Alisha Lehmann
A Swiss forward whose blistering pace and social media savvy have made her one of the most visible and discussed players in women's football.
Born 1999 (age 27)·Swiss footballer·Birthday: January 21·Generation Z
Biography
Alisha Lehmann plays as a direct, pacy winger or forward for the Swiss national team, known for aggressive runs and taking on defenders. She developed in the Swiss system before moving to the English Women's Super League with West Ham United, where her potential translated into consistent threat. Subsequent transfers to Aston Villa and Leicester City chart her journey as a sought-after attacking talent in one of the world's toughest leagues. With a massive following on Instagram, she navigates attention that often focuses as much on her profile as her play, blending accessibility with boundary-setting. She represents a new generation for whom the game and its surrounding narrative are inextricably linked.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Alisha was born in 1999, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Alisha Was Born
The biggest hits of 1999
#1 Movie
Star Wars: Episode I
Best Picture
American Beauty
#1 TV Show
ER
Alisha's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1999Born
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2004Started school
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2012Became a teenager
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2015Could drive
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2017Could vote
#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
2020Turned 21
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 27 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Earned the Swiss Footballer of the Year award in 2023, recognizing her as the country's top female player.
- Has been a key attacking player for multiple clubs in the competitive English Women's Super League.
- Represents the Swiss national team as a regular selection, competing in European Championships and World Cup qualifiers.
- Amassed one of the largest social media followings of any active female footballer, broadening the sport's reach.
Did You Know?
She is in a relationship with fellow professional footballer Douglas Luiz, who plays for Aston Villa and the Brazilian national team.
Lehmann is an avid fan of fashion and has been featured in modeling shoots and magazine covers.
She holds both Swiss and Brazilian citizenship.
She has a pet dog named Akira who frequently appears on her social media.
“I just want to be known as a good football player. The rest is just part of my life.”
