Teenage striking sensation Ma Xiaoxu won both Golden Shoe and Golden Ball awards in the FIFA Under 20 Women’s World Championship in Russia. Her outstanding contribution throughout China’s campaign made her an obvious choice. In a remarkable 2006, she was also named Player of the Tournament at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, AFC Women’s Player of the Year and Asian Young Footballer of the Year.
The 18-year-old's unquestionable talent has now thrilled a worldwide audience, while her forceful personality and winning mentality make her a natural leader on and off the pitch. Blessed with superb vision and skills which complement her natural physical power, she was the tournament’s leading scorer with five goals.
The China captain led by example at Russia 2006, scoring many of her side's most important goals on the road to the final. She had the composure to score the penalty in China's opening group game against Finland and followed that with two against Nigeria. Her subsequent goal against Canada gave China top spot in Group B and a place in the last eight. In the quarter-finals, Ma Xiaoxu again scored in the 4-0 victory over Russia.
The 18-year-old rose to fame when she scored 10 goals to help China win the AFC Under -19 Women's Championship in April and, in doing so, qualify for Russia 2006. More recently, she scored five times in the AFC Women's Asian Cup to help ensure that China won the continental crown.
