NJ Native, Soccer Star Carli Lloyd Announces Retirement

DELRAN, NJ — South Jersey native and U.S. soccer legend Carli Lloyd announced her intention to retire on Monday after a career that saw her score 128 international goals, pick up 64 assists and become the second-most capped player in world soccer history.

Lloyd played in four World Cups (25 matches total), four Olympic Games (22 total), was twice named the U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year (2008 & 2015) and was twice named the FIFA Women’s Player of the Year (2015 & 2016). She and Mia Hamm (2001 & 2002) are the only two Americans to win FIFA Women’s Player of the Year twice.

“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.”

Lloyd’s international career began a few days before she turned 23 in July 2005, against the Ukraine in Portland, Oregon. She now has 312 caps, which is second all-time in U.S. and world history behind only Kristine Lilly (354). Lloyd is one of just four international soccer players to play 300 or more times for her country.

She played for five different head coaches on the U.S. Women’s National Team, and played full international matches with more than 100 different teammates.

Through her 312 caps to date, the USA has an overall record of 257-17-38, a winning percentage of 88 percent.

“Carli Lloyd is a true legend,” U.S. Women’s National Team 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.”

“Carli Lloyd’s amazing career is unmatched. She has been the face of women’s soccer nationally and in New Jersey for nearly two decades and inspired multiple generations of players to “play like Carli,” said Tammy Murphy, Club Chair and Majority Owner of Gotham FC. “She exemplified the right way to train, compete, and win. On behalf of the entire Gotham FC community, I want to thank her for her dedication and commitment to the sport. She played an incredibly important role in helping transform our club, and she’ll always be part of the Gotham FC family.”

Her 128 career goals are fourth all-time in U.S. history and tied for fifth all-time in world history, and her 64 career assists are sixth all-time for the USWNT. Although she has played mostly forward in the latter part of her career, she is the highest scoring midfielder in U.S. history. She has scored in 97 of her 312 caps.

While she may best be remembered for an historic hat trick in the first 17 minutes of the 2015 World Cup Final, Lloyd also scored in all three Olympic medal games in which she played, including the game-winners in 2008 and 2012. She scored twice in this year’s Bronze medal victory over Australia, the game that would turn out to be her final Olympic appearance.

“We couldn’t have made the impact we have without our incredible fans who have supported the National Team and helped bring this program to unprecedented levels of popularity and cultural importance,” Lloyd said. “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.”

She ends her career as the USA’s all-time top scorer in the Olympic Games with 10 goals, surpassing Abby Wambach. She also scored 10 goals in World Cup play, third only to Abby Wambach (14) and Michelle Akers (12).

Her 177 international games played after the age of 30 are also the most in U.S. history, two more than Christie Pearce Rampone.

Lloyd’s eight career hat tricks are tied with Hamm for the most three-goal games in WNT history. She is also the oldest player to score a hat trick for the USWNT, scoring against Panama on Oct. 7, 2018, at the age of 36 years, 83 days.

She is also the oldest player ever to lead the USA in scoring in a calendar year, having scored 16 goals in 2019 and ending the year at 37.5 years of age.

At the end of 2019, Lloyd passed 20,000 minutes played in a U.S. uniform, something achieved by just five other USWNT players – Lilly, Rampone, Julie Foudy, Hamm and Joy Fawcett. She currently has 21,293 minutes played for the USA, placing her fourth all-time.

Lloyd’s goal against Jamaica on June 13, scored after just 23 seconds, was the second fastest to start a match in WNT history and also made her the oldest player in USWNT history to score a goal.

The 39-year-old Lloyd isn’t exactly done yet, though.

Lloyd will close out her career with the U.S. Women’s National Team during a series of yet-to-be-announced friendlies that will take place in September and October.

She will also play out the remainder of the National Women’s Soccer League schedule as a member of NJ/NY Gotham FC.

“As I near the end of my career, being able to close it out in New Jersey is truly special,” Lloyd said. “I want to thank Gotham FC for continuing to push the barriers to make this club one of the best.”

Lloyd’s playing career began in New Jersey. She was a four-time All Big East Selection and three-time All-American when she played at Rutgers University in New Brunswick.

Her professional career began in Chicago, though, where she scored the first two of what would turn out to be nearly 50 goals scored throughout her professional career while playing for the Chicago Red Stars.

Lloyd’s other stops included Sky Blue FC the following season, followed by expansion side Atlanta Beat in 2011. Lloyd then joined the Western New York Flash in the newly formed NWSL.

Lloyd returned to Sky Blue FC, now NJ/NY Gotham FC, in a three-way trade involving the Houston Dash in 2018.Now in her third season, she is three games shy of making 100 NWSL regular season appearances.

“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,” Lloyd said. "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. 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.”