Some of Kristine Lilly’s statistics are mind-boggling. There has even been the rare game in her career against a small country where her cap total has exceeded the total of the entire opponent’s starting lineup. There have only been 53 matches in U.S. history that she hasn’t played in, but 15 of those came before her debut. It makes you wonder…what the heck was she doing for the other 38? No. 10 Not counting 2001 when the USA played 10 matches, and 2005 when the USA played nine, Lilly has played more than 1,200 minutes for the National Team every year since 1991. No. 9 Lilly has appeared for the United States in three different decades. No. 8 Lilly has been on the field for the USA for 24,181 minutes. No. 7 Lilly has scored in every world championship tournament she has played, except the 1991 Women’s World Cup when she was 20. No. 6 Lilly’s 88 career assists are the most-ever by a U.S. player besides Mia Hamm and her 104 goals are fifth best in women’s soccer history. No. 5 Lilly has started every match the U.S. Women’s National Team has ever played in Women’s World Cup and Olympic competition. No. 4 In her 299 caps, Lilly has 288 starts. She has come off the bench just 11 times in her 18-year career. The last time she didn’t start a game was Sept. 1, 2003, vs. Costa Rica. No. 3 The U.S. women have played 352 matches in their history. Lilly has played in 299 of them, about 85%. No. 2 Lilly has also 1) played against 39 different countries, 2) scored against 30 different countries, 3) played in 21 countries and 4) scored in 15 countries. No. 1
299 caps. ‘Nuff said.
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