Julie Ertz, arguably one of the greatest players in U.S. women’s national team history, has announced her retirement from professional soccer.

After announcing her retirement from international competition following a loss in the 2023 World Cup knockout stage, Ertz, 31, revealed that she’s hanging up her cleats for good, sharing in a statement: “With immense emotion and processing, I’ve decided it is time to hang up the boots ..Representing this country on the National Team has been the greatest honor. To play for the USWNT means you chase greatness every day while you wear the crest. I hope that I was able to leave an impact that reflects that. …To the game of soccer. You have shaped every part of who I am. My relationship with my faith, my character, friendships, travel, college, heck just my daily routine. It’s a sad thing to reflect and know the game just moves on without you. The game doesn’t owe you anything but it has given me so much. What a truly beautiful game it is. I’m just grateful for the time we had.”

Through the course of her career, Ertz earned two World Cup titles (in 2015 and 2019), as well as 20 goals across 122 international appearances for the USWNT.  Ertz was also the only player to win the U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year (2012) and then win the U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year twice (2017, 2019).

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