The two-time FIFA World Player of the Year will hang up her boots at the end of her National Women’s Soccer League season with NJ/NY Gotham FC and don the Stars and Stripes shirt for the final time in October.
The second-most capped player in world football, Lloyd has enjoyed an illustrious career, glittering with trophies and accolades.
During her time with City between February and June 2017, she helped Nick Cushing’s side to FA Cup glory – scoring in the Final at Wembley – and a Champions League semi-final.
She netted three crucial goals in 11 appearances, including two match-winning efforts on the European stage – one a memorable strike to defeat heavyweights Lyon on their own patch.
Captaining her country in her latter years, Lloyd represented the USWNT across three different decades – at four World Cups and in four Olympic Games.
She played in 25 World Cup matches (lifting the trophy twice) and 22 Olympic matches (earning two gold medals), passing Kristine Lilly for the most games played for a USA player in world championship events.
Of her 312 caps, she has won 257 games and scored 128 goals in total, standing as their all-time highest-scoring midfielder and fourth-highest scorer.
Lloyd will be best-remembered for her 17-minute hat-trick in the 2015 World Cup Final, in which she scored a goal from inside her own half. She would claim the Golden Ball as Player of the Tournament.
She also scored in the gold medal games at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, and a brace in the bronze medal victory over Australia this summer.
Reflecting on her news, Lloyd spoke of her pride.
“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.
“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.
“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.
“We are both looking forward to starting this next chapter of our lives without my everyday grind of training and playing, but I will most likely need to another outlet for my competitiveness! Perhaps that will be golf?
“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.
“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.”
In celebration of her USWNT career, the Stars and Stripes will play four friendly matches in September and October, which will serve as Lloyd’s final games for her country.
Everyone at Manchester City wishes Carli the best of luck in her retirement.
