HIBAPRESS-RABAT-FIFA
Fastest goal, oldest player, youngest scorer… Before Paris 2024, FIFA presents the stats of the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament.
The Paris 2024 Women’s Olympic Football Tournament begins on July 25
The competition has existed since 1996
FIFA presents the records that have been set in the seven previous editions
123
The latest goal to be scored at the Olympics was at 120’+3 by Alex Morganwith a header, during the London 2012 semi-final between the United States and Canada at Old Trafford. Christine Sinclair scored a hat-trick, but Megan Rapinoe (2) and Ally Wambach (from the penalty spot) forced the two teams into extra time. That’s when the Stars and Stripes superstar headed in a Heather O’Reilly cross to send her team into the final (4-3 aet).
44
In total, 44 players have won both Olympic gold and the FIFA Women’s World Cup during their careers, with Carli Lloyd, Christie Rampone and Tobin Heath having won both competitions more than once.
43
The Brazilian Formiga is the oldest player to have played an Olympic match. She was 43 years and 149 days old during the loss against Canada in the quarter-finals of Tokyo 2020 (0-0 aet, 4 tabs to 3).
Formiga also holds the record for matches at the Olympic Games, 33. She has been present at all seven editions played so far, from the very first, in Atlanta 1996, to the most recent, Tokyo 2020.
33
At the age of 33 years and 18 days, the Englishman John Herdman became the youngest coach to take charge of a match at the Women’s Olympic Tournament, when his team New Zealand beat Japan (2-2) in Beijing 2008. At the same edition, Joseph Ladipo was 67 years and 33 days old when his team Nigeria played against Brazil (3-1 defeat, Cristiane scored a hat-trick). He has since died in 2013, aged 71.
20
At Rio 2016, Janine Beckie didn’t wait long to open her account as the Canadian scored after just 20 seconds against Australia in the first day of the group stage, scoring the fastest goal of the tournament. After the Matildas had kicked off, Christine Sinclair intercepted a soft pass in defence and fed the then Houston Dash player for the opener. The Canadians won 2-0.
18
The Australian Mary Fowlerwho excelled at the 2023 Women’s World Cup on home soil, holds the record for the youngest goalscorer at the Women’s Olympic Tournament. The current Manchester City player was 18 years and 166 days old when she scored against Great Britain at Tokyo 2020 in the quarter-finals (a 4-3 aet victory).
A few days later, the Matildas lost by the same score in the third-place play-off and it was Carli Lloyd who, at the age of 39 years and 20 days, allowed the United States to climb onto the third step of the podium, thanks to a double – like Megan Rapinoe.
16
The current defender of Olympique Lyonnais Ellie Carpenter was the youngest player to take to the pitch at the Women’s Olympic Tournament in Rio 2016: 16 years and 97 days at the time of the first day against Canada, with Christine Sinclair scoring (2-0 for the Canucks).
14
With 14 achievements, Cristiane holds the record for goals at the Women’s Olympic Tournament: five in 2004, five in 2008, two in 2012 and two in 2016 for Brazil. Her legendary compatriot Marta has 13 out of five editions. The Canadian Christine Sinclairwith 12 goals to his name over four editions, climbs onto the third step of the podium.
13
The most prolific match at the Women’s Olympic Tournament took place in the last edition, in Tokyo 2020 (in 2021), with 13 goals. The Netherlands have indeed beaten the Zambia 10-3, with a quadruple of Vivianne Miedema while Barbra Banda scored a hat-trick for the losing team.
Three days later, the Zambian from Orlando Pride became the second player to score a second hat-trick at the Olympics, after the Brazilian Cristiane (in two editions, 2004 and 2008), against China PR (4-4).
8
The Brazilian Andréia (2000, 2004, 2008, 2012) and the American Hope Solo (2008, 2012, 2016) each recorded eight clean sheets. The former allowed the Seleção to win silver twice, in Athens and Beijing. Solo, for her part, was crowned twice, in Beijing and London.
8
It’s’Germany who scored the biggest victory in the competition: 8-0 against the Steel Roses at Athens 2004 in the group stage, with a quadruple scored by legend Birgit Prinz. The German striker and Miedema (see above) are the only players to have scored four times in a single Olympic match.
