Carli Lloyd, the world’s second-most capped footballer of all time and one of the USA’s greatest players, has announced that she will retire later this year.
One of Lloyd’s most iconic moments came in scoring from the halfway line to complete a first-half hat-trick in the 2015 Women’s World Cup final against Japan.
The 39-year-old, who has scored 128 goals in 312 senior appearances for the USA, helped her country to retain the World Cup in France four years later, and featured on the scoresheet again at the Tokyo Olympic Games helping her team to win a bronze medal this summer. She is one of only four players to have surpassed 300 caps, and is second only to Kristine Lilly’s record 354.
In Japan, she provoked controversy by standing while her team-mates took a knee in the fight against racism. Off the pitch, she has fought hard in the battle for equal pay for the US women’s national team.
Overwhelmingly she will be remembered for her skill and big-game goals, which saw her named as the FIFA World player of the year in 2015 and 2016.
“When I first started out with the national team in 2005, my two main goals were to be the most complete soccer player I could be and to help the team win championships. Every single day I stepped out onto the field, I played as if it was my last game. I never wanted to take anything for granted, especially knowing how hard it is to get to the top, but even harder to stay at the top for so long,” said Lloyd, who has played at four World Cups, including three finals.
“Through all the goals, the trophies, the medals and the championships won, what I am most proud of is that I’ve been able to stay unapologetically me,” said the two-time Olympic champion.
“My journey has been hard, but I can honestly say I’ve stayed true to myself, to my team-mates, my coaches, the media and the fans throughout my entire career and that is what I am most proud of.
“Everyone sees the moments of glory, but I have cherished the work behind the scenes and the adversity that I’ve had to overcome to get to those glorious moments.”
Lloyd will feature in up to four more international friendlies across September and October and play out the remainder of the NWSL season in America with her club side NJ/NY Gotham FC, before then hanging up her boots.