#8 Sun Wen
Trending
China was a dominant force in the world of women's football. Their scintillating displays were a testament to the brilliance of the individual players who championed a passion for the game that could be barely matched.
Boasting a goal scoring record of 106 in 152 matches, Sun Wen was known for showing up whenever China needed her to. Yet another player who was just as good a scorer as she was a creator, Wen has the rare achievement of winning both the Golden Boot and the Golden Ball In the 1999 World Cup.
At the Sydney Olympics in 2000, Wen scored a spectacular 32-yard free kick that is unforgettable for anyone who witnessed it. The Chinese legend is also the first woman to be nominated for the Asian Football Confederation Player of the Year award.
She has not been as successful as her contemporaries on this list when it comes to international accolades. China led by Sun Wen finished runners-up in the 1996 Olympics as the 1999 World Cup.
But her individual accolades can’t be questioned. Wen shared FIFA’s female footballer of the 20th-century award with USA’s Michelle Akers.
Sun represented two clubs in her career, Shanghai SVA and Atlanta Beat of the Women’s United Soccer Association. In the 2001-02 season, an array of inspired performances from Wen got Atlanta Beat into the finals but they lost out on winning the season title to San Jose CyberRays on penalties.
