Homare Sawa

Homare Sawa is a Japanese former footballer who captained Japan to victory at the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup. She played as a midfielder and won the tournament’s Golden Ball and Golden Boot.

2011 FIFA Women's World Cup: The international women’s football tournament held in Germany, won by Japan. Sawa captained Japan through the tournament and scored its equalizer in the final.
Norio Sasaki: A Japanese football coach who led Japan’s women’s national team to the 2011 World Cup title. Sasaki coached Sawa during Japan’s World Cup-winning campaign.
Japan women's national under-20 football team: Japan’s national team for women’s footballers under age 20. Sawa first represented Japan internationally as a teenager before becoming a senior-team leader.
Japan national football team: The national association football team representing Japan in men’s international competition. Japan’s women’s team victory brought national attention to football beyond the men’s game.
2011 FIFA Women's World Cup final: The final match in which Japan defeated the United States on penalties. Sawa scored Japan’s late equalizer before the team won the shootout.
Aya Miyama: A Japanese former footballer who captained Japan’s women’s national team after Homare Sawa. Miyama was Sawa’s teammate in the 2011 title-winning side and later succeeded her as captain.
Nippon TV Tokyo Verdy Beleza: A Japanese women’s football club based in Tokyo, known historically as Yomiuri-Seiyu Beleza. Sawa began her senior club career with Beleza as a teenager.
2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or: The 2011 edition of FIFA’s annual awards for football players and coaches. Sawa became the first Asian player to win the FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year award at the ceremony.
Japan women's national football team: The national association football team representing Japan in women’s international competition. Sawa spent most of her international career with Japan and captained its World Cup-winning side.
Megan Rapinoe: An American former footballer who played as a winger for the United States women’s national team. Rapinoe faced Sawa in the 2011 final and scored in the penalty shootout.

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Birgit PrinzRelated: Sawa and Prinz each won the FIFA World Player of the Year award during the competition’s early growth.