Vivianne Miedema
A striker with a surgeon's precision, she became the all-time top scorer in the Women's Super League and a World Cup finalist for the Netherlands.
Born 1996 (age 30)·Dutch footballer·Birthday: July 15·Millennials
Biography
Born in the small Dutch village of Hoogeveen, Vivianne Miedema's footballing destiny was clear from her teenage years. She debuted for SC Heerenveen at 15, a prodigy whose intelligence and cool finishing set her apart. A move to Bayern Munich solidified her reputation before she truly exploded onto the global stage with Arsenal. In North London, Miedema wasn't just a goal scorer; she was the complete modern forward, combining a target player's strength with a playmaker's vision. Her record-breaking goal tally in England's top flight was a testament to ruthless efficiency rather than flash. On the international stage, she was the focal point of the Dutch team's golden generation, powering them to a stunning European Championship win in 2017 and a World Cup final in 2019. A serious knee injury in 2022 tested her resilience, but her move to Manchester City marks the next chapter for a player who has fundamentally shaped the women's game with her quiet, relentless excellence.
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.
Vivianne was born in 1996, 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 Vivianne Was Born
The biggest hits of 1996
#1 Movie
Independence Day
Best Picture
The English Patient
#1 TV Show
ER
Vivianne's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1996Born
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2001Started school
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2009Became a teenager
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Could drive
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
2014Could vote
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2017Turned 21
#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
2026Turned 30
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became the all-time leading scorer in the English Women's Super League.
- Won the UEFA Women's Euro 2017 with the Netherlands national team.
- Scored a hat-trick in the 2019 Women's World Cup quarter-final.
- Named PFA Women's Players' Player of the Year for the 2018-19 season.
Did You Know?
She holds a degree in journalism and often writes columns for Dutch media.
Her partner is fellow professional footballer Beth Mead, her former Arsenal teammate.
She is the youngest player, male or female, to score 100 goals in the Dutch Eredivisie.
She broke the WSL single-season scoring record with 22 goals in the 2018-19 campaign.
“I just love scoring goals. That’s the best feeling you can have on a football pitch.”
