Former footballer Tim Cahill is the all-time leading goal scorer for Australia and the first Australian to score at a FIFA World Cup. His glittering international career saw Cahill earn 108 caps between 2004 and 2018. Famous for his shadow boxing goal celebration, Cahill has also played for clubs around the world, including Millwall, Everton, Melbourne City, New York Red Bulls and Shanghai Shenhua. As a powerful attacking mid-fielder who also occasionally played as a forward, he was world-recognised during his career for his high vertical leap and ability to head the ball in the penalty area.
Born in Sydney, Cahill began playing at Sydney United before moving to England to play professionally at Millwall, where he made his debut in May 1998. Cahill contributed to Millwall’s success in the following seasons, with the team reaching the 1999 Football League Trophy Final and winning the Football League Second Division championship in the 2000-01 season. He also famously helped the side reach their first ever FA Cup Final in 2004, winning the FA Cup “Player of the Round” award for his performance during the semi-final victory against Sunderland.
In 2004 Cahill moved to Everton for a fee of £1.5 million, and becoming Everton’s top goalscorer and the fan’s Player of the Season in his first year at the club. He remained at the club for 8 years, where he scored 56 goals in 226 appearances.
Cahill matched his success at club level with an equally impressive international career for Australia, scoring 50 goals at international level and the most goals by any Australian in the World Cup, and is widely considered as one of the finest footballers the nation has ever produced.