Tobin Heath, an iconic member of the U.S. women’s national soccer teams that clinched the Women’s World Cup in 2015 and 2019, confirmed her retirement on Thursday, concluding a decorated career. Heath’s last match occurred in August 2022, where she played for the Seattle Reign against the North Carolina Courage, securing a 4-1 victory. Her final international match took place in October 2021 during a friendly against South Korea.

Heath, now 37, faced significant challenges on the road to recovery from a major knee injury. “Over New Year’s, I truly accepted that I wasn’t going to be playing anymore, a realization that came after years of trying to come back. I invested a lot into surgeries and believed I could return, but the outcome was clear. I just couldn’t accept that this was how it ended for me,” said Heath in her announcement during her podcast, The RE-CAP Show, which she co-hosts with fellow teammate Christen Press.

A standout player in her prime, Heath represented the USWNT in 181 matches, contributed to two World Cup victories and Olympic gold medals, and earned the title of U.S. Soccer’s Female Athlete of the Year in 2016. She left her mark not only on the international stage but also in club soccer, winning two NWSL Championships with the Portland Thorns and accolades with teams such as Manchester United and Arsenal.

Heath’s skill on the ball and her capability to create impressive plays cemented her as one of the most esteemed players of her generation, reflected in her record of 36 goals and 42 assists for the national team, including a goal in the 2015 World Cup final, where the U.S. triumphed over Japan 5-2.

In recent years, Heath has taken on new challenges beyond the pitch, including her work on FIFA’s men’s Club World Cup technical study group.