Carli Lloyd

At 41 years old, Carli Lloyd has this physical status:

Carli Anne Hollins (née Lloyd; born July 16, 1982) is an American soccer player.

She is a two-time Olympic gold medalist (2008 and 2012), two-time FIFA Women's World Cup champion (2015 and 2019), two-time FIFA Player of the Year (2015 and 2016), and a three-time Olympian (2008, 2012, and 2016).

She currently plays for Sky Blue FC in the National Women's Soccer League and the United States women's national soccer team as a midfielder.

Lloyd scored the gold medal-winning goals in the finals of the 2008 Summer Olympics and the 2012 Summer Olympics.

She captained the United States to victory in the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, as well as appearing in the 2007, 2011, and 2019 FIFA Women's World Cups.

Lloyd has made over 280 appearances for the U.S. national team, placing her third in caps, and has the fourth-most goals and seventh-most assists for the team. During the United States' 5–2 win over Japan in the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup Final, Lloyd became the first player ever to score three goals in a FIFA Women's World Cup final and the second soccer player ever to score a hat-trick in any senior FIFA World Cup Final, after Geoff Hurst.

Lloyd scored three goals in the first 16 minutes of the final, with the first two occurring in the first five minutes of the game and within three minutes of each other.

She received the Golden Ball Trophy as the best player of the tournament and earned the Silver Boot for her six goals and one assist during the tournament.She previously played for the Chicago Red Stars, Sky Blue FC, and Atlanta Beat in Women's Professional Soccer (WPS).

In 2013, she was allocated to the Western New York Flash for the inaugural season of the NWSL and helped her team win the regular season championship.

After two seasons with the Flash, she was traded to Houston Dash prior to the 2015 season and then to Sky Blue before the 2018 season.

Her memoir, When Nobody Was Watching, was published in September 2016.

Early life

Born to Stephen and Pamela Lloyd, Carli was raised in Delran Township, a suburban community located in South Jersey about 20 minutes northeast of Philadelphia. Lloyd began playing soccer at age five. Of her exposure to soccer at a young age, Lloyd's mother, Pamela said, "At that age, it was coed, and Carli was hanging with the boys. She always loved it and showed a lot of ability from an early age, but she also has always worked hard." Lloyd has a brother, Stephen, and a sister, Ashley. Lloyd attended the opening U.S. match of the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup, which inspired her to play for the national team.

Lloyd attended Delran High School from 1997 to 2000 where she played soccer under the tutelage of the late Rudy "The Red Baron" Klobach. As a high school athlete, she was known for her exceptional ball control and skill at distributing the ball from the midfield. During her senior year, she scored 26 goals and served eight assists while captaining her team to an 18–3 record. The Philadelphia Inquirer twice-named her Girls' High School Player of the Year in 1999 and 2000. She was named to the Star-Ledger All-State First Team twice and received 1999 and 2000 Parade All-American honors. In 2000, she was named the Courier-Post Player of the Year and the South Jersey Soccer Coaches Association (SJSCA) Midfielder of the Year.

Lloyd attended Rutgers University from 2001 to 2004 and played for the Scarlet Knights women's soccer team under head coach Glenn Crooks. She was named First-Team All-Big East for four straight years – the first athlete at Rutgers to do so. She ended her collegiate career as the school's all-time leader in points (117), goals (50), and shots.

During her freshman season, Lloyd started every match and was the team's leading scorer with 15 goals for a total of 37 points. She was named to Soccer America's All-Freshman Team and was the first Rutgers player to earn Big East Rookie of the Year honors. As a sophomore, she was the team's leading scorer for the second consecutive season with 12 goals and seven assists for 31 points. The same year Lloyd was a finalist for the Hermann Trophy, widely considered the highest accolade for collegiate soccer players. During her third season with the Scarlet Knights, she scored 13 goals and served 2 assists for a total of 28 points and was named a Big East Academic All-Star. As a senior, she was a starter for 18 of the 20 games she played, scored 10 goals and served one assist. Lloyd was named the 2004 Big East Midfielder of the Year. She earned a bachelor's degree from Rutgers University in Exercise Science and Sport Studies.

In 2013, Lloyd was inducted into the Rutgers Hall of Distinguished Alumni.

Personal life

Lloyd lives with her husband, golfer Brian Hollins, in Mount Laurel, New Jersey. They married on November 4, 2016, in Puerto Morelos, Mexico.

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Club career

Lloyd played for W-League teams Central Jersey Splash in 1999, New Brunswick Power in 2000, and South Jersey Banshees in 2001 while still in high school. Lloyd played for the New Jersey Wildcats in 2004 with teammates Kelly Smith, Manya Makoski, Tobin Heath, and Heather O'Reilly in the summer. She made only one appearance for the club.

Lloyd's playing rights were transferred to the Chicago Red Stars in 2008 in anticipation of returning a top-flight women's professional soccer league to the United States via Women's Professional Soccer. She appeared in 14 of her 16 appearances for Chicago, totaling 1,313 minutes on the field, during the league's inaugural season. She scored two goals in her team's 4–0 victory over the Boston Breakers on April 25, one in the 23rd minute; the other in the Los Angeles Sol's 3–1 loss on August 2. With a 5–10–5 record, the Red Stars placed sixth on the season.

Lloyd was declared a free agent after the 2010 season and joined Sky Blue FC, the 2009 WPS champions, for the 2010 season. Lloyd slipped and broke her ankle during a match against her former team, the Chicago Red Stars, in April 2010. The injury kept her off the field for the majority of the season, but she did return for two games in September.

Lloyd signed with the Atlanta Beat for the 2011 season in December 2010. "She is a natural midfielder and someone who is purely focused on the game," Beat head coach James Galanis said of her signing. I have known her from her college days, and I've had the opportunity to train her and improve her game individually. She has made a lot of sacrifices off the track to fulfill her dreams, and she will bring a lot of discipline to the team." Lloyd in her ten appearances for the Beat, she scored two goals. In a 4–1 loss to the Boston Breakers on April 9, she scored the team's lone goal. During the 70th minute of a 2–2 draw against the Western New York Flash, she scored an equalizer for her second goal on the season. With a 1–13–4 record, the Beats won their first season in last place.

Lloyd became a member of the NWSL Player Allocation on January 11, 2013. Lloyd made her debut for the Flash on May 12, 2013 in the team's 2–1 victory over FC Kansas City after recovering from a shoulder injury early in the year. She scored her first goal in a match against her former club, Sky Blue FC, assisting the Flash in their 3–0 win. On June 28, Lloyd scored a hat trick, bringing the Flash to a 4–0 victory. She was named NWSL Player of the Week for her role.

Lloyd had ten goals in 2013 season, his third most goals scored on the season. The Flash finished first in the regular season with a 10–4-8 record and advanced to the playoffs. Lloyd scored both of the Flash's game-winning goals during the Flash's semi-final match against Sky Blue FC: one in the 33rd minute and the other in the second during stoppage time. Her two goals culminated in a 2–0 win over the Flash to the championship final against the Portland Thorns FC. During the final, the Flash were defeated 2–0.

Lloyd was traded to the Houston Dash in exchange for Becky Edwards, Whitney Engen, and a third-round pick in the 2016 NWSL College Draft, and he was released on October 16, 2014.

Lloyd joined Manchester City on loan for the FA WSL Spring Series in February 2017. Lloyd spent time in Manchester City, where they came in second place in the WSL Spring Series and the 2016-17 FA Women's Cup, with her scoring in the final. Lloyd's last appearance for the city came on May 21, when she was banned from elbowing Yeovil Town's Annie Heatherson in the chest. She was banned from playing for the remainder of her loan term, as a result of her three-match suspension.

Lloyd, Dennis Beckie by the Dash and Janine Beckie by the Dash, and the Chicago Red Stars and Sky Blue FC in a three-team trade on January 18, 2018. Lloyd scored 4 goals in 18 Sky Blue appearances in 2018. On the last day of the 2018 NWSL season, she scored the only goal in a 1–0 win over the Orlando Pride. It was Sky Blue's first and only victory of the season. She was selected to the 2018 NWSL Second XI.

International career

Lloyd worked with the US at the under-21 level before making the move to the senior team at the age of 23. She competed in Finland, Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden respectively as a member of the Under-21 team. She was an expert in the United States' 1–0 victory over Denmark in the first round of the 2003 Nordic Cup. She scored two goals and provided one assist when starting in every match at the 2004 Nordic Cup. She scored three times, including one goal, in the championship match against Norway the following year.

Lloyd made her first appearance for the United States women's national soccer team against Ukraine on July 10, 2005. On October 1, 2006, she scored her first international goal against Taiwan. Lloyd earned his third cap at the 2006 Four Nations Tournament. She made her first two appearances in international competition at the 2006 Algarve Cup, beginning with the group match against Denmark and the final against Germany. She appeared in 19 games, beginning with 13 years, and scored one goal.

Lloyd scored four goals in her first 24 games with the national team in 2007, after scoring once in her first 24 games. She was named Most Valuable Player tournament champion for the tournament as the tournament's top scorer. During a 6–1 victory over New Zealand, Lloyd logged her first brace for the national team.

Lloyd played in her first FIFA Women's World Cup tournament that year. The national team had not lost a game in regulation in nearly three years and was deemed a favorite to win the tournament in China going into the tournament. The United States defeated North Korea 2–2 in their first match of the tournament. With two goals from Abby Wambach, the team defeated Sweden in their next match on September 14 and won 2–0. On September 18, the United States compiled a 1–0 win over Nigeria's national football team.

The United States defeated England 3–0 in the quarterfinal match against England on September 22. Both three goals were scored within 12 minutes. In the semi-finals of what would be a tumultuous and game-changing match for the team, the United States defeated Brazil. Coach Greg Ryan decided to cut starting goalkeeper Hope Solo and instead started Brianna Scurry, a veteran goalkeeper who had appeared in three World Cups and two Olympics, but who had only appeared in few games since the 2004 Olympics. Brazil beat the United States 4–0. The loss forced them to a last-match against Norway, which they lost 4–1, securing their third position in the tournament. Lloyd appeared in three of the tournament's five games.

Lloyd appeared in 23 matches in which she competed during 2007. With nine goals and three assists, she ranked third on the team in scoring.

Lloyd scored the United States' only goal during stoppage time on a free-kick during the CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament's championship match. In penalty kicks, the United States eventually defeated Canada 6–5 in penalty kicks. During the 2008 Olympics, she scored two goals: the team's 1–0 victory over Japan on the tournament's group stage and another game-winning goal in extra time against Brazil, as the United States claimed gold.

Lloyd was named the Year of the United States Soccer Athlete of the Year along with Tim Howard. In all 35 games in which she participated in 2008, she was in the starting lineup, tying for the team's lead in matches started during the year. The United States' 2,781 minutes on the pitch ranked third on the team in minutes played. In her best scoring year on the national team yet, her nine goals and nine assists resulted in her best scoring year.

The US national team played in eight games in 2009, of which Lloyd was in the starting lineup in five of them. Lloyd scored the game-opening goal in the final, assisting the United States in clinching the championship title after defeating Germany 32-02.

Despite breaking her ankle in the fourth game of the 2010 WPS Season while playing for Sky Blue FC, she appeared in 15 matches for the United States in 2010, beginning with 14. Lloyd appeared in all five games at the 2010 CONCACAF Women's World Cup Qualifying Tournament, scoring two goals, including the United States' lone goal during the championship match. She earned five assists in the tournament and was named Player of the Match three times. The United States and Italy met in Italy on Sunday to compete for a spot in the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup against Italy after the United States finished third at the tournament. Lloyd scored three goals and five assists during the series, and he was on every minute of it. During the second leg of the series, she earned her 100th career cap.

Beginning with the Four Nations Tournament, the United States team was preparing for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup and training. In the first match loss to Sweden, Lloyd scored the lone goal for the United States. The United States defeated Canada 2–0 in the championship match, with Lloyd scoring the first goal and being named Player of the Match.

Lloyd scored three goals, including the first goal in the championship match; later named Best Goal for the tournament. For the second time in the tournament, she was named Player of the Match. The team won the cup, marking their eighth title triumph.

Lloyd scored the final goal in a 3–0 victory over Colombia for her first World Cup goal in the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup. She had an assist, a goal, and one successful penalty kick in the shootout against Brazil, advancing to the semi-finals against France. After ending the game tied 2–2, the United States switched to penalty kicks with Japan in the World Cup final. Lloyd mishit the ball over the crossbar with two teammates who failed to convert their penalty kicks. The United States captured the silver medal at the tournament.

In Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, the national team debuted in 2012 at the Olympic Qualifiers. With the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, and Mexico, the United States was placed in Group B. The United States defeated the Dominican Republic by 14–0 in their first match, with Lloyd scoring one goal and one assist. The United States defeated Guatemala 13–0 in their second match, with Lloyd finding the back of the net and giving an assist.

Between the United States and Mexico, the game to win the group and therefore the second place team from Group A took place. During the 2010 CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup, the United States had been defeated 21-0 by Mexico. With Lloyd netting her first career hat trick, the United States defeated Mexico 4–0 this time. She was later named Player of the match and was later named Player of the match.

The United States defeated Costa Rica in the semi-finals. The United States scored two goals in the second half, the second coming from Lloyd. For the second game in a row, the United States defeated Costa Rica 3–0, with Lloyd named player of the match. The United States defeated Canada 4–0 in the final match against Canada, advancing to the Olympic Games as CONCACAF champions. Lloyd had six goals and three assists in the tournament, as well as tying for the team's top goal totals.

Lloyd scored the go-ahead goal in the 56th minute of the team's first match against France, boosting the US to a 3–2 lead; the match ended with a score of 4–2. During the group stage, she scored her second goal of the tournament against Colombia.

Lloyd scored both American goals in the team's 2–1 victory in the Olympic gold medal match against Japan played at Wembley Stadium in London. Her four goals in the tournament ranked for the second highest on the US squad. She is the first player (of either gender) to score in two separate Olympic gold medal matches; her first appearance in Beijing was against Brazil in 2008.

Lloyd scored her 46th international goal in the 13th minute of a friendly against New Zealand in October 2013, defeating Julie Foudy, who finished her career with 45 goals.

Lloyd was recruited by head coach Jill Ellis to the 23-player roster for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada in April 2015. Lloyd captained the team through four of the team's matches, including the quarterfinals against China, where she scored the winning goal on her 200th cap, semi-finals against Germany, and final against Japan, where she finished the tournament on a four-game goalscoring streak that culminated in a hat trick in the game's first 16 minutes against Japan. Lloyd's last goal was praised by Reuters as "one of the most exciting goals ever seen in a Women's World Cup," and featured Lloyd catching Japanese goalkeeper Ayumi Kaihori off his line and chipping her almost from the halfway line.

She won the Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament for her efforts in leading the United States to a new third World Cup title and first since 1999. Lloyd's six goals were enough to crown Celia Sasic as the tournament's top scorer, Sasic took the Golden Boot for playing fewer minutes, and Lloyd was rewarded with the Silver Boot. Lloyd became the first woman to score a hat trick in a World Cup final, and the first male or female to do so after Geoff Hurst did so for England against West Germany in the 1966 final at Wembley. In addition, her third goal earned her a nomination for the Puskás Award, FIFA's annual award for Goal of the Year.

Lloyd played in her first two games of the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup, one against Thailand and two against Chile. So, she became the first woman to score in six straight Women's World Cup matches.

Lloyd earned her 300th cap in a friendly match against Sweden on April 10, 2021, making her third player to do so after Kristine Lilly and Christie Pearce. In a 4–0 victory over Jamaica at the BBVA Stadium on June 14, 2021, she became the oldest player at 38 years and 332 days to score for the United States, beating the record set by Kristine Lilly (38 years, 264 days).

She scored twice in a 4–3 victory over Australia in the bronze medal match of the 2020 Summer Olympics, defeating Abby Wambach. Lloyd announced that she would be retiring from the national team in 2021 following the Olympics.

She partnered with Teqball USA in early 2022, and one of her retirement goals is to make Teqball an Olympic sport by 2028. She also created the CL10 Soccer Clinic, a service to help people improve their soccer skills. In October 2022, she co-conducted the draw for the 2023 Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, which was hosted at the Aotea Centre in Auckland.

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