Cap (football)
In football (soccer), a cap is an appearance for a national team. The term can be applied to any sport and any nationality of player, but is primarily used in the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland and United States.
The term dates from the practice in the early days of football in the UK of awarding an actual cap (meaning an item of headgear) to every player playing in an international match. The practice was first approved on 10 May, 1886, after a proposal made by N. L. Jackson, an Old Corinthian:
"That all players taking part for England in future international matches be presented with a white silk cap with red rose embroidered on the front. These to be termed 'International Caps'."
Actual caps are not usually given anymore (caps for friendly matches still exist), however the term "cap" for an international appearance has been retained.
The world record for caps is held by Kristine Lilly, the United States WNT forward and founding member of the WUSA. On 18 January 2006, she received her 300th cap. Some current leading holders of caps (as of 17 October 2005) are:
Contents |
Women
- 300 - Kristine Lilly, United States World Record holder (set on 18 January 2006)
- 266 - Mia Hamm, United States
- 262 - Julie Foudy, United States
- 239 - Joy Fawcett, United States
- 199 - Tiffeny Milbrett, United States
- 186 - Fan Yunjie, China (as of 23 March 2004)
- 186 - Hege Riise, Norway (as of 23 March 2004)
- 182 - Zhao Lihong, China (as of 23 March 2004)
- 182 - Brandi Chastain, United States
- 173 - Liu Ailing, China (as of 23 March 2004)
Men
- 174 - Claudio Suárez, Mexico World Record holder (set on 29 March 2006)
- 173 - Mohamed Al-Deayea, Saudi Arabia
- 170 - Hossam Hassan, Egypt
- 164 - Cobi Jones, United States
- 164 - Adnan Khalees Al-Talyani, United Arab Emirates
- 152 - Sami Al Jaber, Saudi Arabia
- 150 - Lothar Matthäus, Germany
- 146 - Martin Reim, Estonia
- 145 - Ali Daei, Iran
- 143 - Mohammed Al-Khilaiwi, Saudi Arabia
- 143 - Marko Kristal, Estonia
- 143 - Thomas Ravelli, Sweden
The United States MNT has the most men with 100 or more caps, with eight as of 25 September 2004.
References
- U.S. Soccer Federation - 300 Cap Count Down for Kristine Lilly
- FIFA story on Kristine Lilly's Caps
- FIFA - Men's Records and Facts
- RSSSF - Players with 100+ Caps (men)