What were Abby Wambach's 3 biggest achievements with the USWNT?

What a career it has been for Wambach, but what are her three biggest achievements?

By Roger Gonzalez

Oct 27, 2015 at 4:14 pm ET • 2 min read

Abby Wambach isn't the greatest scorer in women's international soccer history, she is the greatest scorer in international soccer history, both men's and women's. She is simply one of the best players the world has ever seen.

The 35-year-old New Yorker, a US soccer legend, announced her international retirement on Tuesday afternoon, capping a stunning 15-year career with the red, white and blue. Here are her three biggest achievements.

1. Winning the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup

It was the icing on the cake for the star forward. Before the tournament all she could think about was a fairy-tale ending to her career. She wanted to help the USWNT win the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, but she did not play much of a part. She was used just a bit in the competition, as coach Jill Ellis mixed things up, focusing more on the midfield with the incorporation of Morgan Brian. But Wambach got the winner against Nigeria in the group stage and came on as a substitute in the final. She always put the team before herself, accepted her role and motivated from the bench. She capped off her international career the best way possible.

#USWNT legend @AbbyWambach announces retirement at the end of 2015. Read more: https://t.co/mhdWDKqMwg pic.twitter.com/ZGSfmyNZ2G
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@ussoccer_wnt) October 27, 2015

2. Being the world's leading international goal scorer

Wambach played 253 matches and scored 184 goals, while winning 210 of the matches she played for the US. She lost just 12 matches with the USWNT. How wild is that? From her first goal in 2001 in her first cap to her brace in September against Haiti, no player in the history of soccer has scored as much as her on the international stage. Not Pele, not Diego Maradona, not Mia Hamm, not Lionel Messi, not Cristiano Ronaldo. To put it in perspective, at the moment, Messi, Ronaldo and Pele combined have 181 goals, three less than she has.

After an unforgettable career, Abby Wambach has announced her retirement: https://t.co/QlM31Elob7 pic.twitter.com/p5H3xIi23x
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) October 27, 2015

3. World Cup performance vs. Brazil

Though the US didn't win the 2011 World Cup, losing in the final, it was Wambach that played a huge role in getting the team there. It was the 2011 quaterfinals when she scored in the 122nd minute to take the match to penalty kicks, where the US prevailed 5-3. Arguably the most important goal of her career.