#4 Birgit Prinz
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The Germans have ceaselessly produced some of the greatest footballers to walk the planet. And Birgit Prinz belongs up there with the very best. A strong and intimidating presence on the pitch, Prinz was pacey and was always at the right place at the right time.
Standing at almost 6 ft tall, the Frankfurt-born German forward had never had any qualms about getting physical and was always up for a battle. An elusive attacker, she was always weighing her options and sizing up her opponents while patiently waiting for the right time to disrupt the indolence of the opposition’s netting. The destructive striker’s acrobatic finish in the 2003 World Cup against Argentina is an incredibly mesmerising sight.
After making her club career debut with FSV Frankfurt in 1993, Prinz played at the club till 1998 where she won two Bundesliga Cups and two German Cups while becoming the Bundesliga top scorer in 1997 and 1998. She then made a switch to rival club FFC Frankfurt where she enjoyed another glorious. In the 13 years Prinz spent at FFC, she won six Bundesliga titles, three UEFA Euro Cups, eight German Cups and was the Bundesliga top scorer in 2001 and 2007.
After subsequently joining the WUSA’s Carolina Courage, where she stayed for two seasons, Prinz claimed the WUSA Championship in 2002. And after the 2003 World Cup, she was even invited to play for the Italian Seria A men’s club AC Perugia but she declined.
Prinz gathers goals like a leaf cutter and has a return of 128 goals in 214 international appearances. Her club goalscoring record is even more astounding with a staggering 282 goals in 282 appearances. The German Wonderwoman won the Golden Ball in 2003 when Germany lifted the World Cup and went on to win the Silver Ball in the next edition where Germany once again ended up as champions.
The now 39-year-old was selected as the FIFA Women's Footballer of the Year an awe-inspiring three times and was the German footballer of the year for eight years straight! The list of the accolades that she garnered, however, doesn’t end there as Prinz also has three Olympic bronze medals to her name.
To see Birgit Prinz’s outstanding finish from the 2003 World Cup, check out this video:
