Wambach is all-time leading scorer in women's football

United States striker Abby Wambach became the all-time top scorer in women's international soccer when she scored four first-half goals in a friendly against South Korea on Thursday to take her tally to 160.

The record was previously held by American Mia Hamm, who scored 158 goals in 275 games before retiring in 2004.

Wambach, playing in her 207th international, started the game at Red Bull Arena in New Jersey on 156 goals but she broke the record with a hat-trick inside 31 minutes.

The 33-year-old added fourth goal on the stroke of halftime. 

Image: Abby Wambach of USA reacts to the crowd after a 5-0 win against Korea Republic. Wambach broke Mia Hamm's alltime International goal scoring record with 159 at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey, on Thursday.

Photograph: Al Bello/Getty Images