U.S. Women’s star Carli Lloyd announces retirement from football
The USA’s second-most capped player won three Olympic medals and will play four more international friendlies before hanging up her boots for good.
Football
Just weeks after playing in her fourth Olympic Games at Tokyo 2020, U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team star Carli Lloyd has announced her retirement from playing football.
The attacking midfielder revealed on Monday (16 August) that she will play out the remainder of the season with National Women’s Soccer League team NJ/NY Gotham FC, as well as four U.S. Women's National Team (USWNT) friendly matches in September/October.
“Every single day I stepped out onto the field, I played as if it was my last game,” the 39-year-old said. “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."
Lloyd made her international debut in 2005 against Ukraine in Portland, Oregon.
She went on to become one of her nation’s greatest ever players, notching up 128 goals from 312 international appearances. She is the second-most capped player of all time, behind compatriot Kristine Lilly (354).
Lloyd played in 25 World Cup matches and 22 Olympic matches, and has also served as the captain. Lloyd was co-captain of the United States alongside Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe when they retained their Women's World Cup title in France last year.
The former Manchester City attacker bagged the game-winning goals in the gold medal matches of both the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Olympics. At Tokyo 2020 she scored twice in the USA’s bronze medal game win over Australia, in what was to be her final Olympic appearance.