Wambach to miss Olympics after breaking leg

The United States' chances of winning gold in women's soccer at next month's Olympics were dealt a major blow Wednesday when leading striker Abby Wambach suffered a broken leg in a friendly against Brazil.

Wambach fractured both the tibia and fibula in her left leg in a collision, and will undergo surgery Thursday to insert a titanium rod, sidelining her for three months and ending her Olympic ambitions.

Wambach signals for team doctors after going down with a broken leg. (Donald Miralle / Getty Images)

"I want to thank all the fans, the doctors, the players on the team and Tasha Kai for scoring the winning goal," Wambach said from the emergency room. "Obviously, it's devastating, but above everything else, I'm only one player, and you can never win a championship with just one player. I have the utmost confidence in this team bringing home the gold."

Wambach, 28, is the team's leading scorer this year with 13 goals and 10 assists. She has led the team in scoring in the past three major championships and is one of the top scorers in U.S. history with 99 goals in 127 games.

"I was very emotional," U.S. captain Lindsay Tarpley said of seeing Wambach taken off the field. "She is one of my best friends."

The match, the Americans' final tuneup before they begin defense of their Olympic title, was won 1-0 through an 84th minute header by substitute Kai, who replaced Wambach.

"My heart sank," Kai said. "We need her. She's a big piece of a great team."

Wambach went down hard after colliding with Brazil defender Andreia Rosa. Wambach began signaling the sideline almost immediately for help. She appeared to be in considerable pain as paramedics fitted her with an inflatable brace before carting her off the field after 6 minutes.

"We will miss her if she missed the Olympics," U.S. coach Pia Sundhage said.

Andreia Rosa got up after a minute and continued in the game.

The U.S. opens its Olympics on Aug. 6 against Norway. That title defense will now be much tougher without the player who scored the winning extra-time goal that clinched the gold medal at the 2004 Olympics.

"I'm excited to watch them and cheer them on during this challenge they've been presented with," Wambach said. "It's really going to take everyone coming together. I love them all so much, and appreciate so many people involved with this game and the team.

"I put my heart and soul into this game every day, but sometimes accidents happen. I've gotten so many calls already, and I just want to say how much I appreciate that."