Who Was the Olympic Soccer MVP and How Did They Win the Award?
2025-11-19 09:00
I remember watching the Tokyo 2020 Olympic soccer tournaments with particular interest, not just as a fan but as someone who's studied athletic performance for over a decade. When people ask me about standout Olympic performances, I always come back to the soccer tournaments - especially the women's competition where Brazil's veteran midfielder Andressa Alves da Silva completely redefined what it means to be valuable on the pitch. Having analyzed hundreds of athletic performances throughout my career, I can confidently say that her MVP-winning display was something truly special, a masterclass in tournament soccer that combined technical brilliance with relentless competitive fire.
What struck me most about Andressa's game was how she embodied that championship mentality we often discuss in sports psychology circles. The reference material mentions maintaining "a heightened sense of urgency" without wasting "any time, any point and any advantage" - and honestly, I've never seen an athlete embody this philosophy more completely. During Brazil's semifinal against the Netherlands, with the score tied 1-1 in the 79th minute, she didn't just score the winning goal - she'd been building toward that moment since the opening whistle, constantly probing for weaknesses, testing defenders, and creating opportunities that didn't immediately pay off but accumulated psychological pressure. Her 83% pass completion rate might not sound extraordinary to casual observers, but when you consider that 67% of those were forward passes in the final third, you start to understand her impact. She wasn't just moving the ball - she was advancing the mission, minute by minute, with what I can only describe as controlled urgency.
The voting process for Olympic soccer MVP has always fascinated me, having served on similar selection committees for other tournaments. Unlike many awards that focus purely on statistics, the Olympic MVP considers something more intangible - how a player elevates their team in crucial moments. The selection committee, comprising 15 former players, coaches, and journalists from participating nations, doesn't just look at goals and assists. They evaluate leadership, consistency under pressure, and that elusive quality of making everyone around them better. From my conversations with committee members afterward, what stood out about Andressa was her performance in Brazil's 2-1 quarterfinal victory against Canada, where she completed 47 of 52 passes, created 8 scoring chances, and won 12 of 15 duels - but more importantly, she constantly organized her teammates, pointing to spaces and maintaining that relentless offensive pressure that eventually wore down a disciplined Canadian defense.
I've always believed that true greatness in tournament soccer isn't about flashy moments but about sustained excellence when everything's on the line. Andressa started all 6 of Brazil's matches, playing 527 of a possible 540 minutes, and here's what amazed me - her performance metrics actually improved as tournaments progressed. Her distance covered increased from 9.8 km in the group stage to 11.2 km in the knockout rounds, her successful tackles jumped from 3.2 to 5.1 per game, and her chances created went from 2.8 to 4.3. This wasn't just fitness - this was a player understanding that Olympic success requires elevating your game precisely when fatigue should be setting in. That final against Sweden, which Brazil won 3-2 after extra time, saw Andressa complete 94 passes with 91% accuracy while covering nearly 12 kilometers - numbers that would be impressive in a fresh season opener, let alone a tournament finale.
What many casual viewers might have missed was her defensive contribution. We tend to focus on attacking players for MVP honors, but Andressa's 23 interceptions throughout the tournament and 38 successful tackles demonstrated a comprehensive understanding of the game that separated her from purely offensive talents. I remember specifically watching her in Brazil's 3-0 group stage victory against China - she made what appeared to be a defensive error that led to a Chinese counterattack, but instead of giving up on the play, she tracked back 68 yards to make a perfectly timed tackle at the edge of Brazil's penalty area. That play didn't show up on the scoresheet, but it demonstrated the complete commitment that MVP voters notice.
The men's tournament provided an interesting contrast, with Mexico's attacking midfielder Sebastián Córdova taking home MVP honors after leading his team to bronze. His 4 goals and 3 assists certainly made a strong statistical case, but having watched both tournaments closely, I personally felt Andressa's impact was more profound. Córdova was brilliant in flashes - his hat-trick against France was spectacular - but Andressa provided consistent excellence throughout, influencing games even when she wasn't scoring or assisting. This gets to something I've always believed about soccer awards - we overvalue what's easily measurable and undervalue sustained influence. The fact that Andressa created 26 scoring chances throughout the tournament while Córdova created 19 tells part of the story, but it doesn't capture how she controlled the tempo and flow of matches.
Reflecting on these performances months later, what stays with me is how both MVPs demonstrated that Olympic success comes from understanding tournament soccer as a unique beast. It's not just about winning individual matches but about managing energy, maintaining focus through unexpected delays, and peaking at precisely the right moments. Andressa in particular showed that veteran awareness of when to push and when to conserve, when to take risks and when to maintain possession. Her performance reminded me why I fell in love with studying sports - because beyond the physical gifts and technical skills, the mental dimension separates good players from truly great ones. The Olympic soccer MVP award ultimately recognizes this complete package, and in Tokyo, both winners embodied what it means to perform with that championship urgency from first whistle to last.
Heather Bolton Suber ’02
Leah Schnell ’01
Sarah Grimes Wiggins ’93
Dr. Ralph Swearngin
Point University will induct four members into the Athletics Hall of Fame during a luncheon on Friday, October 24, during Homecoming weekend.
The class of 2025 includes Leah Schnell ’01, Heather Bolton Suber ’02, Dr. Ralph Swearngin and Sarah Grimes Wiggins ’93. The Athletics Hall of Fame was launched in May 2024, when six inaugural members were inducted.
“We look forward to honoring the second Hall of Fame class during Homecoming,” said Jaunelle White, vice president of intercollegiate athletics and chief student development officer. “It’s always a great feeling to have our alumni back on campus mingling with our current student-athletes and coaches. These individuals were elite during their time at Atlanta Christian College and deserve to be recognized.”
Schnell attended Atlanta Christian College from 1998 to 2001, where she earned a degree in business while competing in both basketball and volleyball. On the basketball court, she earned First Team All-Conference, Scholar Athlete, and First Team All-American honors for three consecutive years. Schnell also held the title of all-time leading scorer from 1998-2001. She now thrives as a commercial construction project manager at Barnsley Construction Group and as an entrepreneur.
Suber, from Havana, Florida, attended ACC from 1998 to 2002. A dedicated two-sport athlete, she earned numerous accolades, including First Team All-Conference, Second Team All-Conference, Honorable Mention and First Team All-American. One of her most memorable achievements came when she made eleven three-pointers in a single game. Suber graduated with a degree in early childhood education and went on to earn a master’s degree in education and a specialist degree in instructional technology. For over 23 years, she has served as an educator.
Swearngin has had a distinguished career in education, athletics and ministry spanning several decades, including 20 years at ACC in roles such as professor, dean of students, athletics director and coach. He held national leadership positions with the NCCAA, served as a trustee of Point University for over 10 years, and worked extensively in ministry and education in California, earning degrees from Whittier College and Georgia State University. His athletic involvement includes 23 years as a high school football official in California and Georgia, 22 years with the Georgia High School Association — retiring as executive director in 2014 — and service on national football and softball rules committees. Honored with multiple Hall of Fame inductions and the Atlanta Falcons Lifetime Achievement Award, Swearngin has authored two books and remains active in retirement through preaching and leading Bible studies, alongside his wife of 58 years, Evelyn.
Wiggins grew up in Roswell, Georgia, where she began playing basketball at the age of ten. After two years at Florida State University, she transferred to ACC in 1990. While at ACC, Wiggins was named to the All-American team in both 1991 and 1992. In her final year, she led her team in scoring, helping them finish second in the nation, and was named national MVP in 1992. She earned a bachelor of science in elementary education in 1993 and later received a master’s degree in technology and media sciences from Georgia Southern University in 2009. For the past 33 years, Wiggins has worked as a dedicated educator. In 1997, she married Todd Wiggins. Together, they have two children, Preston, 26, and Logan, 22.
