Here’s what you need to know about the athlete blowing up stereotypes and dominating in the football world.

Alisha Lehmann’s childhood entry into football

Lehmann was born and raised in Tägertschi, Switzerland. She reportedly fell in love with football at the age of five when she joined her brother and two cousins in a casual game. She started her career with BSC YB Frauen in the Swiss League and got her first cap for the Swiss women’s national team in October 2017.

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In 2018, she signed with West Ham United and a year later her contract was extended after her goalscoring ability helped the club reach the Women’s FA Cup final. Lehmann joined Aston Villa at the start of the 2021-22 season.

She’s a bisexual role-model

The football sensation is widely considered not only a role model for the game, but also for women’s rights. Lehmann has been open about being bisexual and has had relationships with other professional footballers including her Swiss teammate Ramona Bachmann. She was also in a relationship with Aston Villa men’s midfielder Douglas Luiz until 2022, reports The Standard.

In an interview with Sky Germany, the athlete commented on the varied reactions to her bisexuality: “My generation grew up accepting everyone. Maybe the older generation is the problem. That will be over in 10 or 20 years.”

Lehmann and Bachmann spoke about their relationship in the BBC three-part documentary Britain’s Youngest Football Boss, which aired in 2018. The pair almost got married, but separated in 2021.

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Her Instagram following and brand endorsement power

The blonde beauty has more than 16 million followers on Instagram and offers fans glimpses into her life on the social media platform. From training days to kit launches and posing in her outfits of the day, Lehmann has become a leading female voice. Her powerful following has given her a platform to promote brands, with her reportedly earning as much as US$304,000 for sponsored posts.

Some of her brand endorsements include deals with fashion retailer Boohoo, Adidas and video games company EA Sports. According to Sports Pro Media, in September, Lehmann was unveiled as the first female ambassador of sports drink Prime.

She has celebrity fans too

In an interview on the DirTea Talk podcast, Lehmann spoke about getting a message from an “international celebrity” offering her money to enjoy her company for a night. She said that she turned down the offer, but kept the text message.

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Refusing to name the star in question, she added that she had previously bumped into them at an event. The striker said she was offered “100,000 Swiss francs to spend a night with him”. Lehmann joked that her immediate reaction was “no way. And just 100,000?”

She released a risqué calendar for 2024

Capitalising on her fame and good looks, Lehmann recently launched a 2024 calendar. She is selling signed limited-edition copies for US$186 and regular copies for US$60 a pop. Lehmann wears a sleek black bodysuit, black boots and gloves in the calendar, of which only 700 limited-edition versions are available.