Rapinoe’s illustrious soccer career ends this season.
Megan Rapinoe has announced her decision to retire from professional football at the conclusion of the current campaign.
The 38-year-old, who is currently gearing up for her fourth World Cup with the Stars and Stripes, will bid farewell to the sport after the 2023 NWSL season.
“I feel incredibly grateful to have played as long as I have, to be as successful as we’ve been, and to have been a part of a generation of players who undoubtedly left the game better than they found it,” Rapinoe said on Saturday.
“To be able to play one last World Cup and one last NWSL season and go out on my own terms is incredibly special.”
As an 11-year veteran of the league, Rapinoe has earned numerous accolades, including NWSL Shields, Best XI and Second XI selections, and Player of the Month honours.
Beyond her club career, Rapinoe’s international success and activism have solidified her status as a football legend. With 199 caps for the USWNT, she has achieved remarkable feats, such as winning an Olympics Gold Medal and being a two-time World Cup champion.
Rapinoe’s exceptional performance in the 2019 World Cup earned her prestigious individual titles, including the Best FIFA Women’s Player 2019 and the Ballon d’Or Féminin in the same year.
Rapinoe has been an outspoken advocate for pay equity and the Black Lives Matter movement. The 38-year-old’s inspiring activism saw her become the first soccer player to be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2022.