Carli Lloyd announces plan to retire after final games with WNT, will finish season with NJ/NY Gotham FC

Carli Lloyd has been a staple on the U.S. women’s national soccer team for 17 years. And after a storied career as one of the greatest soccer players of all time, Lloyd has decided by the end of the year she will hang up her cleats.

“I would like to thank U.S. Soccer for helping to provide the opportunities and memories that will last a lifetime,” Lloyd, 39, said in a statement shared by the team’s governing body. “I am forever grateful to have represented the crest and to be able to play for my country for the last 17 years. I will continue to support and cheer this team on and continue to find ways to help grow the game and inspire the next generation.”

Lloyd has scored an incredible 128 international goals — tied with Germany’s Birgit Prinz for fifth all-time in the world — over 312 games with the WNT to date. The WNT has gone 257-17-38 over that span and has won two World Cup titles, two Olympic gold medals and a bronze medal with her.

She holds the record for most games played in world championship events in a WNT uniform (25 World Cup games, 22 Olympic games) and is the team’s all-time leading scorer in Olympic games (10 goals). In fact, two of Lloyd’s most noteworthy goals were the game winners that secured Team USA’s gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Games and the 2012 London Games. In Tokyo this last Olympic cycle, she scored two goals in the bronze-medal game, which helped propel Team USA over Australia.

“Carli Lloyd is a true legend,” current WNT head coach Vlatko Andonovski said. “Her career was unique, and her success on the field is something all current and future National Team players should aspire to achieve. The way she approached her everyday training and career as a professional is truly impressive and I’ve been honored to coach her.”

Lloyd also holds the record for most international goals in the women’s game for any player over 30 years old (92).

“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. My journey has been hard, but I can honestly say I’ve stayed true to myself, to my teammates, my coaches, the media and the fans throughout my entire career and that is what I am most proud of,” Lloyd, who’s played under five different head coaches and alongside more than 100 different teammates, said.

“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.”

The veteran plans to play four more games with the WNT through September and October, still to be announced, as well as finish out her season with the NWSL’s NY/NJ Gotham FC — her professional club career has lasted 12 years — before calling it a career. The last game of Gotham FC’s season is scheduled for Oct. 31.

“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,” Lloyd said. “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.

“I’ve heard many players say they want to leave the game better than they found it, and I think that’s the case for sure. I know this team is in good hands on the field and that the fans will continue to support our team in the future.”