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Mia Hamm
Mia Hamm (Mariel Margaret Hamm), 1972-, U.S. soccer player, b. Selma, Ala. The best all-around women's soccer player of her generation, she was perhaps most responsible for making women's soccer a significant American sport. A tireless forward, she played for the Univ. of North Carolina, leading th...
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soccer
soccer outdoor ball and goal game, also called association football or simply football. The first recorded game probably was that on a Shrove Tuesday in Derby, England, part of a festival to celebrate a victory over a contingent of Roman troops (AD 217). By 1175 the Shrove Tuesday soccer game was a...
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David Beckham
David Beckham (David Robert Joseph Beckham), 1975-, English soccer player known especially for the power and accuracy of his free kicks. After beginning to play on the Manchester United youth squad in 1991, he joined its regular team in 1993, debuted in his first professional game in 1995, and beca...
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Bobby Charlton
Bobby Charlton (Sir Robert Charlton), 1937-, one of the most celebrated of all English soccer players. Famous for his graceful athleticism, powerfully accurate kick, and sportsmanlike behavior, Charlton was (1954-73) a forward for Manchester United, making his pro debut in 1956. He survived the 195...
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football
football any of a number of games in which two opposing teams attempt to score points by moving an inflated oval or round ball past a goal line or into a goal. Differing greatly in their rules, these include soccer (association football) and rugby , in addition to the games covered in this artic...
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sports
sports athletic games or tests of skill undertaken primarily for the diversion of those who take part or those who observe them. The range is great; usually, however, the term is restricted to any play, pastime, exercise, game, or contest performed under given rules, indoors or outdoors, on an indi...
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Franz Anton Beckenbauer
Franz Anton Beckenbauer 1945-, German soccer player nicknamed der Kaiser. The only person to win the World Cup as both player-captain (1974) and coach (1990), he began his career at 14 on the Bayern Munich youth team. A player on the regular Munich squad (1963-76) and team captain from 1971, he d...
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Lamar Hunt
Lamar Hunt 1932-2006, American business and sports executive, b. El Dorado, Ark. One of the Hunt brothers—sons of Texas oil magnate H. L. Hunt—Lamar Hunt had significant business interests in oil and real estate, and was involved in 1969-70 with his brothers William Herbert Hunt and Nel...
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Pelé
Pelé , 1940-, Brazilian soccer (football) player. His real name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento. Perhaps the greatest player in the history of soccer, Pelé began playing at the age of 5 and joined the Santos team at 16. Playing inside left forward, he led his team to numerous championsh...
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Albert II
Albert II 1958-, prince of Monaco (2005-), grad. Amherst College (B.A., 1981). A member of the long-ruling Grimaldi family, he is the son of Prince Rainier III , upon whose death he succeeded to the throne, and Princess Grace , the former Grace Kelly. The prince, who trained in financial admini...
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