of the leading names in the sport.
