Striker Abby Wambach has scored 160 goals in 207 appearances for the United States.
Twelve years later, aged
33, Wambach grabbed four first-half goals in a 5-0 win over South Korea
to overtake Hamm as the leading scorer in women's international soccer
history.
Wambach equaled Hamm's
record of 158 with her second goal after just 19 minutes of Thursday's
friendly game at New Jersey's Red Bull Arena before adding two more to
stand alone in the record books with 160 international goals -- the most
by any male or female player.
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"It's surreal," Wambach
told U.S. Soccer's official website. "I'm so thankful and my teammates
were trying to get me those goals.
"I can't thank them
enough. As a competitor you want to be done with the things that put me
at the forefront of conversations. This team is too good to be talking
about one person."
She added on her Twitter
page: "Let me just say thank you to Mia Hamm for giving me something to
chase, and to the fans for cheering me along the way. A special night."
Hamm had earlier
congratulated Wambach on her achievement. The New York native reached
the landmark figure in 207 games, while Hamm scored her total in 275
international matches before retiring in 2004.
"So proud of you, my friend. You are a warrior and true champion. Enjoy this," the 41-year-old tweeted.
Wambach was part of the
U.S. squads which won gold at the 2004 and 2012 Olympic Games, scoring
the decisive goal in a 2-1 win over Brazil in the gold medal match in
Athens nine years ago.
She has also represented
her country at three World Cups, helping the Americans to finish third
on home soil in 2003 before repeating the feat in China four years
later.
At the 2011 tournament in Germany, Wambach scored an extra-time goal to put the U.S. 2-1 up in the final against Japan.
Japan equalized to force a penalty shootout, which it won 4-1 -- with Wambach the only U.S. player to score her spot kick.
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