Carli Lloyd.Photo: Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty
Carli Lloydis going out with a bang!
Lloyd accomplishment on Thursday against Paraguay comes less than a month before sheretires.
“FIVE GOALS FOR CARLI FREAKING LLOYD! ,” the teamtweeted. “@CarliLloyd has tied the #USWNT single-game scoring record with her FIFTH goal of the night!”
The USWNT also encouraged Lloyd to “take it all in” before retirement, to which sheresponded, “Going to miss this .”
Her teammateMegan Rapinoeteased her on her Instagram Story. Rapinoe shared a photo where she looked noticeably puzzled and captioned it, “You sure about that retirement tho @carlilloyd??”
Megan Rapinoe.Megan Rapinoe/Instagram
“Great game, good to be out there with my teammates, and you know, overall good performance,” she added.
Lloyd has just three more matches with the USWNT ending in October. She will also finish out the remainder of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) season with the NJ/NY Gotham FC before her retirement.
“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,” she 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.”
Carli Lloyd.Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty
“I would like to thank U.S. Soccer for helping to provide the opportunities and memories that will last a lifetime. I am forever grateful to have represented the crest and to be able to play for my country for the last 17 years,” Lloyd said in her retirement statement. “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 called her teammates “family” noting that “the number of days we spend together on the road is more than the time we spend with our own families and significant others.”
“We have been able to share some unbelievable moments together on and off the field, and we’ve also shared some heartbreaking moments. I’m just thankful for both the highs and lows because that’s what has helped us grow as people, players and as a team,” she said. “I will always be thankful for the friendships I have formed along the way and the fact that I was able to play and compete with the best players in the world.”
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Carli Lloyd.Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty
Lloyd continued, “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,” the soccer superstar concluded. “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.”
source: people.com
