Origins & Early Life

Mary Abigail Wambach (born June 2, 1980) is an American former professional soccer player who played as a forward. She played for the U.S. women's national soccer team from 2003 to 2015. With 184 international goals, she ranks second on the all-time list of international goals scored by players of any gender.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Wambach is a six-time winner of the U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year award, and was named the FIFA World Player of the Year in 2012. She was included on the 2015 Time 100 list of the most influential people in the world. Wambach competed in four editions of the FIFA Women's World Cup, winning the tournament in 2015. She won the gold medal at the Olympics in 2004 and 2012.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

In college, she helped the Florida Gators women's soccer team win its first NCAA Division I Championship. She played at the professional level for Washington Freedom, magicJack, and the Western New York Flash. Wambach is known for scoring goals with diving headers. During a quarterfinal match against Brazil at the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, Wambach scored a last-minute equalizer goal from a precise cross from Megan Rapinoe, which helped the U.S. secure victory. The goal set a record for the latest goal ever scored...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• Alejo Carpentier — Contemporary (Died in 1980) (1980): Influential Cuban novelist, essayist, and musicologist of the Latin American Boom.
• Alfred Hitchcock — Contemporary (Died in 1980) (1980): Master of Suspense, influential English filmmaker known for psychological thrillers.
• Bo Diddley — Shared historical date (06-02 · Died) (2008): Pioneering blues guitarist whose signature rhythm influenced rock, pop, and hip-hop.
• Cornel West — Shared historical date (06-02 · Born) (1953): Philosopher, theologian, and activist known for critiques of race, class, and gender in America.
• Barbara Rubin — Historical peer (Died in 1980) (1980): American experimental filmmaker and performance artist known for underground cinema.
• Ben Feldman — Historical peer (Born in 1980) (1980): American actor known for roles in Superstore, Mad Men, and Silicon Valley.
• Alberto Sordi — Historical peer (Died in 2003) (2003): Pillar of Italian Cinema, master of Commedia all'italiana comedy.
• Barry White — Historical peer (Died in 2003) (2003): Iconic R&B, Soul, and Disco Singer known for his powerful bass voice.
• A. P. J. Abdul Kalam — Historical peer (Died in 2015) (2015): Visionary aerospace engineer, scientist, and former President of India.
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