Tobin Heath: Five Memorable Moments
Heath will be honored on March 7 with a pre-game retirement celebration ahead of 2026 SheBelieves Cup matches at Sports Illustrated Stadium in her home state of New Jersey
Widely considered one of the most skillful players to ever wear the crest, Tobin Heath’s 13-year career with the U.S. Women’s National Team was filled with incredible moments that made her one of the most decorated players in program history.
After 181 caps, two World Cup titles and three Olympic medals, Heath officially announced her retirement from professional soccer last summer. The legendary attacker and playmaker will be honored next month in her home state of New Jersey ahead of the final matches of the 2026 SheBelieves Cup at Sports Illustrated Stadium on March 7.
Whether it was one of her 36 goals or 42 assists – or a saucy move that didn’t show up on the scoresheet – Heath always captivated fans when she took the pitch. Here are five memorable moments from her USWNT career:
One of Heath’s most iconic goals for the U.S. was the exclamation point in the 5-2 win over Japan in the 2015 World Cup Final in Vancouver, Canada. Two minutes after Japan had cut the deficit in half with its second goal, the U.S. earned a corner kick. The Japanese goalkeeper got a fist to Lauren Holiday’s curling service, but Morgan Brian pounced on the loose ball near the endline on the right. The midfielder played a quick cross inside a crowded six-yard box to Heath, whose first touch with the inside of her right foot sent the ball into the back of the net.
Heath played in all six matches of the 2012 London Olympics to earn her second gold medal. In the group stage, she assisted Alex Morgan in the team’s 4-2 comeback win over France before assisting Abby Wambach in the 3-0 win against Colombia. Heath's third assist came in the quarterfinal against New Zealand after sending a long ball forward for Sydney Leroux who scored the second goal of the 2-0 win.
Heath was named U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year after tallying six goals and eight assists in 22 appearances in 2016. She scored against Trinidad and Tobago and against Canada in Olympic qualifying in February before adding two assists that summer in the 2016 Rio Olympics. After being named Young Female Player of the Year in 2009, Heath became just the second player in program history to earn both honors.
Heath scored the first goal of her career in her third international appearance on March 5, 2008, when the U.S. opened the Algarve Cup in Portugal against China PR. Heath entered the match at halftime and quickly doubled the lead for the U.S. She intercepted a pass at the top of China’s penalty box and deftly chipped a shot over the diving goalkeeper with her preferred left foot to give the U.S. a 2-0 lead in the 47th minute.
Heath played her final match in a U.S. jersey on Oct. 26, 2021, when the U.S. rolled past Korea Republic 6-0. After making a run with the ball down the middle of the field, Heath showed off some fancy footwork that sent her defender to the ground. Space opened for a pass through to Lynn Williams (now Biyendolo), who converted the final goal of the night.