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Barbara Banda has etched her name in the annals of
Olympic history by becoming one of the all-time top scorers in the Women's Football Tournament. The Zambian striker's extraordinary achievements were further highlighted during Zambia's narrow 6-5 defeat to Australia at the ongoing Paris 2024 Olympics.
Despite the loss, Banda's incredible performance was a bright spot for her team, as she netted her third hat trick at the Olympics, elevating her total to 9 goals. This feat her 8th on the all-time top scorers list, making her the first Zambian player to join the ranks of the tournament's highest scorers.
Banda's journey to this remarkable milestone began at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where she made headlines by becoming the first player to score two consecutive hat tricks in the competition's history. Her ability to find the back of the net has continued to amaze fans and pundits alike. On Sunday, Banda showcased her scoring prowess once again, netting a hat trick in the first half of the match against Australia. Her first goal, scored just 39 seconds into the game, is now the second-fastest goal in the history of the Women's Football Tournament at the Olympics.
The Zambian Women's National Team captain now boasts seven international hat tricks, underscoring her status as one of the most lethal strikers in women's football. Banda's exceptional goal-scoring ability has been a key factor in Zambia's competitive performances on the international stage, and her presence continues to inspire her teammates and supporters.
As Zambia prepares for their final group B match against Germany at the Paris 2024 Olympics, all eyes will be on Banda to see if she can add to her impressive goal tally. Another goal could further solidify her place among the legends of the game.
Here's the updated all-time top scorers list:
1. Cristiane (Brazil) - 14 goals
2. Marta (Brazil) - 13 goals
3. Christine Sinclair (Canada) - 12 goals
4. Birgit Prinz (Germany) - 10 goals
5. Carli Lloyd (United States) - 10 goals
6. Vivianne Miedema (Netherlands) - 10 goals
7. Abby Wambach (United States) - 9 goals
8. Barbara Banda (Zambia) - 9 goals
9. Pretinha (Brazil) - 8 goals
10. Sam Kerr (Australia) - 7 goals
11. Melissa Tancredi (Canada) - 7 goals
12. Stina Blackstenius (Sweden) - 7 goals
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