Birgit Prinz

Lore & Background

Prinz began her career at Dörnigheimer SV and made her Bundesliga debut for FSV Frankfurt, where she played from 1993 to 1998, winning two Bundesliga titles and two German Cups. In 1998, she moved to local rivals 1. FFC Frankfurt, where over 13 seasons she won six Bundesliga titles, eight German Cups, and three UEFA Women's Cups. She also played two seasons for the Carolina Courage in the WUSA, winning the 2002 WUSA Championship. After the 2003 World Cup, she declined an offer from AC Perugia to play in Italy's men's Serie A, fearing it would be a publicity stunt.

At age 16, Prinz made her debut for the German national team in July 1994 against Canada, scoring the game-winner. She won her first major title at the 1995 European Championship and remains the youngest player ever to appear in a World Cup Final. Over the next decade, she won four more UEFA European Championships (1997, 2001, 2005, 2009) and three Olympic bronze medals (2000, 2004, 2008). She captained Germany to its second World Cup title in 2007 and was awarded the Silver Ball as the second-best player at that tournament.

Prinz holds several records: she is Germany's most capped player (214 appearances) and top goalscorer (128 goals). She is the second all-time leading goalscorer at FIFA Women's World Cups with 14 goals, and from 2008 until 2012 she shared the Olympic tournament record of ten goals with Brazil's Cristiane. She currently works as a sport psychologist for the men's and women's teams of Bundesliga club TSG 1899 Hoffenheim.

Reader's Guide

Birgit Prinz is a central figure in the history of women's football, known for her prolific scoring and leadership. Her three FIFA World Player of the Year awards (2003–2005) and eight German Player of the Year awards (2001–2008) underscore her dominance during the 2000s. As a striker, she led Germany to two World Cup titles (2003, 2007) and five European Championships, establishing the national team as a global powerhouse. Her 14 World Cup goals place her second all-time, behind only Marta, and her 128 international goals remain a German record. At club level, her success with 1. FFC Frankfurt—including three UEFA Women's Cups and multiple domestic titles—demonstrates her impact across competitions. Prinz also played in the pioneering WUSA league in the United States, winning the 2002 championship. After retiring in 2011, she transitioned to a career as a sport psychologist, working with youth and professional teams at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. Her legacy is that of a transformative athlete who set standards for excellence and longevity in women's football.

Did You Know?

• Birgit Prinz is the second all-time leading scorer in FIFA Women's World Cup history with 14 goals, behind only Marta from Brazil.
• She is the youngest player ever to appear in a FIFA Women's World Cup Final, having played in the 1995 final at age 17.
• Prinz holds the record for the most German Female Footballer of the Year awards, winning eight consecutively from 2001 to 2008.
• After retiring from football, she earned a master's degree in psychology and works as a sport psychologist for TSG 1899 Hoffenheim.