Wales' greatest female footballer Jess Fishlock has announced her intention to retire from international football. The 38-year-old is her country's record goalscorer with 48 international goals, and she will play her 166th and final Wales game in the friendly against Australia at Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday, 25 October (14:00 BST).

The Seattle Reign midfielder became the oldest scorer at a Women's European Championship and Wales' first at a major finals, in the 4-1 defeat by France at Euro 2025.

"After 19 years and the most incredible journey of proudly representing my country, I have made the decision that the match against Australia will be my last in the red of Cymru," Fishlock said.

Fishlock started her career with hometown club Cardiff City Ladies - now called Gwalia United - making her first-team debut at 15. After coming through Wales' age-group teams, she made her senior debut against Switzerland in 2006. Games and goals flowed until, in April 2017, Fishlock became the first Wales footballer, male or female, to win 100 caps, the then 30-year-old marking her milestone with a goal in a 3-1 friendly win over Northern Ireland in Ystrad Mynach.

In July 2024 she became her country's leading international goalscorer, claiming her 45th - beating Helen Ward's previous mark - as Wales beat Kosovo 2-0 to seal a seeded spot in the European Championship qualifying play-offs.

The crowning point of her career came with Wales qualifying for their first appearance at a major women's tournament, as Rhian Wilkinson's side reached the 2025 European Championship. Although Wales would come away from Switzerland without a win from their three group games, fittingly it was Fishlock who scored their first goal - in the game against France - in the process becoming the oldest scorer in women's Euro finals history aged 38 years and 176 days.

"From kicking my first ball with my brothers in Llanrumney, football has been in my blood," Fishlock said in a social media post., external "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.

"The Euros was the pinnacle of my football career, seeing the dragon on the world stage for the first time will be a memory that will stay with me for a lifetime.

"To all the players and staff, past and present, diolch (thanks). It has been an incredible journey. The team has always felt like a family and after all the good and bad times, we finally achieved what we always dreamed of."

Fishlock thanked her wife, her former team-mate Tziarra King who she married in 2023, friends and family for their support during her career. "I love you all, she added. "Without the support you have all shown, without you getting me through the difficult moments, I never would have achieved what I achieved.

"To my Mum, a woman whose love and guidance allowed me to chase and reach my dreams. You believed in me before I believed in myself.

"To my wife Tziarra, for learning about our beautiful country and always supporting me and us. Thank you."

Fishlock's club football has taken her around the world, playing for Dutch side AZ Alkmaar, Melbourne Victory in Australia, Seattle Reign in the United States, plus Glasgow, Frankfurt and Lyon - winning the Champions League with each of the latter two sides. Her career has straddled the rise of women's football from an amateur game to one that is increasingly at home in the professional ranks, and Fishlock is adamant that the legacy left behind by herself and her fellow players must be used to further grow the game in Wales.

"The journey the women's game in Wales has taken has been incredible and things can only continue to grow," she added. "I see so many young girls playing football across Wales now, and the future is bright for our country.

"To all that are involved in growing the game at both grassroots and elite level in Wales, it is vital that the support continues to be there and we don't sit still for one second. Only together we can achieve success.

"The shirt is being passed on in a better place, and that is my biggest achievement of all.

"I can't wait to see what the future stars of our national team do with it."