Diolch Jess: Fishlock leaves monumental Wales legacy following international retirement | OneFootball

Jess Fishlock has announced her retirement from international football and played her 166th and final Wales match in the friendly against Australia at Cardiff City Stadium on October 25th.

For more than two decades, Jess Fishlock has been the heartbeat of Welsh football. A tireless midfielder whose resilience, leadership and passion carried her country onto the international stage and beyond.

From becoming the first Welsh player to reach 100 caps, to inspiring teammates and fans with her relentless drive. Fishlock has redefined what it means to wear the red shirt. As she announces her retirement, football will celebrate not just her records and achievements, but the enduring legacy of a player who made the extraordinary possible.

A career of milestones

At just 15, Fishlock began her club career making her debut with hometown club Cardiff City Ladies, now Gwalia United. Joining Seattle Reign in 2013, she helped the team to numerous Shields, was named league MVP in 2021, and made the NWSL’s Best XI five times. During a loan spell with Lyon in 2019, she lifted the UEFA Women’s Champions League trophy. Fishlock also had successful stints with Melbourne City and Reading.

Alongside her club career, her Wales career is one decorated with milestones and moments of history. Having progressed through the youth age groups, she made her senior debut against Switzerland in 2006. And from this moment Welsh football changed forever.

In April 2017, Fishlock became the first Welsh footballer, male or female to win 100 caps. She marked the occasion with a goal against Northern Ireland.

The following year she received an MBE for service to football and the LGBTQ+ community. Then, in 2024, she surpassed Helen Ward to become Wales’ all-time leading goalscorer, striking her 45th goal in a crucial Euro qualifying play off.

Embed from Getty Images

Reaching the biggest stage

The crowning point in a Wales shirt came in the summer of 2025, when Wales qualified for their first major tournament. It was a record-breaking moment not only for the team but also for Fishlock. She became the oldest goalscorer in tournament history at 38 years and 176 days, and she netted Wales’ first-ever goal on the biggest stage.

Wales did not make it out of the group stage at the tournament, facing some of the toughest opponents in the tournament. But their presence was symbolic of far more than results on the pitch.

It marked the arrival of Welsh football in major tournaments, the culmination of years of graft, and a moment that carried significance beyond the final whistle.

For Jess Fishlock, it was the ultimate reward for a career spent breaking barriers and laying the foundation for the next generation and the future of Welsh football.

Embed from Getty Images

A legacy beyond the pitch

Reflecting on her international career, she said: “From kicking my first ball with my brothers in Llanrumney, football has been in my blood. When I had my debut against Switzerland in Kloten in 2006, never did I imagine I would have the honour of representing my Cymru more than 150 times. Every minute was a pleasure, a privilege, and an honour.”

As she hangs up her boots, the 38-year-old leaves as Wales’ all-time leader in goals and appearances. It is a legacy that stretches far beyond the numbers. Fishlock has been a pioneer and a role model for women’s football in Wales and globally.

Fishlock departs having inspired a generation to believe in their own dreams. She proved that with determination, courage and heart, anything is possible.

Diolch, Jess.

Related articles from Her Football Hub: