Julie Ertz will take the field on Thursday at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati wearing the United States crest for the final time. After debuting on the senior team in 2013, she has spent a decade as one of the most impactful players in recent memory. This is even more impressive considering she plays two positions — center-back and defensive midfielder — that typically don’t grab the most attention.
After a stellar career in the United States’ youth system, Ertz worked her way into becoming an integral part of the senior U.S. squad helping the team win two back-to-back World Cup titles in 2015 and 2019. She became such an irreplaceable player for the national team that while out on injury for maternity leave and injury recovery for 18 months from 2021 to 2023, numerous articles were written about how the United States could fill the void she left and solve the ‘Ertz dilemma’.
Now, after a surprise return to this summer’s World Cup, Ertz is hanging up her boots for good and retiring from international play. Here’s a quick look back at just a few of the key moments that helped define a stellar career.
