Mia Hamm: The US football icon hailed by Pelé as one of the best ever

Few in football have as many accolades as Mia Hamm. During an illustrious career, the forward won two World Cups and two Olympic gold medals, alongside a plethora of individual honours.

Hamm was named FIFA World Player of the Year in 2001 and 2002, US Soccer Female Athlete of the Year five years in a row, and the Women’s Sports Foundation’s Sportswoman of the Year in 1997 and 1999.

She has been inducted into every Hall of Fame going, and was even included by Brazilian legend Pelé in his list of the greatest living footballers.

With Hamm turning 50 today, GiveMeSport Women looks into why she is considered one of the best players to grace the football pitch.

Hamm was born in Alabama in the United States in 1972. She was born with a club foot, and wore corrective shoes as a toddler.

Her father was an Air Force pilot, so her family lived on various military bases around the world. Hamm first played football while living in Florence in Italy, and she quickly fell in love with the sport.

Aged five, while living in Texas, Hamm joined her first football team. She excelled as a player, competing on the boys’ team while at high school.

It was not long before Hamm was playing for the national team. Aged 15, she represented her country at the 1987 US Olympic Festival, becoming the USWNT’s youngest player of all time.

From 1989 to 1993, Hamm attended the University of North Carolina, and helped the Tar Heels win four NCAA Division I titles in five years.

Halfway through her time at the University of North Carolina, Hamm was told a piece of news every football player wants to hear. She would be representing her country at the Women’s World Cup.

Hamm was selected to play for the USWNT at the 1991 Women’s World Cup in China. At 19, she