The "irreplaceable" Abby Wambach
American soccer player Abby Wambach, the leading goalscorer in the history of international soccer with 184 goals, is set to retire after Team USA's exhibition game against China at the Superdome in New Orleans, Dec. 16, 2015.
The 35-year-old star striker capped a memorable 15-year career with a 2015 World Cup championship, helping Team USA claim its third overall World Cup title with a 5-2 victory over Japan in July. For years, though, she has been the face of women's soccer.
"She will be irreplaceable," Coach Jill Ellis told The New York Times.
Abby Wambach
President Barack Obama poses for photos with a jersey he received from head coach Jill Ellis as he welcomes the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team in the East Room of the White House in Washington during a ceremony honoring the team and their victory in the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, October 27, 2015.
Standing with Obama, from left are, Christie Rampone, Morgan Brian, Abby Wambach, Julie Johnston, Obama, Sydney Leroux, and Carli Lloyd, Alex Morgan, and Megan Rapinoe.
Wambach announced after the event that she would retire from the sport after the final four games of the team's 10-game victory tour. Her last game will be December 16 in New Orleans against China.
Abby Wambach
Abby Wambach on the cover of Sports Illustrated. The magazine had individual covers for each member of Team USA after their World Cup victory.
The top scorer, male or female, Wambach has 184 goals in 252 international matches. The one honor that alluded her was a World Cup championship. Before Team USA's victory she had said, "I want to change that in 2015."
President Obama said on October 27, 2015, "This team taught all America's children that playing like a girl means you're a badass."
Abby Wambach
Abby Wambach kisses the World Cup trophy on the steps of city hall after the team was given keys to New York City, July 10, 2015.
Abby Wambach
Abby Wambach #20 of the United States celebrates with a kiss for her wife Sarah Huffman after the USA's 5-2 victory against Japan in the FIFA Women's World Cup 2015 Final at BC Place Stadium on July 5, 2015 in Vancouver.
Fans embraced the moment, made even more meaningful because the U.S. had legalized gay marriage across the country just the week before. The couple were married in Hawaii in 2013.
Team USA
Abby Wambach #20 and Christie Rampone #3 of the U.S. hold the World Cup Trophy after their 5-2 win over Japan in the FIFA Women's World Cup 2015 Final at BC Place Stadium on July 5, 2015 in Vancouver.
Abby Wambach
Carli Lloyd #10 gives the captain's armband to teammate Abby Wambach #20 of the United States in the second half against Japan in the FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015 Final at BC Place Stadium on July 5, 2015 in Vancouver, Canada.
Abby Wambach
Abby Wambach #20 of the United States celebrates after the USA 2-0 victory against Germany in the FIFA Women's World Cup 2015 Semi-Final Match at Olympic Stadium on June 30, 2015 in Montreal, Canada.
Abby Wambach
Abby Wambach #20 of the United States celebrates the 5-2 victory against Japan in the FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015 Final at BC Place Stadium on July 5, 2015 in Vancouver.
Abby Wambach
Abby Wambach #20 of the U.S. celebrates with Megan Rapinoe #15 after Wambach scores a goal in the first half against Nigeria in the Group D match of the FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015 at BC Place Stadium on June 16, 2015 in Vancouver.
Abby Wambach
Abby Wambach #20 of the United States kicks the ball away from goalkeeper Catalina Perez #22 of Colombia, but Wambach is called for offsides in the first half in the FIFA Women's World Cup 2015 Round of 16 match at Commonwealth Stadium on June 22, 2015 in Edmonton, Canada.
Abby Wambach
Abby Wambach #20 of the U.S. reaches for a loose ball in front of Carolina Venegas #9 of Costa Rica in the second half during the match at Heinz Field on August 16, 2015 in Pittsburgh.
Abby Wambach
Abby Wambach #20 of the U.S. gets a Gatorade bath by her teamates after a 5-0 win against South Korea after Wambach broke Mia Hamm's all-time International goal scoring record with 159 at Red Bull Arena on June 20, 2013 in Harrison, New Jersey.
Abby Wambach
Abby Wambach scores her 157th international goal against Korea during the first half of their game at Red Bull Arena on June 20, 2013 in Harrison, New Jersey.
Abby Wambach
Forward Abby Wambach #20 of the USA runs off the field holding her bloodied head in the second half against North Korea during the FIFA Women's World Cup 2007 Group B match at Chengdu Sports Center Stadium on September 11, 2007 in Chengdu, China.
North Korea scored twice when Wambach had to sit out the game after the collision-related injury. In 2010, with a similar injury against Mexico she remained in the game after having the wound stapled.
Abby Wambach
Abby Wambach (L) of scores her teams second goal during the FIFA Womens' World Cup Final between the United States of America and Japan at FIFA Word Cup stadium on July 17, 2011 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Wambach has played in four World Cups.
Abby Wambach
America's Abby Wambach #20 signs autographs during the match against Costa Rica at Heinz Field on August 16, 2015 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Abby Wambach
Abby Wambach #20 of the U.S. celebrates scoring a goal in the first half against Nigeria in the Group D match of the FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015 at BC Place Stadium on June 16, 2015 in Vancouver, Canada.
Abby Wambach
Abby Wambach heads the ball during their Brasilia International Tournament football match against Argentina at Mane Garrincha Stadium in Brasilia on December 18, 2014.
Wambach is particularly known for her diving headers.
Abby Wambach
Abby Wambach #14 and the United States celebrates with the the gold medal after defeating Japan by a score of 2-1 to win the Women's Football gold medal match on Day 13 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Wembley Stadium on August 9, 2012.
Wambach has two gold medals from the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens and the 2012 Olympics in London. She is the leading U.S. scorer in for the Olympic and World Cup competition.
FIFA Players of the Year
USA's striker Abby Wambach holds her "Golden Boot" award after the FIFA Women's Football World Cup final match Japan vs USA on July 17, 2011 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
The "Golden Boot" is awarded to the best female player in the world, voted by coaches and captains. The only other U.S. woman to win the coveted award is Mia Hamm.
Abby Wambach
Abby Wambach looks dejected during the FIFA Women's World Cup Final match between Japan and the USA at the FIFA World Cup stadium on July 17, 2011 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Japan defeated Team USA 3-1 on a penalty shoot-out. The U.S. lost its bid to win a third world championship, but would win a revenge matchup in 2015 against Japan.
Abby Wambach
U.S. striker Abby Wambach heads the ball during the FIFA Women's Football World Cup final match Japan vs USA on July 17, 2011 in Frankfurt am Main, western Germany.
Abby Wambach
U.S. striker Abby Wambach (R) brings the score to 2-2 during the quarter-final match of the FIFA women's football World Cup Brazil vs USA on July 10, 2011 in Dresden, eastern Germany.
The exciting header came in the 122nd minute of the match, which the U.S. won in a penalty shootout.
Abby Wambach
Forward Abby Wambach #20 of the U.S. gives the thumbs up against Mexico during an International Friendly at RFK Stadium on September 3, 2013 in Washington, D.C. The United Stated defeated Mexico 7-0.