After becoming the first player to score back-to-back hat-tricks at the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament at Tokyo 2020, Barbra Banda has written a new page into the record books. In the rip-roaring 6-5 defeat to Australia at Paris 2024, she became the first woman to score three hat-tricks at the tournament. Prior to the Games, she spoke to FIFA about the records she’s broken and her burning desire to break even more.

“Football is a game of chances so, if I have the opportunity to have another record, then I definitely have to utilise that opportunity wisely.”

Barbra Banda is making no secret of her ambitions just days away from competing in her second Women’s Olympic Football Tournament at Paris 2024. At just 24, Zambia’s captain has already amassed an array of eye-catching individual achievements.

In 2018, she became the first Zambian player to join a European club when she signed for Spanish team Logrono. At Tokyo 2020 – in the Zambia women’s national team’s maiden appearance at the Games – she then became the first player to score hat-tricks in back-to-back Olympic matches.

“Teamwork helped me score all those goals. I was never going to do that on my own”, she told FIFA in an exclusive interview.

Banda also had the honour of scoring the 1,000th goal in the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ at Australia & New Zealand 2023. She netted from the penalty spot in a 3-1 group-stage win over Costa Rica – the Copper Queens’ first victory in a World Cup.

It’s not beyond the realms of possibility that another milestone could follow at Paris 2024. A total of 454 goals (excluding penalty shootouts) have been scored at the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament. With the 500-mark within sight, that could be enough to give ideas to Banda who, after signing for Orlando Pride last March, became the first Zambian to score in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). In fact, she tops the league’s scoring charts with 12 goals in 12 outings for the club where her idol, Marta, also plays.

Check out our interview with Barbra Banda below, in which she talks about linking up with the Queen of Football, her quest for records and her role as a pioneer.

Barbra, you’ve had a great Tokyo 2020 tournament from a personal point of view, scoring two hat-tricks. What are your memories from your first Olympics?
Barbra Banda: We couldn’t explore that much because of Covid so it was difficult but, when it comes to the games, the experience was awesome. It’s something that I will always remember. About me scoring… Teamwork helped me score all those goals. Those two hat-tricks are all about the team. I was never going to do that on my own.

But I don’t want to look on the past. I want to look forward and focus maybe on creating other records. You know, football is a game of chances. So, if I have the opportunity to have another record, then I definitely have to utilise that opportunity wisely. I’m so excited and happy to be at my second Olympics. It’s every person’s dream to play at that level. To represent my country makes me happy.

Last year, you also scored the 1000th goal at the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Was it one of the records you were trying to achieve?
I’m very grateful for that goal. I remember everyone in that game was just waiting to see who was going to score it [the 1000th goal]! And it came to me. I just have to appreciate God for that. But I still want to do more. As I said, if I have the opportunity and chance to break a lot of records, then I definitely will.

You’ve been on top form with your new club, Orlando Pride. How much are you enjoying life there?
I think that in the last few months, I’ve coordinated so well with Orlando Pride. They welcomed me and I always feel at home there. The staff and the players have really helped me fit in as quickly as possible and adapt to their culture, to the kind of football they want us to play. It has really worked for me because everyone is friendly, we encourage each other. This is why it looks like I’ve settled in so well so quickly.

How does it feel to play daily with the Queen of Football, Marta?
(She smiles) Marta is a legend. I have so much respect for her. I’ve looked up to her and admired her so much since when I was young, and I’ve learned so much with her as a team-mate. Despite her age, she’s still competing at such a high level. It still gives me the motivation to push harder, to work extra hard. She’s been my idol for quite some time and seeing her doing what she is doing is incredible.

You’ve grown up idolising Marta, but you also are an inspiration to young people. When we talk about women’s football in Africa, your name is one that comes to mind, along with Asisat Oshoala, Thembi Kgatlana and Ajara Nchout…
All those players that you’ve mentioned are incredible. They are doing so well with their clubs and national teams. They’re determined players and very hard working. They make people talk about South Africa, Nigeria and Cameroon. We are trying by all means to put our continent on the map and this is why we are training so hard. We are doing what we love, with the biggest passion. Women’s football in Africa is really developing now and a lot of clubs are turning to African players. Once we are representing our countries very well, then we attract a lot of attention.

You were the first Zambian player to move to Europe, to Spain before going to Shanghai Shengli in China. What is it like to be a pioneer and discover new cultures?
As a player, you need to pick up every challenge that comes to you. Moving to Spain was a very big challenge for me but, as a player, you’ve got to keep performing to attract people. You have to challenge yourself and set a target for yourself. You have to fit in and it’s not easy. So, you have to be mentally and physically prepared, you just have to trust yourself and have faith. And you need to improve yourself and adapt.

At Paris 2024, Zambia will compete against teams with contrasting styles. What do you make of your opponents?
To be honest, it is a tough group. Looking at the record that USA, Germany and Australia have… They’ve been there before, they’ve played a lot of games at that level. For us it’s just the second time [at the Olympics]. Yes, it is a tough group, but I believe that if you want to be the best, you have to beat the best. We are not just going there to participate, we are going there to compete. We are going to try and do our best. We need to do more than what we did last time [at Tokyo 2020].

The friendly against New Zealand [a 1-1 draw on 13 July] was a good chance for us to assess the team. It wasn’t a bad result and I think the team is in good shape and everyone is ready for the Olympics.

To conclude, if you had to create your five-a-side team with the best players in the world, who would make it?
Wow, that’s so difficult! (She thinks for a while) I would start with Marta. Then I’ll go with [Nigeria’s Asisat] Oshoala. With me, that’s three. Honestly, I love playing with Rafa [Rafaelle] from Brazil. I know Marta can play in midfield, so I would put Rafa at the back, then Marta in midfield, me up front, also Oshoala and… [Sophia] Smith. That’s it!