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15 Things You Didn’t Know About Michelle Akers

Prepare to see what Michelle Akers did in her prime. The United States Women’s Football Team would not be the same without Michelle Akers. Her full name is Michelle Anne Akers. She is a dynamic former professional footballer who can play both midfield and striker. The American former soccer player who featured in the United States’ victories in the 1991 and 1999 Women’s World Cups, as well as the 1996 Olympics, is regarded as one of the best footballers. She won the Golden Shoe as the highest scorer in the 1991 World Cup, with 10 goals. Known for her creativity in the midfield, dribbles, critical passes, and, most importantly, goals, she established a strong name for herself. There are some facts about this superstar that you may not have known. Overall, we will look at the top 15 things you didn’t know about her. Let’s get this party started;

1. Akers is regarded as one of the greatest female football players in history

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We surely expect Akers to be considered among the best that the world of football has ever had. Having played in key games and earning enormous and magnificent trophies.

Akers is widely recognized as one of the best female football players of all time. In 2002, she was named FIFA Female Player of the Century, a title she shared with China’s Sun Wen.

Akers and Mia Hamm were the only two women listed in the FIFA 100 in 2004. A list of the 125 greatest living soccer players chosen by Pelé and commissioned by FIFA to commemorate the organization’s 100th anniversary. Winning such prestigious trophies provides her an advantage in becoming one of the greatest footballers in history.

Read Women’s World Cup 2023: 10 Most Popular Teams To Watch

2. Akers is a member of the (U.S.) National Soccer Hall of Fame

It does not take just any player to be inducted as a member of the Hall of Fame, but players’ contributions on the pitch play a crucial role in ensuring that they have the chance to be in the Hall of Fame.

Fans vote on who they believe should be inducted into the Hall of Fame. In fact, this outstanding footballer was given the opportunity to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Akers was inducted into the (United States) National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2004, together with Paul Caligiuri and Eric Wynalda. What an accomplishment!

3. Her career took off at the University of Central Florida

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Every player has a point where she starts to demonstrate talent and seeks ways to improve. One cannot simply wake up and become an icon without continually demonstrating it.

Akers played football at Shorecrest High School north of Seattle, where she was a three-time All-American, but her career took off at the University of Central Florida (UCF).

She went on to become a four-time All-American and the university’s all-time leading scorer. Since then, she has been a phenomenal footballer, playing till her last day on the field.

4. The first woman to receive the Hermann Trophy

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There are many prizes available that are open to all players. There are some honors, though, that not every player has received. Only the Football GOATS who excel on the field and occasionally set records can win them.

Prior to Michelle breaking the record and being the first female football player to win in this case, there was an award that had never been won by a woman.

She was selected UCF’s Athlete of the Year in 1988–89 and became the first female recipient of the Hermann Trophy, which is given each year to the top male and female collegiate soccer players. The Hermann Trophy was given to her as the first-ever recipient.

Read 10 Remarkable Facts About Sophia Smith

5. Akers made her debut for the U.S. women’s national team in 1985

Akers made her international debut for the United States women’s team against Italy on August 18, 1985, in the team’s inaugural match. She scored the first goal in the team’s history three days later, in a tie with Denmark.

6. Akers won  the Golden Boot award in FIFA World Cup

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She scored 15 goals in 24 games while playing center-forward between 1985 and 1990. Akers scored 39 goals in 26 games in 1991, setting a record for the U.S. team.

Ten of those goals came during the inaugural FIFA Women’s World Cup, which helped Akers win the Golden Boot as the tournament’s top scorer.

7. She holds a Women’s World Cup single-game record

She also contributed two goals to the U.S. triumph against Norway in the championship game and five goals against Taiwan in the quarterfinal (a Women’s World Cup single-game record).

Akers received the Silver Ball as the second-best player in the competition. She had an outstanding performance during the final rounds, trailing only colleague Carin Garbara.

8.  Her semi-final goal sent the U.S. team on to the gold medal

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Akers and the U.S. women’s team came in third at the 1995 World Cup, falling short of expectations. Soon after, in the first Olympic Games to feature women’s soccer in Atlanta in 1996, there was redemption.

Akers, who was a midfielder, then scored an important penalty kick in the semifinal game against Norway to equalize the score and force extra time.

Shannon MacMillan then scored the goal to send the U.S. team on to the gold medal game, where they eventually defeated China.

9. The 1999 World Cup was the last game as a member of the national team

Akers’ final match for the national team came when the United States won the 1999 World Cup title at home. As the third most useful player in the competition, she received the Bronze Ball after scoring in the 2-0 semifinal victory over Brazil.

10. A shoulder injury influenced the ending of her 15-year career 

Once you are big you are big! That is not in dispute. But when the time for retirement comes, nothing can stop nature. So, whether you like it or not, you’ll have to give in.

Despite providing excellent service to the national team and the club level, an injury led her to hang up her boots. Keep in mind that her final game for the national team came after they won the 1999 World Cup. 

Prior to the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000, Akers’ 15-year career came to an end with 105 goals in 153 international games. She made the choice primarily due to a shoulder injury, but she had also been dealing with chronic fatigue syndrome since 1991.

11. Akers and Mia Hamm were the only women named to FIFA 100

Akers and Mia Hamm were the only women included on Pelé’s FIFA 100 list of the top 125 active football players in 2004, which was created to honor FIFA’s 100th anniversary. She kept up her participation in football after she retired by publishing books and running clinics.

12. Assistant coach and player development coach for the Orlando Pride

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In 2022, she was hired by the Orlando Pride. This is the National Women’s Soccer League as an assistant coach and player development coach. She devoted a lot of time to her second love, horses, and in 2007 started a group devoted to their rescue.

13.  Akers grew up in a dominant male society that couldn’t bear women

The 1970s weren’t tolerant of women, in contrast to now. Women who participate in sports are subject to stigma.
It’s obvious that a society where men predominated couldn’t stand the idea of women dressed down, sporting shorts, and having fun on the football field.
Despite living in a progressive environment, men were the only ones hyped for sports enthusiasm.
But people like Michelle Akers and Mia Hamm managed to shatter stereotypes and make their mark in the world of sports despite this.

14. She was one of the strongest women on the pitch

To put it another way, Michelle may be one of the strongest women on the field, and if she ever considered switching to another sport, she would have no trouble passing for a rugby player.

She also had a never-give-up attitude, which was another similarity.  The iconic baller is most recognizable for her big smile, slender yet strong build, and curling brown hair.

15.  She accrued a $12 million net worth in her 15-year-long career

First off, Michelle’s 15-year career naturally resulted in an astounding $12 million net worth.

Although her actual pay is still undisclosed to the general public, given her accomplishments, we may presume it to be a considerable sum.

As a result, World Cup winners received significant six-figure salaries as compensation for their efforts, which is only 7.5% of what men still make now.
Women’s football is becoming more popular as of [current year] despite the enormous salary disparity, which is properly credited to Michelle and other pioneering and successful female athletes.