The 22-year-old played every minute of New Zealand’s campaign that ended in the quarter-finals at the hands of gold medallists USA with her performance against five-times FIFA Player of the Year Marta in a gut-wrenching 1-0 loss to Brazil particularly impressive.
USA beat World Cup winners Japan in the final with Canada claiming bronze and those three teams supply nine of the BBC’s best 11, with six hailing from within the gold medallists’ ranks.
Great Britain fullback Steph Houghton is the only other player in the tournament team that didn’t finish on the podium.
Football Ferns coach Tony Readings says Percival’s recognition is well deserved.
“Ria has performed consistently all year and this is just reward for the contribution she has made to the team,” Readings says.
“This again shows the huge strides the Ferns have made on the world stage with our players now recognised amongst the world’s best.”
Percival will line up for USV Jena this season after helping fellow German Frauen Bundesliga club FFC Frankfurt to the UEFA Women’s Champions League final earlier this year.
BBC Team of the Olympic Women’s Football Tournament
Goalkeeper
Hope SOLO, United States
Defenders
Ria PERCIVAL, New Zealand
Christie RAMPONE, United States (Captain)
Azusa IWASHIMIZU, Japan
Steph HOUGHTON, Great Britain
Midfielders
Megan RAPINOE, United States
Desiree SCOTT, Canada
Carli LLOYD, United States
Forwards
Alex MORGAN, United States
Abby WAMBACH, United States
Christine SINCLAIR, Canada
Story courtesy of New Zealand Football.
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