Abby Wambach's Success and Achievements in Timeline

A closer look at the biggest achievements of Abby Wambach. Awards, milestones, and records that define success.

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.

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.

2002: WUSA Rookie of the Year

In 2002, Abby Wambach received the WUSA's Rookie of the Year award for her performance during the 2001 WUSA season.

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.

2003: U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year

In 2003, Abby Wambach won the U.S. Soccer Federation's U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year award.

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: U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year

In 2004, Abby Wambach won the U.S. Soccer Federation's U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year award.

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 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: U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year

In 2007, Abby Wambach won the U.S. Soccer Federation's U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year award.

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: U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year

In 2010, Abby Wambach won the U.S. Soccer Federation's U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year award.

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: Awards and Key to the City

In July 2011, Abby Wambach was awarded the Bronze Boot and Silver Ball at the FIFA Women's World Cup. Also, the mayor of Rochester, New York named July 20 "Abby Wambach Day" and she was given a key to the city.

2011: U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year

In 2011, Abby Wambach won the U.S. Soccer Federation's U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year award.

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: 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.

August 2012: "Wambach Way" Dedication

In August 2012, after returning home from winning gold at the Summer Olympics in London, the city of Rochester honored Wambach by hosting a dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony in which the entrance to Sahlen's Stadium was named "Wambach Way".

2012: FIFA World Player of the Year

In 2012, Abby Wambach was named the FIFA World Player of the Year.

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: U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year

In 2013, Abby Wambach won the U.S. Soccer Federation's U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year award.

April 2015: Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People

In April 2015, Time magazine named Abby Wambach one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

November 2015: Out Athlete of the Year

In November 2015, the magazine Out named Abby Wambach Athlete of the Year.

2015: Ticker tape parade in New York City and honored by President Barack Obama

Following the United States' win at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, Abby Wambach and her teammates became the first women's sports team to be honored with a Ticker tape parade in New York City and in October of the same year, the team was honored by President Barack Obama at the White House.