Dr Nadia Nadim, 37, Afghan Origin Footballer Transforming Lives On And Off Field
Dr. Nadia Nadim, a 37-year-old Afghan-born footballer, is transforming lives both on and off the pitch. After fleeing the Taliban as a child, she rose to become an international sports icon and a qualified medical doctor. Nadia’s journey from refugee camps to professional football and practicing surgeon has inspired many.
Nadia continues to impact communities through her work in sports, education, and advocacy, using her platform to champion refugee rights and empower girls around the world.
Born in Afghanistan, she plays for the Denmark national team and is considered the most influential Afghan female footballer of all time.
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She has won league titles in two countries, including the US league title in 2017 and the French league title in 2020-21. Nadim was named the Danish Footballer of the Year in 2016 and 2017.
Her father, an Afghan National Army (ANA) general, was executed by the Taliban. At 11, Nadim, with her mother and four sisters, fled Afghanistan and arrived in Denmark as refugees. She received football training in the refugee camp.
Nadia Nadim. Her father was killeddd when she was 11, she scored 200 goals, is studying to be a surgeon, speaks 11 languages, and is on the Forbes list of powerful women. pic.twitter.com/06qwqVFapF
— The Figen (@TheFigen_) June 30, 2025
Nadim attended medical school at Aarhus University and in 2020 assisted in surgery and qualified as a doctor in 2022.
In 2018, Forbes ranked her Number 20 in their ‘Most Powerful Women in International Sports lists”.
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In 2019, Nadia Nadim was named UNESCO Champion for Girls and Women’s Education and recognised for her role in promoting sport and gender equality.
