Megan Rapinoe has played her last professional match.
The 38-year-old bid farewell during a 2-1 loss to Gotham FC in the NWSL Championship on Saturday, November 11. Rapinoe exited the game with an injury in the opening minutes.
Since making her international debut in 2006, Rapinoe has gone on to become an Olympic gold medalist and two-time Women’s World Cup winner. She was described by US Soccer as “one of the most impactful figures in the history of soccer in the United States and in the global women’s game.”
Off the field, Rapinoe is known for her work on social issues, including gender and pay equity, LGBTQ+ rights, and racial inequality.
Rapinoe played in her fourth and final World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. The Americans were eliminated in the round of 16 after a penalty shootout with Sweden.
Rapinoe was born in Redding, California, on July 5, 1985. From Megan Rapinoe/InstagramRapinoe battles for the ball during the 2005 NCAA Championship in College Station, Texas. Rapinoe’s Portland Pilots defeated UCLA to win the title.Rapinoe began her international career in July 2006 when she debuted against Ireland in San Diego, California.Rapinoe, front left, poses for a photo with her Chicago teammates before a match against the Washington Freedom in 2009.Rapinoe celebrates with members of her family after the United States defeated Brazil during the quarter-final match of the 2011 World Cup. It was her first World Cup appearance.Rapinoe handles the ball during the United States’ semi-final match against France at the 2011 World Cup. They would go on to defeat France before losing in the championship game to Japan. Odd Andersen/AFP/Getty ImagesRapinoe celebrates winning the gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics. Robert Cianflone/FIFA/Getty ImagesRapinoe plays a cornerkick during a match against South Korea in Harrison, New Jersey, in 2013.
Rapinoe is celebrated for her pivotal role in women’s soccer and her advocacy for critical societal issues. Rapinoe’s legacy will continue to inspire future generations not just in sports but also in the global fight for equality.
Rapinoe scores the game-winning penalty kick against the Netherlands during the quarterfinals of the Tokyo Olympics in July 2021. The goal advanced the United States’ to the semifinals.Rapinoe waves to fans after a match against Mexico in Monterrey, Mexico, in July 2022.
