Renate Lingor

Born in Karlsruhe, she won everything there is to win in football. Often not once but several times. Unrivalled is the Best Indoor Player of All Time award she collected in 2014. It may not be her most important title, but it says a lot about the qualities that made her stand out.

Lingor's success was built on her outstanding technique, which allowed her to go past opponents in the tightest of situations. This was augmented by a sense of creativity and an eye for an inspired pass to open up space for her teammates. Yet her ascent to become a commanding player for the national team in the 2000s and instrumental in two World Cup titles was not simply down to her light-footed style of play. Lingor was also a fighter, which earned her the nickname Idgie, taken from a novel and movie character known for her hands-on, resolute and determined approach. This enabled her to shed an early reputation for being a prima donna and develop into an almost complete player who made her mark as a winner of the ball, too.