TOP 15 WOMEN'S GOALSCORERS IN OLYMPICS HISTORY

1. Cristiane, Brazil - 14 goals

Cristiane tops this list with 14 goals across four Olympics. However, she has never won the tournament but has two silver medals from 2004 and 2008.

In 2004 her Brazil side lost in the Final to the USWNT 2-1. Then in 2008 they were again were defeated by the United States in the gold medal match -- this time by the score of 1-0.

In total, Cristiane has played 153 times for Brazil and scored 96 goals. She has played for numerous clubs in he career including Wolfsburg, PSG, Chicago Red Stars, Corinthians, Santos and is currently with Flamengo.

2. Marta, Brazil - 13 goals

Marta is thought of as being one of the best female players of all time but comes in second on this list with 13 goals. She has been Cristiane's strike partner and they both won silver medals in 2004 and 2008.

She is the all-time top goalscorer for Brazil having found the back of the net 116 times in 175 games. Marta still plays club soccer with Orlando Pride of the NWSL. She has previously represented teams including Rosengard, Santos, Vasco da Gama and Los Angeles Sol.

3. Christine Sinclair, Canada - 12 goals

The first non-Brazilian player on this list is Christine Sinclair with 12 goals at the Olympic Games. At the 2008 tournament, her Canadian side lost to the USWNT 2-1 in the quarterfinals. Sinclair got Canada's goal.

The United States were to be Canada's nemesis again at the 2012 games. Despite Sinclair scoring a hat-trick, they lost 4-3 to the Stars and Stripes. Canada did go on to win bronze as they beat France in the match for third place. Sinclair was also the top goalscorer at the games with six goals.

In the semifinals of the 2016 competition, Canada lost to Germany but again won Bronze after defeating Brazil. Sinclair scored the winning goal in that game.

At the 2020 Olympics — which was played in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic — Canada finally won gold as they defeated the USWNT in the semifinals before beating Sweden on penalties in the Final.

Sinclair has now retired from international soccer with a record of 190 goals in 331 games. However, she continues to star for the Portland Thorns.

4. Birgit Prinz, Germany - 10 goals (tied)

Birgit Prinz won three bronze medals with Germany at the Olympics and is joint-fourth in the goalscorers tally with 10 goals.

Her side lost to Norway in the semifinals of the tournament in 2000 but defeated Brazil 2-0 in the Final. Prinz was on the scoresheet as Germany won bronze.

In 2004, Germany lost to the USWNT in the semifinals. However, they claimed bronze after defeating Sweden 1-0 in the Final.

Prinz made it a hat-trick of bronze medals as they defeated Japan 2-0 in the match for third place. They had been defeated 4-1 by Brazil in the semifinals.

Prinz is now retired from soccer but continues to work in the sport. She is a sports psychologist at Hoffenheim.

4. Carli Lloyd, United States - 10 goals (tied)

Carli Lloyd is one of the most successful players in U.S. Soccer history. She scored the game-winning goals in the Finals of both the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.

In extra-time in the 2008 Final, Lloyd won the game 1-0 for the USWNT. Then in 2012, she scored a brace in a 2-1 win over Japan in the Final.

Lloyd also won bronze at the 2020 Olympics as she scored twice in a 4-3 win over Australia. The United States had lost 1-0 to Canada in the semifinals.

4. Vivianne Miedema, Netherlands - 10 goals (tied)

Arsenal legend Vivianne Miedema is also tied for fourth on this list with 10 goals. All of her goals came in just four matches at the 2020 Olympics.

In Japan, Miedema scored four against Zambia before scoring braces against Brazil and China. Then in the quarterfinal against the USWNT, she scored twice again. The game against the United States finished 2-2 but the Netherlands lost on penalties with Miedema seeing her penalty saved.

7. Abby Wambach, United States - 9 goals

Abby Wambach competed in both the 2004 and 2012 Olympics and won gold medals in both tournaments.

In the 2004 edition, Wambach scored a fantastic header in the 112th minute to give the USWNT a 2-1 win over Brazil.

She missed out on playing at the 2008 Olympics as she suffered a broken leg. However, she was back to her best for the 2012 tournament where she scored in every game except the Final where the United States defeated Japan 2-1.

8. Pretinha, Brazil - 8 goals

Pretinha won two silver medals with Brazil at the Olympics. In 2004 she scored in the Final against the USWNT but her side went on to lose 2-1. Then in 2008, she was part of the side that were again defeated by the United States in the gold medal match.

She played 68 times for Brazil and scored 42 goals. Her club sides includes Vasco da Gama, Washington Freedom and the San Jose CyberRays.

9. Sam Kerr, Australia - 7 goals (tied)

Chelsea star Sam Kerr has played in just one Olympic Games so far but scored seven goals as Australia made it to the semifinals.

Australia went out to Sweden in a match where Kerr had a goal controversially ruled out. She then scored in the bronze medal match but her side lost 4-3 to the USWNT.

9. Melissa Tancredi, Canada - 7 goals (tied)

Melissa Tancredi competed in three Olympic games for Canada and won two bronze medals. Her first tournament was the 2008 games but her side were defeated by the USWNT in the quarterfinals.

In 2012, Canada were again defeated by the United States -- this time in the semifinals. However, they went on to beat France 1-0 in the bronze medal match.

Tancredi helped Canada win another bronze medal in 2016 where they beat Brazil in the match for third place. They had lost to Germany in the semifinals.

9. Stina Blackstenius, Sweden - 7 goals (tied)

Stina Blackstenius has played in two Olympic Games for Sweden and won silver medals both times. In 2016 she scored in the Final against Germany but her side went on to lose 2-1.

At the 2020 games, she found the back of the net again in the gold medal match but Sweden were defeated by Canada on penalties.

She still plays for Sweden and Arsenal in the Women's Super League. Blackstenius is currently on 107 caps for her country with 31 goals.

12. Ellen White, Great Britain - 6 goals (tied)

Ellen White played in two Olympic games for Great Britain and scored six goals. Her first tournament was in 2012 which her country was hosting. However, GB were eliminated in the quarterfinals by Canada.

White's side made it to the quarterfinals again at the 2020 games. Despite White scoring a hat-trick, GB were edged out 4-3 by Australia.

She retired from football after winning the European Championship with England in 2022.

12. Lotta Schelin, Sweden - 6 goals (tied)

Lotta Schelin played in four Olympic Games for Sweden and scored six goals in the process. Her first competition was in 2004 where her side lost 1-0 to Germany in the bronze medal match.

Her side was again beaten by the Germans in the quarterfinals of the 2008 Olympics. Then in 2012, Sweden were again defeated in the quarterfinal stage -- this time by France.

Schelin finally got her hands on a medal in 2016 as she won silver with her Sweden side losing to Germany in the Final.

12. Alex Morgan, United States - 6 goals (tied)

Alex Morgan played an influential role in the United States' 4-3 win over Canada in the semifinals of the 2012 Olympics. She scored the winner in extra-time and the USWNT then went on to beat Japan 2-1 in the Final.

Then in 2016, Morgan found the back of the net in their 1-1 draw with Sweden in the quarterfinals. However, the Stars and Stripes went on to lose on penalties.

At the 2020 games, her side lost 1-0 to Canada in the semifinals. However, they still won bronze after beating Australia in the match for third place.

Morgan is still a USWNT international and has a record of 123 goals in 223 games. She plays for the San Diego Wave in the National Women's Soccer League.

12. Barbra Banda, Zambia - 6 goals (tied)

Barbra Banda was Zambia's captain at the 2020 Olympic Games -- which was the first time her country played in a major tournament. She scored a hat-trick against the Netherlands in their first game but her side lost 10-3.

She then scored another hat-trick as Zambia drew 4-4 with China in their second group game. Zambia were then eliminated after a 1-0 defeat to Brazil in their final game in Group F.

Branda currently plays for the Orlando Pride in the National Women's Soccer League.

This article was originally published on fansided.com as Top 15 women's goalscorers in Olympics history.

2024-05-08T13:51:16Z dg43tfdfdgfd