Jess Fishlock: The Wales great discusses future role with Ryan Wilkinson

Fishlock is Wales’ most capped player and top scorer, having won 166 caps and scored 48 goals.

She stepped away from Wales duty in the wake of Euro 2025, the country’s first major international women’s football tournament, and insisted it was the “right time” after making her farewell appearance in a friendly against Australia.

As for the idea of ​​playing some role for Wales in their 2027 World Cup qualifiers against the Czech Republic and Montenegro in March, Fishlock remains hesitant.

“I’d like to stay involved in some capacity; it hasn’t been a clean break – I’m still texting girls all the time. But we’ll wait and see,” Fishlock told BBC Sport.

Fishlock played 18 games for the Seattle Reign last season and helped them qualify for the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) end-of-season playoffs.

Her contribution at club level has led some in Wales to suggest she can still play a full role in Wilkinson’s side as they attempt to qualify for the Women’s World Cup finals for the first time.

But although Fishlock says she misses her international teammates, she reiterated that it is time for the next generation to take over.

“People said, ‘If you come back, you might as well play,’” she says. “But it is still the right time not to play internationally.

“I still want to help in any way I can, my experience being around might help. But no, I’m not thinking about coming out of retirement.”

Fishlock also has no regrets about the European Championship, despite Wales prevailing in a group that included France, the Netherlands and England, who eventually won the title.

Wales lost all three of their matches while conceding 13 goals, leaving them with the worst group stage record in the history of the competition.

“I still look back on this with pride and happiness,” Fishlock says. “Representing the entire country, it was more impactful than I thought it would be.

“Seeing how Wales looked in front of us, that was the best part of the whole thing. As a competitor it hurt, but for the whole world to see who we are as a nation goes beyond that.

“I still get goosebumps from the first game [versus Netherlands] And seeing the red wall – it will stay with me forever.”