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The biggest moments in Carli Lloyd’s U.S. women’s soccer team career

Lloyd played in 47 major tournament games, including World Cups and Olympics, the most of any player in U.S. women's team history. Here's how we covered some of her most famous moments.

Carli Lloyd (second from right) stands with her husband Brian Hollins (right) across from members of Lloyd's family including her father Steve (right) and mother Pamela (second from right) during a pregame ceremony at Lloyd's last U.S. national team game. Lloyd was presented with a jersey bearing her name and the message "316 Caps," representing the number of national team games she played in her career.
Carli Lloyd (second from right) stands with her husband Brian Hollins (right) across from members of Lloyd's family including her father Steve (right) and mother Pamela (second from right) during a pregame ceremony at Lloyd's last U.S. national team game. Lloyd was presented with a jersey bearing her name and the message "316 Caps," representing the number of national team games she played in her career.Read moreJonathan Tannenwald / Staff

The time has come for the end of Carli Lloyd’s decorated soccer playing career.

Lloyd played her final U.S. national team game on Tuesday in St. Paul, Minn., and will play the last regular-season game of her club career with the NWSL’s Gotham FC on Sunday. Gotham also gave the Delran a homecoming game in the Philly area on Oct. 6 at Subaru Park. If Gotham makes the playoffs, when that postseason run ends, so will Lloyd’s playing days.

Here’s a look back at some of the standout moments in Lloyd’s career, when she shined on the sport’s biggest stages: the World Cup and the Olympics. Lloyd played in 47 major tournament games in her 17 years with the senior U.S. national team, the most of any player in program history.

» READ MORE: Carli Lloyd reflects on the cost of greatness as her career ends

2007 World Cup

Made her first World Cup team and started in three of her five appearances in the tournament.

2008 Olympics

Arrived on the big stage by scoring the winning goal in the gold medal game against Brazil. Also scored the winner in a group stage game against Japan.

2011 World Cup

Scored her first ever World Cup goal, in a group stage win over Colombia. Played every minute of the run to the final except the last 35 of the semifinal win over France. Scored during the penalty shootout win over Brazil in the quarterfinals; missed from the spot in the loss to Japan in the final.

2012 Olympics

After being benched by then-coach Pia Sundhage before the tournament, she came back when Shannon Boxx was injured in the opener against France, then from prominence to stardom. Scored the winning goal vs. France as the U.S. came back from 2-0 down to prevail 4-2; then scored in the next game against Colombia; then scored both goals in the gold medal game as the U.S. beat Japan, 2-1.

» FROM OUR ARCHIVES: Carli Lloyd goes from Jersey girl to world star | Phil Anastasia

2015 World Cup

Earned a place among the national team’s all-time legends with the first ever hat trick in a women’s World Cup final, ending the U.S.’ 16-year title drought. Also scored in the semifinals (and had an assist), the quarterfinals (in her 200th cap), and the round of 16. Won the tournament’s Golden Boot award as the scorer, the Golden Ball award as the tournament’s most outstanding player, and ultimately FIFA’s World Player of the Year award.

» FROM OUR ARCHIVES: Carli Lloyd’s fame rises to new levels after World Cup final heroics

2016 Olympics

Captained the team and scored in the first two group stage games, and from the spot in the shootout loss to Sweden. She could have had one more with six minutes left in extra time against Sweden – and it would likely have been a game-winner – but she was wrongly flagged offside. To her surprise, she won FIFA’s Player of the Year award for the second straight time.

2019 World Cup

Played in all seven games but started just one, the middle group stage contest against Chile. She didn’t hide her frustration about coming off the bench, but when she got the call to start she delivered with two goals. In the other contests, she was a second-half closer who helped the U.S. win every game of the tournament -- a feat the squad didn’t achieve in 2015.

» FROM OUR ARCHIVES: Carli Lloyd is as driven as ever as the U.S. women’s soccer team heads to France for the Women’s World Cup

2021 Olympics

Lloyd made the 18-player U.S. squad for the Summer Games in Tokyo. The Americans fell short in their attempt to become the first reigning World Cup champion to win the following Olympics, losing in the semifinals to rival Canada. But they won the bronze medal game over Australia, 4-3, with Lloyd scoring twice -- including the goal that became the game-winner.

The second of those goals was Lloyd’s 10th in Olympic competition, the most of any player in U.S. women’s team history.

» READ MORE: Carli Lloyd has ‘never been this happy’ as she aims for her fifth major title with the U.S. women’s soccer team

How Carli Lloyd ranks among the USWNT’s all-time greats

Lloyd’s place in U.S. women’s national team history has been earned not just with goals, but with longevity. Here’s how her career so far stacks up against other American legends.

World Cups

Most games played

Player
Kristine Lilly
Games
30
Years
1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007
Player
Carli Lloyd
Games
25
Years
2007, 2011, 2015, 2019
Player
Abby Wambach
Games
25
Years
2003, 2007, 2011, 2015
Player
Julie Foudy
Games
24
Years
1991, 1995, 1999, 2003
Player
Joy Fawcett
Games
23
Years
1991, 1995, 1999, 2003
Player
Mia Hamm
Games
23
Years
1991, 1995, 1999, 2003
Player
Christie Pearce Rampone
Games
19
Years
1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015
Player
Briana Scurry
Games
19
Years
1995, 1999, 2003, 2007
Player
Tobin Heath
Games
18
Years
2011, 2015, 2019
Player
Alex Morgan
Games
18
Years
2011, 2015, 2019
Player
Tiffeny Milbrett
Games
18
Years
1995, 1999, 2003
Player
Carla Overbeck
Games
18
Years
1991, 1995, 1999

Most goals scored

Player
Abby Wambach
Goals
14
Years
2003, 2007, 2011, 2015
Player
Michelle Akers
Goals
12
Years
1991, 1995, 1999
Player
Carli Lloyd
Goals
10
Years
2007, 2011, 2015, 2019
Player
Alex Morgan
Goals
9
Years
2011, 2015, 2019
Player
Megan Rapinoe
Goals
9
Years
2011, 2015, 2019
Player
Kristine Lilly
Goals
8
Years
1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007
Player
Mia Hamm
Goals
8
Years
1991, 1995, 1999, 2003
Player
Tiffeny Milbrett
Goals
7
Years
1995, 1999, 2003
Player
Carin Jennings-Gabarra
Goals
6
Years
1991, 1995
Player
Tisha Venturini-Hoch
Goals
5
Years
1995, 1999

Olympics

Most games played

Player
Carli Lloyd
Games
22
Years
2008, 2012, 2016, 2021
Player
Christie Pearce Rampone
Games
22
Years
2000, 2004, 2008, 2012
Player
Tobin Heath
Games
18
Years
2008, 2012, 2016, 2021
Player
Joy Fawcett
Games
16
Years
1996, 2000, 2004
Player
Julie Foudy
Games
16
Years
1996, 2000, 2004
Player
Kristine Lilly
Games
16
Years
1996, 2000, 2004
Player
Kate Sobrero Markgraf
Games
16
Years
2000, 2004, 2008
Player
Alex Morgan
Games
16
Years
2012, 2016, 2021
Player
Hope Solo
Games
16
Years
2008, 2012, 2016
Player
Mia Hamm
Games
15
Years
1996, 2000, 2004
Player
Kelley O’Hara
Games
15
Years
2012, 2016, 2021

Most goals scored

Player
Carli Lloyd
Goals
10
Years
2008, 2012, 2016, 2021
Player
Abby Wambach
Goals
9
Years
2004, 2012
Player
Alex Morgan
Goals
7
Years
2012, 2016, 2021
Player
Mia Hamm
Goals
5
Years
1996, 2000, 2004
Player
Tiffeny Milbrett
Goals
5
Years
1996, 2000
Player
Megan Rapinoe
Goals
5
Years
2012, 2016, 2021
Player
Angela Hucles
Goals
4
Years
2004, 2008
Player
Kristine Lilly
Goals
4
Years
1996, 2000, 2004
Player
Shannon MacMillan
Goals
4
Years
1996, 2000

World Cups and Olympics combined

Most games played

Player
Carli Lloyd
Games
47
Years
2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021
Player
Kristine Lilly
Games
46
Years
1991, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2007
Player
Christie Pearce Rampone
Games
41
Years
1999, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2015
Player
Julie Foudy
Games
40
Years
1991, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004
Player
Joy Fawcett
Games
39
Years
1991, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004
Player
Mia Hamm
Games
38
Years
1991, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004
Player
Abby Wambach
Games
36
Years
2003, 2004, 2007, 2011, 2012, 2015
Player
Tobin Heath
Games
34
Years
2008, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021
Player
Alex Morgan
Games
34
Years
2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021
Player
Hope Solo
Games
33
Years
2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016

Most goals scored

Player
Abby Wambach
Goals
23
Years
2003, 2004, 2007, 2011, 2012, 2015
Player
Carli Lloyd
Goals
20
Years
2008, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021
Player
Alex Morgan
Goals
16
Years
2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021
Player
Megan Rapinoe
Goals
14
Years
2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021
Player
Michelle Akers
Goals
13
Years
1991, 1995, 1996, 1999
Player
Mia Hamm
Goals
13
Years
1991, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004
Player
Kristine Lilly
Goals
12
Years
1991, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2007
Player
Tiffeny Milbrett
Goals
12
Years
1995, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2003
Player
Tisha Venturini-Hoch
Goals
7
Years
1995, 1999
Player
Carin Jennings Gabarra
Goals
6
Years
1991, 1995

Most titles won

Player
Christie Pearce Rampone
Titles
5
Years
1999, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2015
Player
Shannon Boxx
Titles
4
Years
2004, 2008, 2012, 2015
Player
Brandi Chastain
Titles
4
Years
1991, 1996, 1999, 2004
Player
Joy Fawcett
Titles
4
Years
1991, 1996, 1999, 2004
Player
Julie Foudy
Titles
4
Years
1991, 1996, 1999, 2004
Player
Mia Hamm
Titles
4
Years
1991, 1996, 1999, 2004
Player
Tobin Heath
Titles
4
Years
2008, 2012, 2015, 2019
Player
Kristine Lilly
Titles
4
Years
1991, 1996, 1999, 2004
Player
Carli Lloyd
Titles
4
Years
2008, 2012, 2015, 2019
Player
Heather O’Reilly
Titles
4
Years
2004, 2008, 2012, 2015
Player
Michelle Akers
Titles
3
Years
1991, 1996, 1999
Player
Cindy Parlow Cone
Titles
3
Years
1996, 1999, 2004
Player
Lauren Holiday
Titles
3
Years
2008, 2012, 2015
Player
Kate Sobrero Markgraf
Titles
3
Years
1999, 2004, 2008
Player
Heather Mitts
Titles
3
Years
2004, 2008, 2012
Player
Alex Morgan
Titles
3
Years
2012, 2015, 2019
Player
Kelley O’Hara
Titles
3
Years
2012, 2015, 2019
Player
Carla Overbeck
Titles
3
Years
1991, 1996, 1999
Player
Megan Rapinoe
Titles
3
Years
2012, 2015, 2019
Player
Amy Rodriguez
Titles
3
Years
2008, 2012, 2015
Player
Becky Sauerbrunn
Titles
3
Years
2012, 2015, 2019
Player
Briana Scurry
Titles
3
Years
1996, 1999, 2004
Player
Hope Solo
Titles
3
Years
200u, 2012, 2015
Player
Abby Wambach
Titles
3
Years
2004, 2012, 2015

Sources: U.S. Soccer, FBRef.com, Soccerway.com, and the NWSL Almanac.