Career Timeline of Abby Wambach: Major Achievements and Milestones

How Abby Wambach built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Abby Wambach is a retired American soccer player, coach, and Hall of Famer, celebrated as one of the sport's all-time greats. From 2003-2015, she was a mainstay of the U.S. women's national team and holds the record as the team's highest all-time goal scorer. With 184 goals, she is second in international goals for both female and male soccer players, behind Christine Sinclair. Wambach received the 2012 FIFA World Player of the Year award, the first American woman to do so in a decade. Her impact extends beyond the field, as evidenced by her inclusion in the 2015 Time 100 list of the world's most influential people.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Legacy & Impact

1991: First Women's World Cup

In 2004, Wambach won an Olympic gold medal. The Olympic win also marked the final international match for veteran players Mia Hamm, Joy Fawcett and Julie Foudy, who had played with the team since the first Women's World Cup in 1991.

1991: Most goals scored by any duo

Michelle Akers (39 goals) and Carin Jennings (16 goals) combined for 55 goals in 1991 as the most goals scored by any duo in U.S. women's national team history.

1996: Atlanta Games

Despite Wambach's absence, the U.S. took home gold after defeating Brazil 1–0 in the final. The gold medal was the third for the national team, after winning titles at the 2004 Athens Olympics and 1996 Atlanta Games, the first Olympic tournament that included women's soccer.

August 2003: Named to U.S. World Cup Roster

In August 2003, Abby Wambach was named to the U.S. roster by Coach April Heinrichs for her first World Cup tournament. She led the United States in scoring with three goals at the tournament, despite having played in only six international matches before.

September 21, 2003: Starting Line-Up Against Sweden

On September 21, 2003, before 34,144 spectators at RFK Stadium, Wambach started in the Americans' first match against Sweden, which the U.S. won 3–1.

2003: Training with National Team

After the WUSA suspended operations in 2003, Abby Wambach trained with the national team in preparation for the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.

2003: FIFA Women's World Cup tournaments

In 2003, Wambach competed in FIFA Women's World Cup tournaments.

August 11, 2004: Scored Goal Against Greece

On August 11, 2004, Wambach scored during the 30th minute in the match against Greece, elevating the Americans to a 2–0 lead. She received her first yellow card of the tournament in the 49th minute.

2004: Olympic Gold Medal

Despite Wambach's absence due to injury, the U.S. team took home the gold medal after defeating Brazil 1–0 in the final at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

2004: Brianna Scurry starts instead of Hope Solo

In 2004, Coach Greg Ryan decided to bench starting goalkeeper, Hope Solo, and instead started Brianna Scurry, a veteran goalkeeper who had started in three World Cups and two Olympics, but who had started very few matches since the 2004 Olympics. The U.S. was defeated 4–0 by Brazil.

2005: Scoring at the Algarve Cup

In 2005, Wambach continued to contribute to the national team, scoring goals during the Algarve Cup. One of her goals helped the U.S. set a record for the largest goal margin in an Algarve Cup match after their 5–0 win over Denmark.

2006: Nominated for FIFA Women's World Player of the Year

At the end of 2006, Wambach had scored 66 goals in 84 international matches, scoring more goals in fewer games than any player since Michelle Akers. She was nominated for the 2006 FIFA Women's World Player of the Year and finished fourth in voting for the award.

September 14, 2007: Wambach scores two goals against Sweden

On September 14, 2007, Wambach scored two goals in the match against Sweden, bringing her record to 80 goals in 98 international matches. She scored on a penalty kick and a left-footed half-volley.

September 22, 2007: Wambach Scores against England

On September 22, 2007, during the quarterfinal match against England, Wambach scored the first goal for the Americans. She also earned her 100th international cap, becoming the twentieth player in U.S. women's national soccer team history to achieve this milestone.

2007: Collision and Injury at 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup

During the first match of the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup against North Korea, Wambach collided in the air with defender Ri Kum-Suk and received five stitches to her head. Despite being sidelined, she returned to the game, which ended in a tie.

2007: FIFA Women's World Cup tournaments

In 2007, Wambach competed in FIFA Women's World Cup tournaments.

June 23, 2008: Named to U.S. Squad for 2008 Olympics

On June 23, 2008, Wambach was named to the U.S. squad for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China.

July 19, 2009: Wambach Scores 100th Goal

On July 19, 2009, Wambach scored her 100th goal during a friendly match against Canada in her hometown of Rochester, marking her second international match after recovering from her injury. She reached this milestone faster than any other American player before her.

2010: Dodge Commercial

In 2010, Abby Wambach starred in a Dodge commercial with some of her national team teammates.

May 9, 2011: Named to 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup Roster

On May 9, 2011, Wambach was named to the U.S. roster for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup tournament in Germany, marking her third World Cup appearance.

July 10, 2011: Scores Goal in Quarter-Final Game Against Brazil

On July 10, 2011, Wambach scored a header goal in stoppage time during the Americans' quarter-final game against Brazil to even the score at 2–2. The U.S. won the game on penalty kicks. The goal set a record for the latest goal ever scored in a FIFA competition and was awarded ESPN's 2011 ESPY Award for Best Play of the Year.

July 2011: Endorsement Deal with Bank of America

In July 2011, Abby Wambach signed a one-year endorsement deal with Bank of America. She also appeared in commercials for magicJack phone service and ESPN SportsCenter in the same year.

August 2011: Bank of America Charitable Campaign

In August 2011, Abby Wambach joined teammates Alex Morgan and Hope Solo in a Bank of America charitable campaign at the Chicago Marathon. $5,000 was donated to the Juvenile Diabetes Association on her behalf.

2011: ESPN names goal as one of the biggest

In 2011, ESPN hailed Wambach's last-minute goal against Brazil in the 2004 Olympics final as one of the five biggest goals in U.S. women's national team history.

2011: FIFA Women's World Cup tournaments

In 2011, Wambach competed in FIFA Women's World Cup tournaments.

2011: 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup Bronze Boot

Wambach's final tally for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup was four goals and one assist, an effort that earned her the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup Bronze Boot after Brazil's Marta and Japan's Homare Sawa. She was also awarded the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup Silver Ball.

July 25, 2012: Scores First Goal for U.S. at 2012 Olympics

On July 25, 2012, Wambach scored the first goal for the U.S. at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London during the team's first group stage match against France. The U.S. defeated France 4–2.

2012: Chipotle Gold Card

In 2012, Abby Wambach received a gold card from Chipotle Mexican Grill which entitles her to one free burrito daily for life.

2012: Olympics tournaments

In 2012, Wambach competed in Olympics tournaments.

2012: Most goals scored by any duo

Wambach (27 goals) and Alex Morgan (28 goals) combined for 55 goals in 2012, equaling a 21-year-old record set in 1991 by Michelle Akers and Carin Jennings as the most goals scored by any duo in U.S. women's national team history.

2012: 2012 Olympics

Wambach scored five goals at the 2012 Olympics and scored in every match except the final.

January 7, 2013: FIFA World Player of the Year

In recognition of her accomplishments, Wambach was awarded the 2012 FIFA World Player of the Year at the 2013 FIFA Ballon d'Or gala in Zurich on January 7, 2013.

2013: Ambassador for Athlete Ally

In 2013, Abby Wambach became an ambassador for Athlete Ally, a nonprofit organization that focuses on ending homophobia and transphobia in sports.

2013: Endorsement Deal with New York Apple Association

In the summer of 2013, Abby Wambach signed an endorsement deal with the New York Apple Association and was featured in television, radio, print and online ads.

September 2015: EA Sports' FIFA Video Game Series

Starting in FIFA 16, Abby Wambach was featured along with her national teammates in the EA Sports' FIFA video game series, the first time women players were included in the game. In September 2015, she was ranked by EA Sports as the No. 3 women's player in the game.

December 2015: Gatorade Commercial

In December 2015, Abby Wambach starred in a commercial for Gatorade entitled "Forget Me".

2015: Cree Commercial

In 2015, Abby Wambach starred in a commercial for LED lighting company Cree.

2015: FIFA Women's World Cup tournaments

In 2015, Wambach competed in FIFA Women's World Cup tournaments.

2015: Final World Cup

In 2015, prior to playing her fourth World Cup, Wambach declared that the Canada 2015 tournament would be her last. She scored her last goal in official competition during a 1–0 win against Nigeria.

January 29, 2020: Christine Sinclair surpasses Wambach

Up until January 29, 2020, Wambach was the highest all-time international goal scorer for men and women, until surpassed by Canadian National Team Captain Christine Sinclair.