A portion of this bookâs proceeds are donated to the Hugo Bustamante AYSO Playership Fund, a national scholarship program to help ensure that no child misses the chance to play AYSO Soccer. Donations to the fund cover the cost of registration and a uniform for a child in need.
Text by Illugi Jökulsson
Design: Ălafur Gunnar GuĂ°laugsson
Layout: Ălafur Gunnar GuĂ°laugsson and Ărni Torfason
For Abbeville Press
Project Editors: David Fabricant and Lauren Bucca
Copy Editor: Elisha Aaron
Layout: Ada Rodriguez
Production Manager: Louise Kurtz
PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS
Getty Images: p. 8 Berlin Wall (Pool CHUTE DUMUR BERLIN/Gamma-Rapho), p. 9 Maradona (Michael King), p. 12 (Topical Press Agency), p. 13 Marta (Popperfoto), p. 13 Wen (Lars Baron/Bongarts), p. 13 Prinz (Lutz Bongarts/ Bongarts), p. 15 (Robert Beck/Sports Illustrated), p. 16 Lilly (Elsa), p. 16 Akers (Aubrey Washington/Allsport), p. 17 (George Tiedemann/Sports Illustrated), p. 19 (Mike Zarrilli), p. 22 (Alexandra Beier-FIFA), p. 21 and back cover bottom (Jonathan Ferrey), p. 23 (Kevin C. Cox-FIFA), p. 25 (Stanley Chou), p. 27 (Ronald Martinez), p. 29 (Ronald Martinez), p. 33 (Kevin Mazur/Fox), pp. 36â37 and back cover bottom (Celso Junior), p. 41 (Jesse Grant), p. 53 (Catherine Ivill-FIFA), p. 58 (Brian Ach/WireImage), p. 60 (Kamee June Photography), pp. 62â63 (Ira L. Black/Corbis) Shutterstock: front cover (feelphoto), pp. 2â3 (twobee), pp. 6â7 (feelphoto), pp. 10â11 background (trekandshoot), p. 11 inset (Mat Hayward), p. 31 (lev radin), p. 34 (Jose Breton-Pics Action), p. 35 (Jose Breton-Pics Action), p. 39 (Jaguar PS), p. 42 (feelphoto), p. 43 (Jose Breton-Pics Action), p. 44 Ertz (Jose Breton-Pics Action), p. 44 Mewis (feelphoto), p. 44 Lavelle (feelphoto), p. 45 Sauerbrunn (Jose Breton-Pics Action), p. 45 Dahlkemper (Romain Biard), p. 46 OâHara (Romain Biard), p. 46 Dunn (Jose Breton-Pics Action), p. 46 Naeher (Jose Breton-Pics Action), p. 46 Horan (feelphoto), p. 47 Pugh (Leonard Zhukovsky), p. 47 Lloyd (Romain Biard), p. 47 Heath (Romain Biard), p. 47 Press (Romain Biard), p. 48 and back cover top (feelphoto), p. 49 (feelphoto), pp. 50â51 (Jose Breton-Pics Action), p. 54 (Romain Biard), pp. 56â57 and back cover middle (Jose Breton-Pics Action), p. 61 (Featureflash Photo Agency)
Wikimedia Commons: p. 15 Fawcett (Johnmaxmena2, CC-SA-3.0), p. 15 Foudy (RyanDowIMG)
This edition first published in the United States of America in 2020 by Abbeville Press, 655 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Please note: This book has not been authorized by Alex Morgan or persons affiliated with her.
Second Edition
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
ISBN 978-0-7892-1365-5
A previous edition of this book was cataloged as follows: Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Ilugi Jökulsson
[Alex Morgan. English]
Alex Morgan / Illlugi Jvkulsson. pages cm. â (World soccer legends)
Summary: âRecounts the story of American soccer star Alex Morgan, one of the best female players in the world. The book tracks her success in helping to win the FIFA World Cup, a team gold medal in the 2012 Olympics, and her achievements outside of soccer, including writing and modelingâ â Provided by publisher.
ISBN 978-0-7892-1216-0 (hardback)
1. Morgan, Alex (Alexandra Patricia), 1989âJuvenile literature. 2. Women soccer playersâUnited Statesâ BiographyâJuvenile literature. 3. Soccer playersâUnited StatesâBiographyâJuvenile literature. I. Title. GV942.7.M673I5513 2015
796.334092âdc23 [B]
2014045290
For bulk and premium sales and for text adoption procedures, write to Customer Service Manager, Abbeville Press, 655 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017, or call 1-800-Artbook
Visit Abbeville Press online at www.abbeville.com.
ALEXâS ROLE MODELS
The United States has boasted a number of great women's soccer players. These four dangerous forwards all inspired the young Alex Morgan.
MICHELLE AKERS
BORN 1966 IN SANTA CLARA, CA
WITH THE NATIONAL TEAM 1985â2000
GAMES 153
GOALS 105
Michelle Akers grew up in Seattle. Tall and athletic, she was an aggressive forward who later changed her position to midfield. She was the top scorer in the first FIFA Womenâs World Cup in 1991, with a total of ten goals in six games. Akers scored both goals for the US team in the final, securing a 2â1 victory over Norway. She was also a gold medalist at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
Akers made an important contribution to the 1999 World Cup winning team and she was included in the tournamentâs All-Star Team.
In 1999, she was voted FIFA Player of the Century, together with Sun Wen of China.
KRISTINE LILLY
BORN 1971 IN NEW YORK, NY
WITH THE NATIONAL TEAM 1987â2010
GAMES 352
GOALS 130
In a remarkable career, Kristine Lilly won two World Cups and two Olympic gold medals. Lilly is one of only four playersâand the sole womanâto have played in five World Cup tournaments. She was an ever-present attacking midfielder on the US team for more than twenty years and she holds the record for most international appearances: a total of 352.
Mia Hamm was introduced to soccer in Italy, where her father was stationed for a time with the US Air Force. Hamm began playing for the national team at fifteen, and is still the youngest woman ever to play for the US national team. An extremely prolific goal scorer, Hamm was a member of the US team that was victorious at the World Cup in both 1991 and 1999. She was also on the All-Star team in 1999. Plus,
MIA HAMM BORN 1972 IN SELMA, AL WITH THE NATIONAL TEAM 1987â2004 GAMES 276 GOALS 158
Morgan scored her first goal half a year after her debut on the international stage. It was on October 6, 2010, when she appeared as a substitute in a friendly game against China. The Chinese team had control for a good portion of the game. Toward the end of the match, however, Morgan gathered a pass from Wambach near Chinaâs penalty box, sliced through two defenders, and delivered a concise shot into the net. Roughly a month later, the US national team was set to play two games against Italy. The stakes were high: qualification for the 2011 Womenâs World Cup. The US team had made a terrible blunder at the CONCACAF qualification tournament and there was a real danger of not qualifying for the World Cupâthat would be disastrous. The first game took place in the Italian city of Padua on November 20. Deep into stoppage time, the scoreline still lingered at 0â0. The second game could prove a massive challenge. Entering the game in the 86th minute, Morgan saw her chance to shine and come to her teamâs rescue. Carli Lloydâs long pass found Morgan, who proceeded to poke the ball past the Italian goalkeeper.
The US could now enter the second game with
a calmer mind. They won it 1â0 and secured a place at the 2011 World Cup in Germany.
TO THE WORLD CUP
As the 2011 World Cup opening on June 26 drew closer, the coach of the USWNT, Pia Sundhage, picked Morgan for the team, with her fellow forwards Abby Wambach, Amy Rodriguez, and Lauren Cheney. When the tournament started, Morgan had played nineteen international games and scored seven goals. It was an undeniable honor for the twenty-one-year-old Morgan to play alongside veterans such as Christie Rampone/ Pearce, Hope Solo, and Wambach.
Morgan came on as substitute for Rodriguez in the first game against North Korea. The US won the game 2â0, followed by a 3â0 win over Colombia in which Morgan was not involved. She appeared as a substitute in the third game of the group stage, which the US lost to Sweden. In the quarterfinals, the US defeated Brazil after a dramatic battle, extra time, and a penalty shootout. In the semifinal game against France on July 13, the US team won a rather safe victory, 3â1. Morgan came on as a substitute for Rodriguez and, determined to make her mark, decisively nailed the USâs third goal in the match and her first goal in a major tournament. She corralled a beautiful pass from Megan Rapinoe through the French defense, played swiftly into the box, and fired a shot straight past the goalkeeper. The US team had made it to the finals, where the tenacious Japanese awaited them.
Alex Morgan and Abby Wambach celebrate Morgan's first goal during the 2011 Women's World Cup final match against Japan in Frankfurt, Germany, on July 17, 2011.
Alex Morgan of USA celebrates her goal against Japan in the 2011 Women's World Cup final match against Japan.
FIRST GOAL IN THE FINAL
The 2011 World Cup final was held at the Commerzbank Arena in Frankfurt in front of 49,000 fans. Morgan came on in the second half, after a heavily contested first half; in the 59th minute, she scored. She swept up a long ball from Rapinoe, broke free from a Japanese defender, and launched a beautiful shot into the goal. Japan leveled the score, and the game drifted into extra time. With her characteristic fighting spirit and force, Morgan sent a pass
from out of a tight spot for Wambachâs thumping header to find the back of the net. It seemed that the US was headed for their third World Cup title, but the Japanese equalized just before the game ended, and after three misses in the penalty shootout, Japan came out victorious. It was a great disappointment, but Alex Morgan had delivered an outstanding performance, proving that she deserved a place among the best.
HER FAVORITE THINGS
HOBBIES
Writing, paddleboarding, exercise, and spending time with family and friends.
MOTTO
âIâm just all about female power.â
COLOR Pink
FAVORITE FOOD
Morgan, who is fully fluent in Spanish, loves Mexican food. However, she has been exclusively vegan in recent years. Morgan was named one of PETAâs Most Beautiful Vegan Celebrities of 2019, together with Kyrie Irving. Speaking to Reuters, Morgan claimed that she decided to become a vegan âbecause it didnât feel fair to have a dog I adore, and yet eat meat all the time.â
NICKNAME
As a young and aspiring soccer player, Morgan was sometimes called âbaby horseâ because of how fast she ran. As her career advanced, she outgrew the nickname and, according to Megan Rapinoe, developed into a âfull-on stallion.â
FUN FACT
Morgan has a motorcycle license.
ANIMALS
Morgan loves all animals, cats and dogs in particular. She once had a cat named Brooklyn that had six toes on each of its front paws. Unfortunately, Brooklyn was run over by a car.
âCanât Hold Us,â Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Ray Dalton
âWhere Have You Been,â Rihanna
âYour Song,â Ellie Goulding (written by Elton John)
FAVORITE TV SHOW
Modern Family
Alex Morgan and Taylor Swift attend the 2019 Teen Choice Awards 2019 in Hermosa Beach, California, on August 11, 2019.
FAVORITE GAMES OF THRONES CHARACTER
Daenerys
HER MOST PRODUCTIVE YEAR
In 2012, Morgan scored 28 goals and made 21 assists for the USWNT. She was only the second US player to manage at least 20 goals and 20 assists in one calendar year. The first was Mia Hamm, in 1998.
ALEX MORGAN, CELEBRITY
Alex Morgan is a superstar in the US and around the world. Her level of fame is best illustrated by how often she has been featured on the covers of the worldâs most popular magazines.
Alex Morgan at the 2015 ESPY Awards at the Microsoft Theatre LA
CHARGING THROUGH THE KNOCKOUT STAGE
Following the victory over Thailand, the games grew increasingly challenging, but there was no stopping Team USA. The offense, led by Morgan, created countless chances. Her scoresheet diminished in the games that followed, because the defenders of opposing teams were busy crowding her; thatâs when other great US players got the chance to shine.
Chile was easily defeated and even the powerful Swedish team (still led by former USWNT coach Pia Sundhage) failed to hinder the advance of the American juggernaut.
The first opponent in the knockout stage was Spain. The Spanish team put up a good fight but they were ultimately no match for Megan Rapinoeâs two penalty kicks. In the quarterfinals, the US squared off with the host team, France. The sturdy yet graceful French team dreamed of taking home a trophy from a major tournament,
FIFA WOMENâS WORLD CUP 2019
but the opportunity slipped away. The American team was simply too powerful for Wendie Renard, Eugenie Le Somner, and their companions. Morgan had faced the French players on various occasions throughout her career, and even played alongside while on loan to Lyon. Rapinoe scored the goals that eliminated the French. She was totally in her element during the tournament.
During this time, Rapinoe was also involved in a social media quarrel with President Donald Trump. Rapinoe is a daring advocate and activist for both LGBTQ and womenâs rights, as well as an outspoken critic of any form of racism. Morgan, Coach Jill Ellis, and the rest of the team wholeheartedly support Rapinoeâs activism and causes.
Soccer was, however, the team's central focus, and now it was time to meet England, a legendary and worthy adversary, in the semifinals.
Date Place Opponent Score Goal
Group Stage
11 June Reims Thailand 13â0 Morgan 5, Lavelle 2, Horan, Mewis 2, Rapinoe, Pugh, Lloyd
16 June Paris Chile 3â0 Lloyd 2, Ertz
20 June Le Havre Sweden 2â0 Horan, 1 own goal
Knockout Stage
24 June Reims Spain 2â1 Rapinoe 2 (penalties)âHermoso
28 June Paris France 2â1 Rapinoe 2âRenard
2 July Lyon England 2â1 Press, MorganâWhite
7 July Lyon Netherlands 2â0 Rapinoe (penalty), Lavelle
Alex Morgan during the 2019 Women's World Cup semifinal match against England on July 2, 2019, in Lyon, France
THE SEMIFINAL: WHAT A BIRTHDAY!
In order to reach the final, the US first had to face a tough and resilient English team in the presence of 53,000 spectators. For Morgan, the game was particularly significant because it took place on July 2, 2019, her thirtieth birthday.
Rapinoe was injured, so more responsibility fell on Morganâs shoulders than usual. Nevertheless, she and her comrades lived up to the hopes that the American nation had placed in them.
The game started with a bang. Christen Press scored in the 10th minute with a thumping header on Kelley OâHaraâs long pass from the flank. The powerful Ellen White leveled the score for the English with a great shot in the 19th minute, and the game became even more intense. Morgan took matters into her own hands after collecting a pass from Lindsey Horan. Despite having an English defender looming over her,
she found the back of the net. It was a fabulous goal, and it put the US in the lead. Morgan celebrated her goal by playfully pretending to sip from a teacup. Some criticized Morganâs stunt and claimed it was disrespectful to the English, whose love for tea is well known, but most understood it as simply a good-natured joke from an athlete in her prime.
A long and strenuous battle ensued. The US dominated much of the game, but England snuck in a few dangerous counterattacks. One goal was ruled out for offside, and goalkeeper Naeher decisively stopped a penalty kick toward the end of the game.
England failed to equalize, and captain Alex Morgan led her troops to her third consecutive World Cup final.
ALEX MORGAN ON THE TEA CELEBRATION
âIt wasnât a hit to England in any way. [. . .] I feel that in sport there is a sort of double standard for females in that we have to be humble in our successes and celebrate not too much. You have to laugh about it.â
THE GOLDEN
SIX GOALS
Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, and the British player Ellen White each scored six goals in the tournament. Rapinoe was awarded the Golden Ball as top goal scorer due to the fact she had scored her six goals in the fewest minutes played. Morgan received the Silver Boot, and the Bronze Boot went to Ellen White.
MOMENT
WORLD CUP TITLES
USA 4 1991, 1999, 2015, 2019
Germany 2 2003, 2007
Norway 1 1995
Japan 1 2011
Team USA celebrates after winning the 2019 Women's World Cup final against the Netherlands on July 7, 2019, at Stade de Lyon in Lyon, France.
and Alex
at the USWNT's victory parade in New York City on July 10, 2019
Megan Rapinoe
Morgan
â WEâLL CONTINUE TO FIGHTâ
The joy after the victory in France reached ecstatic heights. But Morgan and her teammates were nowhere near done. At the ticker-tape parade for the USWNT in New York City, Morgan commented on the status of women players in the soccer world. âWeâll continue to fight for what is right and what we deserve and we continue to say the same thing. Itâs not just about equal pay. Itâs about equal investment in the sport. Itâs about
equal marketing, advertising and along those lines itâs about equal opportunity for us to make similar or the same income as the menâs team.â
Ongoing success on the field was also a top priority. And the national team continued its victorious stride, beating one challenging opponent after the other, but Alex Morgan was absent from the scoresheet. She was busy preparing for a new chapter in her life.
âTHIS IS CRAZYâ
One of Alex Morganâs co-captains, Megan Rapinoe, delivered a powerful speech in New York, and her teammates agreed with every word.
âThis is crazy. This is absolutely insane. Iâm such at a loss for words. I mean Iâll find them, donât worry! But . . . ridiculous. First and foremost, my teammates. [. . .] This group is so resilient, is so tough, has such a sense of humor. . . . Thereâs nothing that can faze
this group. Weâre chillinâ. We got tea-sippinâ, we got celebrations. We have pink hair and purple hair, we have tattoos and dreadlocks. We got white girls and black girls and everything in between. Straight girls and gay girls. I couldnât be more proud to be a co-captain with Carli [Lloyd] and Alex [Morgan] of this team. Itâs my absolute honor to lead this team out on the field. Thereâs no other place that I would rather be.â
Other books in the World Soccer Legends series
Megan Rapinoe · ISBN 978-0-7892-1368-6
Stars of Womenâs Soccer, 2nd Edition
ISBN 978-0-7892-1305-1
Before They Were Stars · ISBN 978-0-7892-1327-3
Stars of World Soccer, 2nd Edition
ISBN 978-0-7892-1316-7
Stars of All Time · ISBN 978-0-7892-1295-5
The Worldâs Greatest Clubs
ISBN 978-0-7892-1353-2
Messi, 2nd Edition · ISBN 978-0-7892-1225-2
Neymar · ISBN 978-0-7892-1227-6
James RodrĂguez · ISBN 978-0-7892-1237-5
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WORLD SOCCER LEGENDS
Everything you need to know about the best players and the most exciting clubs on the planet
ALEX MORGAN
SECOND EDITION
Learn all about Alex Morganâhow she played her first game for the US Womenâs National Team in a snowstorm, how she scored six goals at the 2019 Womenâs World Cup, how she became a movie star and best-selling author, and even what her favorite songs are!
