After gracing the beautiful game with her magical feet, USWNT star Carli Lloyd will soon bid goodbye to the field. She hangs her boots, having shouldered the success of her national team, taking them to great heights. The driving force behind their rising, Carli was key in making the team a dominant force that opponents dreaded on the field.

Undoubtedly, Carli Lloyd has been a crucial part of the three-time Olympic medal-winning team. While she appeared in four Olympic games during her sixteen-year-long tenure, Carli has sacrificed her personal life for her career, but now wants to focus on her family, post-retirement.

Carli Lloyd reveals why her choices differ from Tom Brady’s

39-year-old Carli has been a dominant force on the field. Thanks to her consistency in match-winning performances, she has also been awarded the Fifa Player of the year award two times, once in 2015 and in 2016. She also holds two Olympic gold and one bronze medal with the USWNT.

Recently, in an interview, Carli talked about her retirement, giving NFL veteran Tom Brady a special mention. Despite turning 44, Tom has no plans of retiring. In the conversation, Carli mentioned how, unlike her, Tom doesn’t have to have kids.

However, Carli’s comments were misunderstood by some as she faced heat for the same.

Hence, Carli took the matter to her Twitter and clarified her statement. She said, “Since many of you don’t fully read or listen (you just grab headlines) Tom Brady is choosing to play for as long as he wants. I have to retire and then start a family with my husband. That is my choice. My choice to not want to have a baby.”

“and return to play, so when asked why I am not playing till the age of 44, I can’t if I’m choosing to start a family am getting older. Get it?” she added.

Carli’s decision is a reminder of how no entity’s life is public property. They are allowed to shift gears and change focus as per their choice. Hence, Carli deserves to make the call that she thinks is right for her.

A look back at Carli’s journey with USWNT

Born and brought up in Delran Township, Carli started playing at the mere age of five. She first appeared at the Olympic games with the USWNT team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. At her maiden Olympics event, she clinched the gold medal with the team.

At the next Olympics in 2012, she was the favorite player in the USWNT. Courtesy of her goal-scoring prowess, she again took the team to golden victory. In 2021, she attained her 300th cap and became the third player to do so.

Sadly, Carli played her last mega-quadrennial games this year. However, she ended her Olympic career on a high, bagging the bronze medal in Tokyo. Surely, Carli’s heroics will be missed by football fans all across the globe.

Read more: SWNT Star Carli Lloyd Opens Up on the Dark Side of Her Soccer Career