Carli Lloyd facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

This page is about the soccer player. For the volleyball player, see Carli Lloyd (volleyball).

Quick facts for kids
Carli Lloyd

Lloyd in 2011

Personal information

Full name

Carli Anne Hollins

Date of birth

July 16, 1982 (age 42)

Place of birth

Delran Township, New Jersey, U.S.

Height

5 ft 7 in

Playing position

Midfielder, forward

Senior career*

Years

Team

Apps^†

(Gls)^†

1999

Central Jersey Splash

(11)

2000

New Brunswick Power

(10)

2001

South Jersey Banshees

(10)

2004

New Jersey Wildcats

(1)

2009

Chicago Red Stars

(2)

2010

Sky Blue FC

(0)

2011

Atlanta Beat

(2)

2013–2014

Western New York Flash

(16)

2015–2017

Houston Dash

(11)

2017

→ Manchester City (loan)

(2)

2018–2021

NJ/NY Gotham FC

(13)

National team^‡

2002–2005

United States U21

2005–2021

United States

316

(134)

Honours

Women's soccer

Representing United States
Olympic Games
Gold	2008 Beijing	Team
Gold	2012 London	Team
Bronze	2020 Tokyo	Team
FIFA Women's World Cup
Winner	2015 Canada
Winner	2019 France
Runner-up	2011 Germany
Bronze	2007 China

Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of April 29, 2019.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of October 26, 2021

Carli Anne Hollins (born July 16, 1982), whose maiden name is Lloyd, is a retired American soccer player. She is famous for being a two-time Olympic gold medalist in 2008 and 2012. She also helped the U.S. team win two FIFA Women's World Cup titles in 2015 and 2019.

Carli Lloyd was named FIFA Player of the Year twice, in 2015 and 2016. She scored the winning goals in the 2008 and 2012 Olympic finals. She also helped the U.S. team win a bronze medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics. She played in the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup where the U.S. team finished second.

After the 2020 Olympics, Carli announced she would retire from the national team. She played her last international game in October 2021. She has played 316 games for the U.S. national team, which is the second-highest number of games played by any player. She also has the third-most goals and fifth-most assists for the team. In 2021, she was named the highest-paid female soccer player in the world.

During the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup Final, the U.S. beat Japan 5–2. Carli Lloyd made history by scoring three goals in that final game. This is called a hat-trick in soccer. She scored her three goals in the first 16 minutes of the game. She won the Golden Ball Trophy as the best player of the tournament. She also received the Silver Boot for scoring six goals and making one assist.

Before joining the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), she played for teams like the Chicago Red Stars and Atlanta Beat in the Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) league. In 2013, she joined the Western New York Flash and helped them win their league. Later, she played for the Houston Dash and NJ/NY Gotham FC. She also wrote a book called When Nobody Was Watching in 2016.

Early Life and College Soccer

Carli Lloyd was born to Stephen and Pamela Lloyd on July 16, 1982. She grew up in Delran Township, a town near Philadelphia. Carli started playing soccer when she was five years old. Her mother, Pamela, said that Carli always loved soccer and worked very hard. Carli has a brother named Stephen and a sister named Ashley.

When she was young, Carli watched the U.S. team play in the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup. This inspired her to want to play for the national team one day.

High School Years

Carli went to Delran High School from 1997 to 2000. She was known for her amazing ball control and how well she could pass the ball from the middle of the field. In her last year, she scored 26 goals and made eight assists. Her team had a great record of 18 wins and 3 losses.

The Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper named her the Girls' High School Player of the Year twice. She also received honors from Parade All-American magazine.

Playing for Rutgers University (2001–2004)

Carli attended Rutgers University from 2001 to 2004. She played for the Scarlet Knights women's soccer team. She was the first athlete at Rutgers to be named First-Team All-Big East for four years in a row. She finished her college career as the school's top player in points (117), goals (50), and shots.

As a freshman, she scored 15 goals. She was named to Soccer America's All-Freshman Team. She was also the first Rutgers player to win the Big East Rookie of the Year award. In her second year, she was a finalist for the Hermann Trophy, which is a top award for college soccer players.

Carli Lloyd was named the 2004 Big East Midfielder of the Year. She earned a degree in Exercise Science and Sport Studies. In 2013, she was added to the Rutgers Hall of Distinguished Alumni.

Club Career Highlights

Early Professional Experience (1999–2004)

While still in high school and college, Carli played for several W-League teams. These included the Central Jersey Splash, New Brunswick Power, and South Jersey Banshees. In 2004, she played for the New Jersey Wildcats.

Playing in the WPS (2009–2011)

When the Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) league started, Carli joined the Chicago Red Stars in 2009. She played 16 games and scored two goals.

After that, she signed with Sky Blue FC in 2010. During a game, she broke her ankle, which kept her from playing for most of the season. In 2011, Carli joined the Atlanta Beat. She scored two goals in ten games for the team.

Western New York Flash (2013–2014)

In 2013, Carli Lloyd joined the Western New York Flash in the new National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She recovered from a shoulder injury and played her first game in May 2013. She scored her first goal against her old team, Sky Blue FC.

In a game against the Washington Spirit, Carli scored three goals, which is a hat trick. She ended the 2013 season with 10 goals, making her one of the top scorers. The Flash finished first in the regular season. Carli scored two winning goals in the semi-final game, helping her team reach the championship final.

Houston Dash (2015–2017)

Lloyd playing for the Houston Dash, September 2015

In 2014, Carli was traded to the Houston Dash. She played for them until 2017.

Loan to Manchester City (2017)

In February 2017, Carli Lloyd played for Manchester City in England for a short time. While there, her team finished second in the league and won the 2016–17 FA Women's Cup. Carli scored a goal in the final game. In her last game for Manchester City, she was sent off (given a red card) for elbowing an opponent.

Sky Blue / NJ/NY Gotham (2018–2021)

In 2018, Carli was traded to Sky Blue FC (which later became NJ/NY Gotham FC). She scored four goals in 18 games for the team in 2018. She scored the only goal in a 1–0 win against the Orlando Pride, which was Sky Blue's only win that season.

International Career with the U.S. Team

Youth Team Experience

Before joining the main U.S. team, Carli Lloyd played for the U.S. under-21 team. She played in the Nordic Cup four times and helped her team win titles from 2002 to 2005.

Senior National Team Debut

Lloyd during a match against Sweden at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil, August 2016

Carli first played for the United States women's national soccer team on July 10, 2005. She scored her first international goal in October 2006 against Taiwan. In 2007, she was the top scorer at the Algarve Cup tournament and was named its Most Valuable Player.

2007 FIFA Women's World Cup

Carli played in her first 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup in 2007. The U.S. team was a favorite to win. They reached the semi-finals but lost to Brazil. They then won against Norway to finish in third place. Carli started three of the five games she played in the tournament.

2008 Beijing Olympics Gold Medal

At the 2008 Olympics, Carli scored two important goals. She scored the winning goal against Japan in the group stage. She also scored the winning goal in extra time against Brazil in the final game. This helped the U.S. team win the gold medal!

Carli was named the 2008 U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year. She started all 35 games she played in 2008, scoring nine goals and making nine assists.

Road to the 2011 World Cup

In 2010, Carli helped the U.S. team win the 2010 Algarve Cup by scoring the first goal in the final against Germany. Even after breaking her ankle in 2010, she played in 15 games for the U.S. team. She scored two goals in the 2010 CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup and made five assists. She earned her 100th game played (cap) during this time.

2011 FIFA Women's World Cup Silver Medal

Lloyd (fourth from left) prepares for penalty kicks with her teammates at the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup.

In 2011, Carli scored her first World Cup goal in a 3–0 win against Colombia. In the World Cup final against Japan, the game ended in a 2–2 tie. The U.S. lost in a penalty shootout, and Carli missed her penalty kick. The U.S. team won the silver medal.

2012 London Olympics Gold Medal

Carli Lloyd celebrates at the 2012 Summer Olympics after scoring a goal.

At the 2012 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament, Carli scored her first hat trick against Mexico. She was named player of the match twice. The U.S. team won the tournament and qualified for the Olympics.

Lloyd and teammate Hope Solo after the 2012 Summer Olympics final

At the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Carli scored the winning goal against France in the opening match. In the gold medal match against Japan at Wembley Stadium, Carli scored both goals for the U.S. team, leading them to a 2–1 victory. She is the only player in history (male or female) to score the winning goal in two different Olympic gold medal matches.

In October 2013, Carli scored her 46th international goal. This made her the highest-scoring midfielder in the U.S. team's history.

2015 FIFA Women's World Cup Champion

Lloyd celebrates the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup win at the ticker tape parade in New York City, July 2015

In 2015, Carli was a key player for the U.S. team at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada. She was captain in four games, including the quarter-final against China, where she scored the winning goal. This was her 200th game for the national team!

In the final against Japan, Carli scored an amazing three goals (a hat-trick) in the first 16 minutes. One of her goals was a long shot from near the halfway line that went over the Japanese goalkeeper. This goal was called "one of the most remarkable goals ever" in a Women's World Cup.

For her incredible performance, she won the Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament. She also won the Silver Boot for her six goals. Carli was the first woman to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final.

2019 FIFA Women's World Cup Champion

Carli continued her success at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup. She scored in her first two games against Thailand and Chile. This made her the first player to score in six World Cup matches in a row.

Milestones and Retirement (2019–2021)

On April 10, 2021, Carli Lloyd played her 300th game for the U.S. team. Only two other players had reached this milestone before her. In June 2021, she became the oldest player to score for the U.S. team at 38 years old.

At the 2020 Summer Olympics (held in 2021), Carli scored two goals in the bronze medal match against Australia. This set a new U.S. women's record for the most Olympic goals (10 goals). After the Olympics, Carli announced she would retire from the national team.

After retiring from professional soccer, Carli has been involved in new projects. She is working to make Teqball an Olympic sport. She also created CL10 Soccer Clinic to help young players improve their skills.

How Carli Lloyd Played

Carli Lloyd was known for her amazing determination, strong mind, and hard work. Even though some people thought she was inconsistent early in her career, she became one of the best players in the world.

She was a tough and energetic player. She was good at controlling the ball, had great technique, and could pass accurately. She helped her team both in defense and attack. She was known for getting into good positions to score goals or create chances for her teammates.

Carli could play in different midfield roles. She started as a defensive midfielder but was best when playing closer to the forwards as an attacking midfielder. She was known as a "clutch player" because she often scored important goals in big moments. She could shoot powerfully from anywhere on the field and was good at scoring with both her head and her feet.

Personal Life

Lloyd and husband Brian Hollins after a Phillies game

Carli Lloyd lives in Medford, New Jersey, with her husband, Brian Hollins, who is a golfer. They got married on November 4, 2016. In May 2024, they shared that they were expecting their first child, and their daughter was born in October 2024.

Goals by Opponent

Goals by opponent
Opponent	Goals
Mexico	12
China	9
Costa Rica	8
Haiti	8
Japan	6
New Zealand	6
Paraguay	6
Norway	5
Sweden	5
Australia	4
Argentina	4
Brazil	4
Chile	4
Colombia	4
Republic of Ireland	4
Thailand	4
Guatemala	3
Panama	3
Portugal	3
Russia	3
Switzerland	3
Canada	2
Belgium	2
Denmark	2
Finland	2
France	2
Germany	2
Jamaica	2
Trinidad and Tobago	2
South Korea	2
Dominican Republic	1
England	1
Iceland	1
Netherlands	1
Puerto Rico	1
Chinese Taipei	1
South Africa	1
Total	134