LONDON: England’s record goalscorer and Arsenal forward Kelly Smith has retired from football at 38.

Smith, who scored 46 goals for her country, became Britain’s first female professional footballer when she joined American side New Jersey in 1999.

The striker earned 117 England caps, played in six major tournaments and represented Team GB at the 2012 London Olympics.

Smith won five FA Cups with Arsenal, scoring six goals in those five finals.

“It just feels the time is right now,” she said.  “I think I’ve had a very good career at both international and club level, I’ve travelled the world and, at the age of 38, the body is telling me it needs to stop.

“I don’t have any regrets, I’ve loved every minute of it. Every time I put that England shirt on, I felt a lot of emotion playing for my country.

“The game is in a magnificent place at the moment and it’s good to step away at the right time.”

Smith, who ended her international career in 2015, played in two World Cups and four European Championships, scoring a goal in the final of Euro 2009.

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