Simone Laudehr
A dynamic German midfielder whose thunderous extra-time goal sealed the 2016 Olympic gold, capping a career of big moments for club and country.
Born 1986 (age 40)·German footballer·Birthday: July 12·Millennials
Biography
Simone Laudehr's legacy in German football is defined by moments of decisive brilliance. A versatile and tenacious midfielder, she could dominate the center of the park or wreak havoc on the wing with her physicality and powerful shot. Her career with FCR 2001 Duisburg and later 1. FFC Frankfurt was decorated with domestic titles and deep runs in the UEFA Women's Champions League. But it was on the international stage where she authored her most iconic chapter. A fixture in the German national team for over a decade, Laudehr scored in the 2007 World Cup final, though Germany fell to Brazil. She then provided the ultimate redemption nine years later in Rio, rising to meet a cross in the 2016 Olympic final against Sweden and powering home the header that secured Germany's first Olympic gold in women's football. That goal, scored in the second period of extra time, was the perfect culmination of a career built on resilience and a knack for rising to the occasion.
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.
Simone was born in 1986, 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 Simone Was Born
The biggest hits of 1986
#1 Movie
Top Gun
Best Picture
Platoon
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Simone's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1986Born
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1991Started school
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1999Became a teenager
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Could drive
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2004Could vote
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
2007Turned 21
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2016Turned 30
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 40
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Scored the gold medal-winning goal in the 2016 Olympic final for Germany.
- Won the UEFA Women's Euro in 2013 with the German national team.
- Scored in the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup final.
- Won multiple Frauen-Bundesliga titles and DFB-Pokal trophies with FCR 2001 Duisburg and 1. FFC Frankfurt.
Did You Know?
She announced her retirement from professional football in 2019.
Her Olympic gold-medal-winning goal against Sweden came in the 122nd minute of play.
She was known for her versatility, playing both central midfield and winger positions.
“A goal is just the final touch; the real work is in the midfield battle.”
