VALENCIENNES, FRANCE - JUNE 18: (L-R) Marta of Brazil Women, Debinha of Brazil Women, Andressinha of Brazil Women celebrate 1-0 during the World Cup Women match between Italy v Brazil at the Stade du Hainaut on June 18, 2019 in Valenciennes France (Photo by Rico Brouwer/Soccrates/Getty Images)

FIFAWWC Countdown: Day 50 - Top Seven Goalscorers

Marching steadily towards Day 50 of Edge of the Crowd's epic 70-day lead-up to the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, we've decided it's an apt moment to delve into the treasure trove of unforgettable episodes that have defined the history of the Women's World Cup. Today, we spotlight the players who have found the back of the net more than most nine at the crowning stage of women's football.

1. Marta (Brazil) - 17

Sitting outright on top of the FIFA Women's World Cup goalscorers list, Brazil's Marta is a veteran of the tournament. On the cusp of entering her sixth Women's World Cup, Marta goes into this year's edition with 17 goals to her name from 20 matches, and the chance to add more. Her best showing was in 2007 when she netted seven goals in total which included two braces. The 37-year-old has never scored a hat-trick at a Women's World Cup, however, but in her final tournament, anything's possible for the greatest Women's World Cup goalscorer.

2. Birgit Prinz (Germany) and Abby Wambach (USA) - 14

Germany's Birgit Prinz is one of two players who take the mantle in second place on the all-time FIFA Women's World Cup goalscorers list, scoring 14 goals in 24 matches, with neither of those being via a penalty. The striker played for Germany from 1994 to 2011 and was a formidable force off the bench before making it into the starting 11. With two Women's World Cup goals to her name through her first two tournaments, Prinz scored seven at the 2003 edition, earning her the Golden Boot, which, within the six-game scoring streak, which included a quarterfinal brace. She also became the 11th player to score a Women's World Cup hat-trick, which she achieved in Germany's opening game against Argentina at the 2007 edition of the tournament.

Also sitting in second place on the all-time FIFA Women's World Cup goalscoring tally is the USA's Abby Wambach. With a national team career spanning from 2001 to 2015, Wambach was known for her physical style of play and sense of space and positioning, culminating in 14 goals from 25 matches and holds the record for most matches with at least one goal (12). Wambach scored six goals at the Women's World Cup in 2007 including a third-place playoff brace to help steer the USA to victory and of her 14 goals overall, six came in various finals matches, with no moment bigger than the 2011 quarter-final-tying header against Brazil - which is also the latest goal scored from a game's kick-off.

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4. Michelle Akers (USA) - 12

The USA's Michelle Akers holds plenty of records in goalscoring feats at a FIFA Women's World Cup, coming in on this list with 12 goals to her name from 13 matches. A stalwart of the USA team through 1985 to 2000, Akers scored 10 goals at the inaugural tournament, which is still a record for the most goals scored by an individual at a Women's World Cup. It included five goals scored in the one match against Chinese Taipei in 1991 (which is also a record only matched by fellow American Alex Morgan in 2019) and at least two goals in the three fixtures she scored in.

5. Cristiane (Brazil), Wen Sun (China), and Bettina Wiegmann (Germany) - 11

Brazil's Cristiane is one of three at number five on the list all-time FIFA Women's World Cup goalscorer list, with the forward having netted 11 goals in 21 matches across five tournaments. She scored five goals at the 2007 edition helping Brazil to a second-placed finish where she was judged the third in the Player of the Tournament votes. Cristiane scored a hat-trick against Jamaica in 2019, which would be the 38-year-old's final Women's World Cup after not being selected in Pia Sundhage's squad for Australia and New Zealand.

The next name to feature on this list with 11 FIFA Women's World Cup goals to her name also is China's Wen Sun. The former captain of the national team is considered one of the greats of women's football, having won the FIFA Female Player of the Century in 2000 (along with Akers), having just taken out the Golden Ball and Golden Boot at the 1999 tournament. Entering the 1999 edition with three Women's World Cup goals to her name, Sun scored seven in the USA including a hat-trick against Ghana and two braces - including one in the semi-final win against Norway.

The final player to place among the all-time leaders list of goals scored at a FIFA Women's World Cup is Bettina Wiegmann of Germany. Wiegman was entrusted with the spot kick more often than not, as, of the midfielder's 11 goals (from 22 matches) scored at a Women's World Cup, six came via a penalty. She scored three goals in three consecutive Women's World Cups (from 1991 to 1999) before finishing up in 2003 having added another two to her goalscoring tally, as Germany won its first Women's World Cup trophy.

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