Delran NJ Native Carli Lloyd Retiring from Pro Soccer

Following the Summer Olympics in Tokyo, South Jersey's own Carli Lloyd has reportedly made the decision to retire from playing professional soccer.

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It was very exciting to see Carli compete in Tokyo in a few weeks ago. There's something so inspiring about rooting on a hometown girl who's half a world away making South Jersey proud (again, lol). The fact that the Delran native was selected for to join the 2021 Olympic team coming at the age of 39, not to mention coming off fairly recent knee surgery (turn 39 just before the Olympic games get underway) made it even more exciting.

But today, Carli Lloyd announced her retirement, according to 6abc.com.

U.S. Soccer's official website"When I first started out with the National Team in 2005, my two main goals were to be the most complete soccer player I could be and to help the team win championships. Every single day I stepped out onto the field, I played as if it was my last game. I never wanted to take anything for granted, especially knowing how hard it is to get to the top, but even harder to stay at the top for so long."

The soccer star, called 'one of the greatest to ever do it' by

NJ/NY Gotham FC"What I am most proud of is that I've been able to stay unapologetically me."

Lloyd leaves professional soccer a highly decorated athlete with Olympic gold medals and two World Championships. She was a huge factor in the women's team winning Olympic gold in Beijing in 2008 and Brazil in 2012. Most recently, she assisted her team in a victory over Australia at the Tokyo games to secure a bronze medal for the United States.

MORE ON CARLI LLOYD'S HISTORIC SOCCER CAREER

Stacy Revere/Getty Images

Carli's return to the Olympic soccer field was a significant one. The global COVID-19 pandemic that forced the rescheduling of the 2020 Summer Olympics provided the Lloyd with the opportunity to have knee surgery and enough time to recovery and work her way back to fightin' form. Had the Olympics taken place in Tokyo last summer as planned, Lloyd probably wouldn't have been able to participate.

Lloyd's career-long 128 soccer goals places her fourth in U.S. Women's Soccer history, and ties her for fifth all-time in world history, 6abc.com reports.

Carli, you've been AMAZING to watch. And we can't wait to see what you do next. All the best.

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