Alexandra Popp

Alexandra Popp-Höppe (née Popp; German pronunciation: [alɛˈksandʁa ˈpɔp]; born 6 April 1991) is a German professional footballer who plays as a striker for Frauen-Bundesliga club VfL Wolfsburg. Popp was named German Footballer of the Year three times, in 2014, 2016 and 2023, captained the German national team between 2019 and 2024, and is her country's third all-time top scorer. She is widely considered to be one of the most legendary and successful German footballers of all time.

Early life

Popp attended Gesamtschule Berger Feld in Gelsenkirchen, one of four facilities certified as "elite schools of football" by the German Football Association. She was the school's sole female pupil and could only attend courtesy of a special permit. She studied and trained with junior players of the German men's Bundesliga side FC Schalke 04. Popp left school after the 12th grade with a Fachabitur diploma.

Club career

Popp started her career at FC Silschede, playing there in mixed-gender teams until she reached the age limit of 14. Later she changed to 1. FFC Recklinghausen and played three years before joining the Bundesliga side FCR 2001 Duisburg in 2008. She had also been approached by French champions Olympique Lyonnais at the time, but chose Duisburg. Popp made her Bundesliga debut in September 2008 against Herforder SV and scored her first two goals three weeks later in an 8–0 win over TSV Crailsheim.