Carli Lloyd made history on Saturday, becoming just the third player to record 300 caps for the USWNT, captaining her side on the landmark day in a friendly against Sweden. Only Kristine Lilly and Christie Rampone have appeared for the U.S. more.
Congratulations, @CarliLloyd! pic.twitter.com/SbtKFNWk0U— U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) April 10, 2021
Lloyd, who has played everything from midfield to forward, started as the central striker in Vlatko Andonovski’s 4-3-3 on Saturday. Andonovski is Lloyd’s fifth USWNT coach to play for dating back to her international debut in 2005.
Lilly holds the record for most international appearances — man or woman, regardless of nationality — with 354 caps, a record that just four years ago we said would never be broken. While Lloyd, 38, would still need to play at least two or three more years to come close to that mark, you can never count her out, even if she’s suggested she’ll retire after this summer’s Olympics.
If Lloyd is selected for the Olympics, she could overtake fellow Jersey girl Rampone for second on the USWNT appearance list. Rampone appeared in 311 matches.
No active player has more international appearances than Lloyd, with just her former USWNT teammates ahead of her on the all-time list. Canada’s Christine Sinclair, who owns the record for most international goals, is still going with 296 caps and could soon become the first non-American to hit the 300-cap milestone. The only other non-American in the top 10 in most appearances is China’s Pu Wei, who retired seven years ago.
A message from the Queen of Caps herself, @KristineLilly ⚽️ #Carli300 pic.twitter.com/qMDrrO1Tv2
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) April 10, 2021
Regardless of how much longer Lloyd plays, she’s already had one of the best international careers of anyone who has ever played. She’s won two Women’s World Cups and two Olympic gold medals, plus in 2015 she was named the best player at the Women’s World Cup and FIFA World Player of the Year.
No one will ever forget her goal from midfield against Japan in the 2015 Women’s World Cup final.
