TIANJIN, China (AFP) — She has more caps than some teams put together, and has represented the United States since the Reagan era, but 20 years since her debut Kristine Lilly still towers over world football.
The talismanic captain, 36, celebrated her 335th international appearance with a goal in the 3-0 World Cup quarter-final rout of England, earning player-of-the-match honours and a glowing tribute from coach Greg Ryan.
"Kristine has really been the cornerstone of this team, the player that we built the team around and the player who leads the team," Ryan said.
"She leads by example on the field and off the field. It's so important to have her experience and her passion and compassion for the team. I can't imagine this team without her."
When the 16-year-old Lilly made her debut in 1987, Washington was reverberating to the Iran-Contra scandal and Kylie Minogue's debut hit "Locomotion" was riding high in the charts.
It was just the 15th match for the fledgling national team whose rise to world dominance is epitomised by the five-foot-four (1.63 metres) blonde from Wilton, Connecticut.
Lilly has started every World Cup and Olympic match the United States has played -- eight tournaments in all -- bringing home each title twice.
Her appearance record is considered unbreakable by either men or women after she outstripped UAE player Adnan Al Talyani's 164, eight years ago in 1999. The nearest contender is currently on 181.
Now on 127 international goals for the United States, second only to Mia Hamm, Lilly was shortlisted for last year's World Player of the Year award, losing out to Brazilian star Marta.
She underlined her enduring worth with an influential display against England, setting up Abby Wambach's opener and earning reward for her tireless running with the final goal of the night.
Despite the accolades and obvious reverence from her team-mates, many of whom are more than 10 years her junior, the unassuming Lilly remains modest about her achievements.
"We all want to make an impact in the game. My job is to score goals and assist goals," she said.
"I think today we saw everybody having an impact. It wasn't about me or Abby, it was about the team and I think we get a good performance when we play together like we did today."
The secret of her success, she says, is simple: a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and a banana before every match.
"It's easy on my stomach and tasty," she confided.
Lilly, now just two wins away from a third title, has not announced any retirement plans but is known to want children with her husband Dave.
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