Archie Thompson

Archibald Gerald Thompson was born on October 23, 1978, in Otorohanga, New Zealand, to a New Zealand father and a Papua New Guinean mother, relocating to Australia in childhood. Beginning his senior football career with Bathurst '75 and Carlton SC, Thompson signed with Marconi Stallions before earning his first cap for the Australian national team (Socceroos) in 2001.

On April 11, 2001, in a 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Coffs Harbour, Thompson etched his name into football history forever. In Australia’s world-record 31-0 victory over American Samoa, Thompson scored an astonishing 13 goals, shattering the previous world record for the most goals scored by an individual in any senior international match in association football history.

Thompson represented Australia at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany—Australia’s first World Cup appearance in 32 years—as well as the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2007 AFC Asian Cup, amassing 28 goals in 54 caps. In club football, Thompson became the defining face of Melbourne Victory, scoring an incredible five goals in the 2007 A-League Grand Final against Adelaide United and winning three A-League Championships. He remains an iconic media analyst and football ambassador.