The USA WINS A Record-Extending Fifth Olympic GOLD Medal As They Defeat Brazil 1-0 In The Final Of Paris 2024 Women's Football.

The USA are back on the top of the global stage less than a year after suffering their worst-ever exit at the Women’s World Cup.

And with that, the football competitions at the Paris Olympics come to an end.

This is Team USA’s 35th gold medal at the Paris Olympics. They are second in the medal tally behind China, who have 37 golds.

The four-time world champions are now a record five-time Olympic champions following a 1-0 win over Brazil in the final at Parc des Princes on Saturday to get their hands on the elusive gold medal from FIFA President Gianni Infantino, thanks to a second-half strike from Mallory Swanson.

On the day she earned her 100th international cap, Swanson’s 57th-minute strike settled a closely fought clash at Parc des Princes, while legendary forward Megan Rapinoe and Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise watching on from the stands.

Outstanding goalkeeping from USA Alyssa Naeher which included diving to her right to make a one-handed save to stop an attempt from close range by Brazil’s Adriana proved to be the decisive moment in the final few minutes of the encounter.

The USA players, dressed in all-blue tracksuits, join hands as they stand on the top of the podium together. They raise their arms, thanking fans at the Parc des Princes, as they soak in the joy of being Olympic champions.

It’s the United States first Olympic gold since the London 2012 Games, and their first under new coach Emma Hayes.

The new-look USA of Hayes were unbeaten at the Paris Games and will end their campaign on top of the Olympic podium.

It is the first time the USA have taken the Olympic title in 12 years, their gold in Paris adding to those won in 1996, 2004, 2008 and 2012.

Credit goes to manager Hayes, who delivered the best in her first assignment.

Hayes only arrived from Chelsea in late May but has worked wonders in a short space of time with a team that a year ago was sent packing from the World Cup in the last 16 which saw them slipped form the FIFA rankings.

Brazil on the other hand, have to settle for a silver medal for a third time, having previously also finished second in Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008. Interestingly, all three times the South Americans lost in the final to the United States.

This means legendary captain Marta will retire from international football without an Olympic gold medal. It's her sixth and last Olympics aged 38 with a third silver medal.

The fans at the Parc des Princes gave Marta a huge round of applause as she received her medal.

Brazil’s players, who are wearing yellow and blue tracksuits, are awarded their silver medals.

A silver medal at the Paris Games is a terrific achievement for Brazil, who made it out of the group stage by the finest of margins. They had a superb run in the knockouts, beating hosts France in the quarterfinals and thrashing the reigning world champions Spain in the semifinals.

Unfortunately, they just came up short against the USA in this final.

Germany players in black and white tracksuit were awarded the Bronze medal. The medals are being handed from a tray that is made by the French luxury fashion house brand Louis Vuitton.

Having lost to USA in the semifinals, the Germans beat Spain 1-0 in the third-place playoff, thanks to Giulia Gwinn’s second-half penalty.

It’s the fourth bronze for Germany following a third-place finish in 2000, 2004 and 2008.