MICHELLE AKERS , 33 [Midfield]

An original member of the U.S. national team, Michelle Akers scored the first goal in the squad's history in a 2-2 tie with Denmark in 1985. But her most memorable goal came at the 1996 Olympics. The U.S. was 14 minutes from elimination, trailing Norway 1-0 in the semifinals, when a Norwegian defender handled the ball in the box. Penalty kick. Her muscles aching, Akers, who suffers from chronic fatigue syndrome, turned to coach Tony DiCicco and said, "I want it!" DiCicco nodded. The crowd of 64,196 rose to its feet. "I was thinking, This will forever be remembered in the history of soccer," Akers recalls. "So I just put my head down and pounded it. I knew it would go in." It did. And after Shannon MacMillan scored the game-winner in overtime, Akers was spirited off the field -- not by her teammates but by U.S. trainers, who hooked up the deliriously weak midfielder to an IV. The U.S. went on to win the gold medal, and Akers sat out most of 1997 recovering. Now the grande dame of American soccer is back, promising to find a final burst of energy for the World Cup and the 2000 Olympics before hanging up her boots.

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