Trailblazing star makes announcement ahead of her fourth FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign.
- Megan Rapinoe announces she will retire at end of NWSL season
- USA icon is two-time Women’s World Cup winner
- Star says representing her country has been ‘greatest thing I’ve ever done’
Two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup™ winner Megan Rapinoe has announced she will retire later this year.
The USA legend will call time on her glittering career upon the conclusion of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) season.
Rapinoe, widely acknowledged as one of the greatest players of her generation, is primed to feature in her fourth Women’s World Cup at Australia & New Zealand 2023.
The 38-year-old has been an instrumental figure in the USA teams which triumphed at Canada 2015 and France 2019. At the latter tournament, she won the adidas Golden Ball and Golden Boot awards following a succession of inspirational performances. Rapinoe was also voted The Best FIFA Women’s Player 2019.
The OL Reign star has won 199 senior USA caps and scored 63 goals, having made her international debut in 2006.
Her club side’s regular NWSL season ends in October 2023, with the play-off final on 11 November.
Rapinoe said:
“It is with a really deep sense of peace and gratitude and excitement that I want to share with you guys that this will be my last season, my last World Cup and my last NWSL season.
“I did want to do it my own way. I could have never imagined where this beautiful game would have taken me. I feel so honoured to have represented this country and this federation for so many years, it’s truly been the greatest thing that I’ve ever done and is something I’m so grateful for.”
Honours:
Lyon
OL Reign (formerly Seattle Reign FC)
United States
- FIFA Women’s World Cup: 2015, 2019
- Olympic Gold Medal: 2012]
- Olympic Bronze Medal: 2021
- Algarve Cup: 2011, 2013, 2015
- CONCACAF Women’s Championship: 2014, 2018, 2022
- SheBelieves Cup: 2018, 2020, 2021, 2023
- Tournament of Nations: 2018
- CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament: 2020
Individual
- Algarve Cup MVP: 2013
- NWSL Player of the Week: 2013 Week 16, 2015 Week 1, 2017 Week 11, 2017 Week 14, 2018 Week 1, 2018 Week 7
- NWSL Second XI: 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019
- NWSL Best XI: 2018
- IFFHS World’s Best Woman Playmaker: 2019
- IFFHS Women’s World Team: 2019
- The Best FIFA Women’s Player: 2019
- FIFA Women’s World Cup Golden Ball: 2019
- FIFA Women’s World Cup Golden Boot: 2019
- FIFPro World XI: 2019, 2020
- FIFA Women’s World Cup Final Player of the Match: 2019
- Ballon d’Or Féminin: 2019
- IFFHS CONCACAF Woman Team of the Decade 2011–2020
Media
- ESPY Award – Best Team (2015, 2019 as a member of the U.S. Women’s National Team)
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Megan Anna Rapinoe | ||
| Date of birth | July 5, 1985 (age 38) | ||
| Place of birth | Redding, California, U.S. | ||
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder, winger | ||
| Team information | |||
| Current team | OL Reign | ||
| Number | 15 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2002–2005 | Elk Grove Pride | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2005–2008 | Portland Pilots | 60 | (30) |
| Senior career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2009–2010 | Chicago Red Stars | 38 | (3) |
| 2011 | Philadelphia Independence | 4 | (1) |
| 2011 | MagicJack | 10 | (3) |
| 2011 | Sydney FC | 2 | (1) |
| 2012 | Seattle Sounders Women | 2 | (0) |
| 2013–2014 | Olympique Lyonnais | 28 | (8) |
| 2013– | OL Reign | 102 | (47) |
| International career | |||
| 2003–2005 | United States U-20 | 21 | (9) |
| 2006– | United States | 199 | (63) |
