Abby Wambach

This might sound masochistic or narcissistic, I don't know, but when I'm not playing the game, the validations I feel about life are always through the hardships. I relate more to sadness, in a lot of ways, when I'm not playing.

The truth is, I've been on a team my whole life. I'm the youngest of 7, so I've been training to be an athlete my whole life.

I've always had a dream of owning a restaurant.

I'm not in the business of politics.

I think there's so much emphasis on body image and results and outcome, but really what you should be after is to be healthy and to feel good about yourself.

I want to reduce my risks as much as possible and hopefully be able to go to the World Cup fit, ready and healthy.

At the most elite level, your nutrition becomes a lifestyle: it's not something you have to do when you're preparing for Olympic games or World Cup games - you just do it. You're more inclined to eat healthier because it's better for your muscles.

When I was in college, I learned to really take care of my body and figured out what works best for me and what doesn't work for me when it comes to my nutrition. That helped so much on the field because soccer is such a fitness-oriented game.

I've always been motivated more by negative comments than by positive ones. I know what I do well. Tell me what I don't do well.

To win a championship, you have to have a little bit of luck on your side.

When you can score three goals without the most prolific scorer in the world, you know you have a lot of depth, and it gives you confidence.

I am not a politician by nature, but I will say I think there need to be more women in FIFA, and I would be open to having those conversations when the time is right.