Ali Krieger

Ali Krieger, born on July 28, 1984, is a distinguished American former professional soccer player renowned for her versatility as a right back and center back. Over her impressive career, she made more than one hundred appearances for the United States national team from 2008 to 2021, contributing to the team's triumph in two FIFA Women's World Cups.

Krieger's soccer journey began at Penn State University, where she excelled as both a midfielder and defender, earning first-team All-American honors. Her professional career took off in Germany with 1. FFC Frankfurt, where she played a pivotal role in securing the league title, national cup, and UEFA Women's Cup during her debut season in 2007-08. Notably, she was the only member of the U.S. national team competing overseas during her five years in Germany.

In 2013, Krieger returned to the United States to join the Washington Spirit in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She later played for the Orlando Pride and NJ/NY Gotham FC, where she captained her team to an NWSL Championship in her final season in 2023. Her exceptional performance earned her a spot on the NWSL Best XI four times.

Making her senior international debut in 2008, Krieger represented the U.S. in three FIFA Women's World Cups: in 2011, she played every minute of the tournament, reaching the final; in 2015, she was instrumental in the defense that held opponents scoreless for a record five hundred forty minutes, leading the U.S. to victory; and in 2019, she made three appearances as the team defended their title. Despite facing a serious knee injury in 2012 that sidelined her from the Olympic team, she made her Olympic debut in 2016, becoming the oldest first-time Olympian in U.S. women's soccer history.