Women’s football: at 39, legend Carli Lloyd bids farewell to Team USA

Published on : 10/27/2021 – 09:38Modified : 10/27/2021 – 09:40

A 316^e and last selection and then goes. Iconic Team USA number 10 Carli Lloyd bid farewell to his national team on Tuesday, October 26, at the age of 39, in the United States’ 6-0 victory over South Korea in a friendly match.

The living legend of women’s football, who scored 134 goals for the United States, came out in the 65^e minute, replaced by another great Team USA figure, Alex Morgan, at Allianz Field in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Carli Lloyd then kissed each of her teammates before leaving the field while greeting the public.

“It’s been a long career, I don’t know if there is really a lot to say,” said the two-time world champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist with the United States after the meeting. “I want to thank all the fans, the skeptics, the critics, everyone – you pushed me to always go further and I am extremely grateful to you.”

“It has been an honor to play this beautiful sport. I hope you know that I gave everything I had for each of you,” she added.

Only player to have scored a hat-trick in the World Cup final

The striker, however, was unable to register a 135^e international goal, repeatedly prevented by South Korean goalkeeper Kim Jung-mi.

Carli Lloyd, who made her national debut in a match against Ukraine on July 10, 2005, is one of the greatest players in the history of women’s football. She is the only player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final, pulling off the feat in the first 16 minutes of the 2015 final, which they won 5-2 against Japan.

Two-time FIFA Player of the Year, in 2015 and 2016, Carli Lloyd also scored the winning goals in the 2008 Olympics finals, when the United States defeated Brazil (1-0 after extra time), and of 2012, his double ensuring the coronation at the expense of Japan (2-1).

With AFP