Ali Riley
A globe-trotting football captain who led New Zealand's national team with tenacity, becoming a standard-bearer for women's sport in her country.
Born 1987 (age 39)·New Zealand footballer·Birthday: October 30·Millennials
Biography
Ali Riley's career is a map of modern women's football. Born in Los Angeles to a New Zealand father, she carved her path at Stanford University, captaining the team to the pinnacle of college soccer. Her professional journey became an itinerary of the sport's growth: she won championships in Sweden, Australia, and the United States, a versatile and relentless left-back whose consistency made her a cornerstone for every team she joined. But her heart was with the Football Ferns, New Zealand's national team, which she chose to represent in 2007. As captain, she led with a quiet, fierce intelligence, appearing in multiple World Cups and Olympic tournaments, her longevity and leadership providing stability through generations of players. Off the pitch, Riley's articulate advocacy for equality and her work as a broadcaster have cemented her role as more than an athlete—she is a thoughtful ambassador who helped carry the game forward.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Ali was born in 1987, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Ali Was Born
The biggest hits of 1987
#1 Movie
Three Men and a Baby
Best Picture
The Last Emperor
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Ali's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1987Born
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1992Started school
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2000Became a teenager
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Could drive
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2005Could vote
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2008Turned 21
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2017Turned 30
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 39 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Captained the New Zealand women's national team (the Football Ferns) for many years, earning over 150 international caps.
- Won multiple domestic league titles across three different continents with clubs in Sweden, Australia, and the USA.
- As Stanford University captain, led her team to two NCAA College Cup semi-finals and one championship final.
- Represented New Zealand at four FIFA Women's World Cup tournaments (2011, 2015, 2019, 2023).
Did You Know?
She was born in Los Angeles and attended the same high school as actress Natalie Portman.
She is a published author, having written a children's book titled 'The Adventures of Koa and the Lava Monster.'
She worked as a sideline reporter for the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) broadcasts while still an active player.
She won the Swedish Damallsvenskan championship three consecutive times with FC Rosengård.
“I play for the fern on my chest and every girl watching.”
