Japan women's icon Homare Sawa announces her retirement

Former FIFA Women's World Player of the Year and World Cup winner Homare Sawa announced her retirement on Wednesday.

TOKYO (AP) — Former FIFA Women's World Player of the Year and World Cup winner Homare Sawa announced her retirement on Wednesday.

The 37-year-old Sawa is the former captain of Japan, and the 2011 Women's World Cup top-scorer and MVP.

She scored an extra-time equalizer when Japan beat the United States on penalties to win that Women's World Cup final.

For Japan, she has a record 205 caps and 83 goals.

Sawa played in the U.S. Women's Premier Soccer League from 1999-2010, and returned to Japan's domestic league in 2011.

She played in her sixth Women's World Cup this year in Canada, and helped Japan win a silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics.