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

Birth name

Carli Anne Lloyd

Date of birth

July 16, 1982 (age 43)

Place of birth

Delran Township, New Jersey, U.S.

Height

5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)

Position(s)

Midfielder, forward

College career

Years

Team

Apps

(Gls)

2001–2004

Rutgers Scarlet Knights

(50)

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)

International career^‡

2002–2005

United States U21

2005–2021

United States

316

(134)

Medal record

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

*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of April 29, 2019
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of October 26, 2021

Carli Anne Hollins (born July 16, 1982), known by her maiden name Carli Lloyd, is a retired American professional soccer player. She is famous for being a two-time Olympic gold medalist in 2008 and 2012. She also helped the United States 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 finals of both the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics. She also earned a bronze medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics. Lloyd played in the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, where the U.S. team finished second.

After the 2020 Summer Olympics, Lloyd announced her retirement from the national team. She played her last international match on October 26, 2021. She then retired from professional soccer after the 2021 NJ/NY Gotham FC season. Carli Lloyd has played 316 games for the U.S. national team, which is the second-highest number of appearances. She also has the third-most goals and fifth-most assists for the team.

During the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup Final against Japan, Lloyd made history. She became the first player to score three goals in a Women's World Cup final. She scored these three goals in the first 16 minutes of the game. For her amazing performance, she received the Golden Ball Trophy as the best player of the tournament. She also earned the Silver Boot for her six goals and one assist.

Before joining the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), she played for teams like the Chicago Red Stars and Atlanta Beat. In 2013, she joined the Western New York Flash and helped them win the regular season championship. She later played for the Houston Dash and Sky Blue FC. Her book, When Nobody Was Watching, was published in September 2016.

Early Life and High School Soccer

Carli Lloyd was born to Stephen and Pamela Lloyd. 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 showed great talent from a young age. She also worked very hard.

Carli has a brother, Stephen, and a sister, Ashley. When she was younger, she attended the opening U.S. match of the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup. This experience inspired her to dream of playing for the national team one day.

Lloyd attended Delran High School from 1997 to 2000. She was known for her excellent ball control and ability to pass the ball from the midfield. In her senior year, she scored 26 goals and had eight assists. She led her team to an 18–3 record. The Philadelphia Inquirer named her Girls' High School Player of the Year twice. She also received honors as a Parade All-American.

College Career at Rutgers University (2001–2004)

Carli Lloyd went to Rutgers University from 2001 to 2004. She played for the Scarlet Knights women's soccer team. She was named First-Team All-Big East for four years in a row. No other athlete at Rutgers had done this before. She finished her college career as the school's all-time leader in points (117), goals (50), and shots.

As a freshman, Lloyd started every game and was the team's top scorer with 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 again the team's top scorer with 12 goals and seven assists. She was also a finalist for the Hermann Trophy, which is a top award for college soccer players.

During her senior year, she scored 10 goals and had one assist. Lloyd was named the 2004 Big East Midfielder of the Year. She earned a bachelor's degree in Exercise Science and Sport Studies. In 2013, Lloyd was honored by being inducted into the Rutgers Hall of Distinguished Alumni.

Professional Club Career

Early Years in the W-League (1999–2004)

While still in high school, Carli Lloyd played for W-League teams. She played for Central Jersey Splash in 1999, New Brunswick Power in 2000, and South Jersey Banshees in 2001. In 2004, before her senior year at Rutgers, Lloyd played for the New Jersey Wildcats.

Playing in the WPS (2009–2011)

When the Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) league started, Lloyd was assigned to the Chicago Red Stars in 2008. In the league's first season in 2009, she started 14 of her 16 games. She scored two goals for Chicago.

After the season, Lloyd signed with Sky Blue FC, a team from her home state. In April 2010, she broke her ankle during a game. This injury kept her off the field for most of the season. In December 2010, Lloyd joined the new team Atlanta Beat. She scored two goals in ten games for the Beat during the 2011 season.

Western New York Flash (2013–2014)

On January 11, 2013, Lloyd joined the Western New York Flash in the new National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). After recovering from a shoulder injury, Lloyd played her first game for the Flash on May 12, 2013. She scored her first goal against her old club, Sky Blue FC.

On June 28, Lloyd scored three goals in one game, which is called a hat-trick. This helped the Flash win 4–0 against the Washington Spirit. She was named NWSL Player of the Week for her great performance. Lloyd finished the 2013 season with 10 goals, which was the third-highest in the league. The Flash finished first in the regular season and went to the playoffs. Lloyd scored two goals in the semi-final, leading the Flash to the championship final. However, they lost the final game.

Houston Dash (2015–2017)

Lloyd playing for the Houston Dash, September 2015

On October 16, 2014, Lloyd was traded to the Houston Dash. In February 2017, Lloyd joined Manchester City in England on loan. While playing for Manchester City, her team finished second in the league. They also won the 2016–17 FA Women's Cup, with Lloyd scoring a goal in the final game.

Sky Blue / NJ/NY Gotham (2018–2021)

On January 18, 2018, Lloyd was traded to Sky Blue FC (which later became NJ/NY Gotham FC). Lloyd scored 4 goals in 18 games for Sky Blue in 2018. She scored the only goal in a 1–0 win over the Orlando Pride on the last day of the 2018 NWSL season. This was Sky Blue's only win that season. She was also named to the 2018 NWSL Second XI, which recognizes top players.

International Career with the U.S. National Team

Youth National Team Experience

Before joining the senior team at age 23, Carli Lloyd played for the U.S. under-21 team. She played in the Nordic Cup four times, winning titles from 2002 to 2005. She scored goals and provided assists in these tournaments.

Senior National Team Debut and Early Success

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

Lloyd played her first game for the United States women's national soccer team on July 10, 2005, against Ukraine. She scored her first international goal on October 1, 2006, against Taiwan. At the 2007 Algarve Cup, Lloyd scored four goals and was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.

2007 FIFA Women's World Cup

Lloyd played in her first FIFA Women's World Cup in 2007. The U.S. team was a favorite to win. They tied North Korea and won against Sweden and Nigeria in the group stage. In the quarterfinal, the U.S. beat England 3–0. However, they lost to Brazil 4–0 in the semi-final. The team then won against Norway 4–1 to finish in third place. Lloyd started three of the five games she played in the tournament. She scored nine goals and had three assists for the team in 2007.

2008 Beijing Olympics

At the CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament, Lloyd scored the U.S.' only goal in the final against Canada, helping them win. She scored two goals at the 2008 Olympics. One was the winning goal against Japan in the group stage. The other was the winning goal in extra time against Brazil in the final, which helped the U.S. win the gold medal.

Lloyd was named the 2008 U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year. She started all 35 games she played in 2008. Her nine goals and nine assists made it her best scoring year for the national team so far.

Road to the 2011 World Cup

In 2010, Lloyd scored the first goal in the 2010 Algarve Cup final, helping the U.S. win the championship against Germany. Even though she broke her ankle in 2010, she played in 15 games for the United States. She scored two goals and had five assists at the 2010 CONCACAF Women's World Cup Qualifying Tournament. She earned her 100th game for the U.S. team during the play-off series against Italy.

2011 FIFA Women's World Cup

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

In 2011, the U.S. team prepared for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup. Lloyd scored the only goal for the U.S. in a loss to Sweden. In the championship match of the Four Nations Tournament, the U.S. beat Canada 2–0, with Lloyd scoring the first goal.

At the 2011 Algarve Cup, Lloyd scored three goals, including the first goal in the final. The team won the cup, their eighth title. At the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, Lloyd scored her first World Cup goal in a 3–0 win against Colombia. In the World Cup final, the U.S. tied Japan 2–2. The game went to penalty kicks, and the U.S. lost, earning the silver medal.

2012 London Olympics

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

The national team started 2012 with the Olympic Qualifiers. In the first match, the United States won 14–0 against the Dominican Republic, with Lloyd scoring one goal and one assist. She also scored and assisted in a 13–0 win against Guatemala.

In a game against Mexico, Lloyd scored her first career hat-trick, helping the U.S. win 4–0. She was named player of the match. In the semi-final, the U.S. beat Costa Rica 3–0, with Lloyd scoring another goal. The U.S. then defeated Canada 4–0 in the final to qualify for the Olympics. Lloyd finished the tournament with six goals and three assists.

Lloyd and teammate Hope Solo after the 2012 Summer Olympics final

At the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Lloyd scored the go-ahead goal in the opening match against France, helping the U.S. win 4–2. She scored her second goal of the tournament against Colombia.

During the Olympic gold medal match against Japan at Wembley Stadium, Lloyd scored both American goals in the team's 2–1 victory. Her four goals in the tournament were the second-highest on the U.S. team. She is the only player in history to score the winning goal in two different Olympic gold medal matches.

In October 2013, Lloyd scored her 46th international goal. This made her the highest-scoring midfielder in the team's history, passing Julie Foudy.

2015 FIFA Women's World Cup

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

In April 2015, Lloyd was chosen for the 23-player roster for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada. Lloyd was the team captain in four matches, including the quarterfinal against China, where she scored the winning goal. This was also her 200th game for the national team. She scored six goals during the tournament, including a hat-trick in the first 16 minutes of the final against Japan. Her third goal was a remarkable shot from near the halfway line.

For leading the United States to their third World Cup title, she won the Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament. Lloyd's six goals matched another player for the most goals, and she received the Silver Boot. She also became the first woman to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final. Her third goal was even nominated for the FIFA Puskás Award for Goal of the Year.

2019 FIFA Women's World Cup

Lloyd scored in her first two games of the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup. She scored one goal against Thailand and two goals against Chile. This made her the first player to score in six straight Women's World Cup matches.

Milestones and Retirement (2019–2021)

On April 10, 2021, Lloyd played her 300th game for the U.S. national team. She became only the third player to reach this milestone, after Kristine Lilly and Christie Pearce. On June 14, 2021, she became the oldest player to score for the United States at 38 years and 332 days old. She scored in a 4–0 win over Jamaica.

2020 Tokyo Olympics and Retirement

On August 5, 2021, Carli Lloyd scored two goals in a 4–3 win over Australia. This was in the bronze medal match of the 2020 Summer Olympics. With these goals, she set a new U.S. women's record for most Olympic goals, with 10 goals in total. After the Olympics, Lloyd announced she would retire from the national team in 2021.

After retiring, she partnered with Teqball USA. One of her goals is to help make Teqball an Olympic sport by 2028. She also created CL10 Soccer Clinic, a program to help people improve their soccer skills. In October 2022, she helped with the draw for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. She also helped with the draw for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar in April 2022.

Style of Play

Carli Lloyd was known for her strong determination, mental toughness, and hard work. She was a very energetic and hardworking player. She was also praised for her ball control, technique, and accurate passing. Lloyd could help her team both in defense and attack. This was because of her stamina, strength, and ability to win the ball. She was also good at getting into scoring positions and creating chances for her teammates.

These skills, along with her ability to play in different positions, made her a versatile player. She started her career as a defensive midfielder but was most comfortable playing as an attacking midfielder, just behind the forwards. Lloyd earned a reputation as a "clutch player" because she often scored important goals in big games. 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 with her husband, golfer Brian Hollins, in Medford, New Jersey. They got married on November 4, 2016. On May 1, 2024, the couple shared that they were expecting their first child in October 2024. On October 18, 2024, she gave birth to a baby girl.

Honors

Western New York Flash

NWSL Shield: 2013

Manchester City

FA Women's Cup: 2016–17

United States

Algarve Cup: 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015
CONCACAF Women's Championship: 2014, 2018
CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament: 2008, 2012, 2016; 2020
Olympic Gold Medal: 2008, 2012
Olympic Bronze Medal: 2021
FIFA Women's World Cup: 2015, 2019
Runner-up: 2011
SheBelieves Cup: 2016; 2018; 2020; 2021
Tournament of Nations: 2018

Individual

National Soccer Hall of Fame: 2025
Algarve Cup Most Valuable Player: 2007
U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year: 2008
FIFA World Player of the Year Shortlist: 2012, 2015, 2016
FIFA Puskás Award Nominee: 2015
NWSL Player of the Week: July 2013, July 2014
NWSL Player of the Month: July 2015
NWSL Second XI: 2014, 2015, 2018
CONCACAF Women's Player of the Year: 2015
CONCACAF Goal of the Year: 2015
FIFA Women's World Cup Golden Ball: 2015
FIFA Women's World Cup Silver Boot: 2015
FIFA Women's World Cup All-Star Team: 2015
FIFA Women's World Cup Dream Team: 2015
FIFA Women's World Cup Goal of the Tournament: 2015
Women's Sports Foundation Sportswoman of the Year Team Sport Award: 2015
IFFHS World's Best Woman Playmaker: 2015
FIFA World Player of the Year: 2015
FIFPro: FIFA FIFPro World XI 2015, 2016, 2021
The Best FIFA Women's Player: 2016
Inductee into New Jersey Hall of Fame: 2017
IFFHS CONCACAF Best Woman Player of the Decade 2011–2020
IFFHS World's Woman Team of the Decade 2011–2020
IFFHS CONCACAF Woman Team of the Decade 2011–2020