By Amelia Lipcsei
One of the most influential U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team players of all time, Carli Lloyd, recently announced her plans for retirement— a shock to the majority of the soccer world. After a phenomenal 12 year career, in which the super-star scored 128 international goals, Lloyd made the difficult decision to step away from the sport that she dedicated her whole life to, stating that “to end my career knowing my family was able to be by my side and share this last chapter with me could not have been any more special” (U.S. Soccer).
During the Olympics, Lloyd hinted she would retire from the sport— expressing her desire to spend more time with her family. She later reiterated this idea following her announcement, explaining that “we will all have a lot more time to spend together now, and especially with my husband, Brian, who has been my rock and biggest support system for all these years” (ESPN).
However, even after retirement, Lloyd will remain one of the greatest players of all time. One of only four international players to play 300 or more times for her country, Lloyd’s rare ability to stay in top-shape over a long period of time allowed her to dramatically aid the women’s team to a third-place finish in the Tokyo Olympics. During the match against Australia, Lloyd scored the winning goal, ending the game in a 4-3 victory for the U.S.
To commemorate her long, brilliant career, Lloyd endeavors to “continue to support and cheer [the U.S.W.N] team on and continue to find ways to help grow the game and inspire the next generation” (ESPN). Although her retirement induces disbelief for many, Lloyd’s future holds a great deal of potential; perhaps she will serve as a coach in later years.