A true legend in American soccer history will be calling it quits soon.
Megan Rapinoe, the longtime winger for the NWSL’s OL Reign and the United States women’s national team, announced on Saturday that she will be retiring from professional soccer at the end of her NSWL season this fall.
In her decorated career, the U.S. women’s national team won the 2015 and 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the gold medal with the team at the 2012 London Summer Olympics.
Rapinoe also individually won the Golden Ball and Golden Boot honors at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup for her stellar performance.
She received a Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Joe Biden in 2022 for her on-field achievements and her off-field social activism.
It is with a deep sense of peace & gratitude that I have decided this will be my final season playing this beautiful game. I never could have imagined the ways in which soccer would shape & change my life forever, but by the look on this little girl’s face, she knew all along. pic.twitter.com/XGZ1T9i7Wy
— Megan Rapinoe (@mPinoe) July 8, 2023
Rapinoe will play in her final FIFA Women’s World Cup with the U.S. women’s national team this month.
After Rapinoe announced news of her retirement, soccer fans paid tribute to the trailblazing athlete and advocate’s career.