Abby Wambach is a former professional soccer player who competed as a forward for the United States women's national soccer team from 2001 to 2015. In 255 appearances for the senior national team, she scored 184 goals and is second in the world for goals scored at the international level by both female and male soccer players. The previous record holder was Mia Hamm who scored 158 international goals during her career, also for the United States. Wambach broke Hamm's record on June 20, 2013, as she completed a hat trick against South Korea, in a friendly match at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey.
Wambach scored her first international goal in the seventh minute of a friendly against Finland on April 27, 2002, in her second game for the national team. She scored her first international hat trick during a friendly against Scotland leading the national team to an 8–2 win in her fourth appearance for the team. Her first international goal scored during a competitive match occurred on November 2, 2002, during the national team's 9–0 win over Panama in the 2002 CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup. During her first FIFA Women's World Cup tournament, she scored three goals in six games. Wambach completed her international career having scored a total of 14 goals in her 25 World Cup match appearances, placing second on the all-time World Cup scoring list behind Marta.
Known for scoring goals with diving headers, one of her more notable goals occurred in the 122nd minute of the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup quarterfinal match against Brazil from a last-minute cross from midfielder Megan Rapinoe. Wambach scored the equalizer in stoppage time and the Americans defeated Brazil in a penalty shootout. The team eventually progressed to the World Cup final against Japan. Wambach's last-minute goal set a new record for the latest goal ever scored in a World Cup match and was awarded ESPN's 2011 ESPY Award for Best Play of the Year. Following her performance at the 2011 World Cup, Wambach was awarded the tournament's Bronze Boot and Silver Ball. In 2011, she became the first ever soccer player of any gender to be named Associated Press Athlete of the Year.
International goals "Score" represents the score in the match after Wambach's goal. "Score" and "Result" list the United States' goal tally first. Cap represents the player's appearance in an international level match.
GoalCapDateLocationOpponentScoreResultCompetitionRef.12Spartan Stadium, San Jose, United StatesFriendly24Columbus Crew Stadium, Columbus, United States3458Safeco Field, Seattle, United States2002 CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup611Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City, United StatesFriendly7813Home Depot Center, Carson, United States914Spartan Stadium, San Jose, United States1016Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, United States2003 FIFA Women's World Cup: Group A1117Columbus Crew Stadium, Columbus, United States2003 FIFA Women's World Cup: Group A1218Gillette Stadium, Boston, United States2003 FIFA Women's World Cup: Knockout stage1322Cotton Bowl, Dallas, United StatesFriendly141526Estadio Nacional, San José, Costa Rica2004 CONCACAF Women's Pre-Olympic Tournament1627Estadio Eladio Rosabal Cordero, Heredia, Costa Rica1728Estadio Nacional, San José, Costa Rica18291930Estadio Eladio Rosabal Cordero, Heredia, Costa Rica2031Estádio Municipal de Ferreiras, Ferreiras, Portugal2004 Algarve Cup: Group A2134Estádio Algarve, Faro, Portugal2004 Algarve Cup: Final22232435Legion Field, Birmingham, United StatesFriendly252637Papa John's Cardinal Stadium, Louisville, United States2739National Sports Center, Blaine, United States2840Rentschler Field, East Hartford, United States2941Pankritio Stadium, Heraklio, Greece2004 Summer Olympics: Group G3042Kaftanzolglio Stadium, Thessaloniki, Greece31432004 Summer Olympics: Quarter Final3245Karaiskaki Stadium, Athens, Greece2004 Summer Olympics: Final3346Frontier Field, Rochester, United StatesFriendly343547Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, United States3648PGE Park, Portland, United States3751Soldier Field, Chicago, United States3852Reliant Stadium, Houston, United States394041424354Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, United States4455The Home Depot Center, Carson, United States454657Complexo Desportivo Arsenio Catuna, Guia, Portugal2005 Algarve Cup: Group B4758Estádio Municipal de Vila Real de Santo Antonio, Santo Antonio, Portugal4863Blackbaud Stadium, Charleston, United StatesFriendly495064Guangdong Olympic Stadium, Guangzhou, China2006 Four Nations Tournament5168Estadio Municipal de Quarteira, Quarteira, Portugal2006 Algarve Cup: Group B5271KKWing Stadium, Kumamoto, JapanFriendly53545573National Sports Center, Blaine, United States5674Torero Stadium, San Diego, United States5775SAS Soccer Stadium, Cary, United States5877PAETEC Park, Rochester, United States596078The Home Depot Center, Carson, United States61626379University of Richmond Stadium, Richmond, United States646583The Home Depot Center, Carson, United States2006 CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup: Semifinal666787Estádio Municipal de Vila Real de Santo Antonio, Santo Antonio, Portugal2007 Algarve Cup: Group B686989Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, United StatesFriendly7090Pizza Hut Park, Frisco, United States717291Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland, United States737492Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, United States7594Spartan Stadium, San Jose, United States7695Soldier Field, Chicago, United States777897Chengdu Sports Centre, Chengdu, China2007 FIFA Women's World Cup: Group B79982007 FIFA Women's World Cup: Group B8081100Tianjin Olympic Center Stadium, Tianjin, China2007 FIFA Women's World Cup: Quarter Final82102Shanghai Hongkou Football Stadium, Shanghai, China2007 FIFA Women's World Cup: Third place match8384103Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, United StatesFriendly8586104Providence Park, Portland, United States87109Estadio Municipal de Albufeira, Albufeira, Portugal2008 Algarve Cup: Group B88111Estadio Restinga, Alvor, Portugal89112Estádio Municipal de Vila Real de Santo Antonio, Santo Antonio, Portugal2008 Algarve Cup: Final90113Estadio Olímpico Benito Juárez, Juárez, Mexico2008 CONCACAF Women's Pre-Olympic Tournament: Group A919211493117WakeMed Soccer Park, Cary, United StatesFriendly94118Legion Field, Birmingham, United States9596120Suwon Sports Complex, Suwon, Korea2008 Peace Queen Cup: Group B971229899124Fredrikstad Stadion, Fredrikstad, NorwayFriendly100129Marina Auto Stadium, Rochester, United States101131Impuls Arena, Augsburg, Germany102133Estádio Municipal de Vila Real de Santo Antonio, Santo Antonio, Portugal2010 Algarve Cup: Group B103134Estádio Municipal de Ferreiras, Ferreiras, Portugal104135Estadio Algarve, Faro, Portugal2010 Algarve Cup: Final105137Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, United StatesFriendly106138Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland, United States107108140Rentschler Field Stadium, East Hartford, United States109110143Estadio Quintana Roo, Cancún, Mexico2010 CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup: Group B1111121131441141151451161472010 CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup: Third place match117118155Columbus Crew Stadium, Columbus, Ohio, United StatesFriendly119160Women's World Cup Stadium, Wolfsburg, Germany2011 FIFA Women's World Cup: Group C120161Rudolf-Harbig Stadium, Dresden, Germany2011 FIFA Women's World Cup: Quarter Final121162Borussia-Park, Mönchengladbach, Germany2011 FIFA Women's World Cup: Semifinal122163FIFA Women's World Cup Stadium, Frankfurt, Germany2011 FIFA Women's World Cup: Final123164LIVESTRONG Sporting Park, Kansas City, United StatesFriendly124165JELD-WEN Field, Portland, United States125126167BC Place, Vancouver, Canada2012 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament: Group B1271281681291301712012 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament: Final131132173Estadio Municipal de Lagos, Lagos, Portugal2012 Algarve Cup: Group B133174134176Estadio Municipal de Bela Vista, Parchal, Portugal2012 Algarve Cup: Third place match135179PPL Park, Chester, United StatesFriendly136180Örjans Vall, Halmstad, SwedenVolvo Winners Cup137181138139183Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland2012 Summer Olympics: Group G1401842012 Summer Olympics: Group G141185Old Trafford, Manchester, England2012 Summer Olympics: Group G142186St James’ Park, Newcastle, England2012 Summer Olympics: Quarter Final143187Old Trafford, Manchester, England2012 Summer Olympics: Semifinal144189Sahlen's Stadium, Rochester, United StatesFriendly145146191Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, United States147192Toyota Park, Bridgeview, United States148193Rentschler Field, East Hartford, United States149197BBVA Compass Stadium, Houston, United States150151198FAU Stadium, Boca Raton, United States152153200LP Field, Nashville, United States154201Estadio Municipal de Albufeira, Albufeira, Portugal2013 Algarve Cup: Group B155204Sparda Bank Hessen Stadium, Offenbach, GermanyFriendly156206Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, United States157207Red Bull Arena, Harrison, United States158159160161208RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C., United States162209Alamodome, San Antonio, United States163212Florida Citrus Bowl, Orlando, United States164214FAU Stadium, Boca Raton, United States165215Georgia Dome, Atlanta, United States166218Estadio Bela Vista, Parchal, Portugal2014 Algarve Cup: Seventh place match167168222WakeMed Soccer Park, Cary, United StatesFriendly169223Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, United States170171225Sporting Park, Kansas City, United States2014 CONCACAF Women's Championship: Group A172226RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C., United States173174228PPL Park, Chester, United States2014 CONCACAF Women's Championship: Final175176177178236Estádio Municipal de Vila Real de Santo Antonio, Santo Antonio, Portugal2015 Algarve Cup: Group B179240Avaya Stadium, San Jose, United StatesFriendly180181241StubHub Center, Carson, United States182183245BC Place, Vancouver, Canada2015 FIFA Women's World Cup: Group D184251Finley Field, Chattanooga, United StatesFriendly
Statistics
+Goals by year Year Goals2001102002752003149200433312005842006211720072120200822132009422010181620111782012322720131411201420142015237Total255184
+Goals by competition Competition Goals FIFA World Cup tournaments14 CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup / Championship 18 Olympic Games1 24 Algarve Cup 22 Other Tournaments26 Friendly100Total184
See also
List of women's footballers with 100 or more international goals List of footballers with 100 or more caps
References
External links Statistical Breakdown of Wambach's Goals (U.S. Soccer Federation)