The Abby Wambach era is officially over. The veteran forward played her last match as the U.S. shockingly fell to China 1-0 on Wednesday night in an international friendly in New Orleans, snapping a 104-game unbeaten streak on home soil.
Though not the best result, the night was all about Wambach's historic career, which sees her finish as the U.S. women's national team's top scorer ever and one of the most prolific forwards the game has ever seen. Wambach scored 184 goals for the national team, the most ever in international soccer, men or women.
Abby Wambach scored more international goals than Pele, Maradona, Mia Hamm, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo.
— CBS Sports Soccer (@CBSSportsSoccer) December 17, 2015
Wambach showed her usual hustle in the match but just couldn't find the net as her teammates were clearly looking to get her a goal. China scored in the 58th minute via Wang Schuang, and Wambach was substituted off in the 72nd minute to a standing ovation.
WATCH: #USWNT's Abby Wambach subbed off, receives a terrific standing ovation from the Superdome crowd. #ThanksAbby https://t.co/0HFQtq2GEu
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 17, 2015
Not the greatest way to end her career by seeing defeat, but it matters little. All she wanted was to lift the World Cup trophy in 2015, and she did that. And now, she simply wants to be forgotten. But who can forget one of the greatest soccer players in the history of the sport?
Hats off to a magical, dynamic career, one that we may never see replicated again.
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