Alex Morgan

Alexandra ‘Alex’ Morgan Carrasco (née Morgan) has the distinction of being one of the most prolific goalscorers in the history in the history of the the United States Women’s National Soccer Team (USWNT). At the last count, she had made 190 appearances for the Stars and Stripes, scoring 115 goals and delivering 45 assists. Morgan also co-captained the team, alongside Carli Lloyd and Megan Rapinoe, between 2018 and 2020.

Predominantly, but not exclusively, left footed, Morgan was only 20 when she made her debut for the USWNT in a 1-0 victory over Mexico in a friendly match at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah, Colorado on March 31, 2010. As the youngest member of the team, she earned the nickname ‘Baby Horse’, which reflected her youth, pace and direct style of play. Morgan remains a natural centre-forward but, down the years, has grown into versatile, well-rounded forward, who is equally at home on the wing as is in a more central position.

Morgan made her FIFA Women’s World Cup debut in 2011, scoring in a 3-1 victory over France in the semi-final and again in a 2-2 draw, after extra time, with Japan in the final. The USWNT eventually lost 3-1 on penalties on that occasion, but Morgan would play a leading role in winning the World Cup in both 2015 and 2019, receiving the Silver Boot on the latter occasion, after scoring six goals and delivering three assists. In between times, Morgan also won a gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics, scoring the winning goal in extra time in a 4-3 victory over Canada in the semi-final. Indeed, in 2012 as a whole, Morgan scored 28 goals in 31 matches, thereby becoming the youngest USWNT player to score 20 goals in a single season.