U.S. soccer superstar Lilly retires

Kristine Lilly, the last remaining player from the U.S. teams that transformed women's soccer from a fringe college sport into an international phenomenon, is retiring.

The 39-year-old midfielder is the only player to take part in all five Women's World Cups, helping the Americans win in 1991 and ‘99, and her 352 appearances for the U.S. set a world record. She also played on three Olympic teams, winning the gold medal in 1996 and 2004. She is second only to Mia Hamm in both goals scored (130) and assists (105).

Lilly wasn't part of the gold medal team at the Beijing Olympics because she had her first child, Sidney, in 2008. But she returned to national team duty last year, helping the Americans qualify for this summer's World Cup in Germany.