Megan Rapinoe, the renowned soccer star who has surpassed the boundaries of her sport to become one of the most vocal, accomplished, and dynamic athletes of her time, decided not to wait until the end to reveal that this season would mark the end of her career. She refused to keep it a secret during the Women’s World Cup, scheduled to take place later this month in Australia and New Zealand. Instead, Rapinoe, known for her boldness, chose to speak out on the matter.
During a press conference held in San Jose, Calif. on Saturday, where the U.S. team was preparing for their game against Wales, Rapinoe, 38, announced her decision to retire. She expressed gratitude to everyone and acknowledged that she could have never foreseen how far the game of soccer would take her. Playing for the national team has been “the greatest thing” she has accomplished in her life, according to her.
After a remarkable 17-year career with Team U.S.A. and her notable activism for rights such as L.G.B.T.Q. rights, equal pay, the Black Lives Matter movement, and voter rights, Rapinoe will compete in her fourth Women’s World Cup and conclude her final season in the National Women’s Soccer League. She stated that she feels at peace and grateful that she can end her career on her own terms, while still at the top of her game.
Throughout Rapinoe’s illustrious career, she has played 199 games for the national team, scoring 63 goals for the United States. She has participated in three Olympics and won a gold medal with her team in the 2012 London Games. Notably, she has shown her ability to perform under pressure, as exemplified by her outstanding performance in the quarterfinals against France in the 2019 World Cup. This came just days after former President Donald J. Trump criticized her stance on not visiting the Trump White House if her team emerged victorious.
Trump’s comment was: “Megan should WIN first before she TALKS! Finish the job!”
However, Rapinoe remained unfazed. In the fifth minute of the match against France, she scored on a free kick and celebrated with open arms, absorbing the applause of the fans. Sporting her trademark purple hair that often changed colors, she scored again in the second half, leading her team to a 2-1 victory and securing a place in the semifinals. Ultimately, the United States went on to win the World Cup for the second time in a row.
Rapinoe’s incredible performance in 2019 earned her the Ballon d’Or as the FIFA women’s player of the year. She also received the Golden Boot as the top scorer and the Golden Ball as the top player of the tournament. Her teammate, Alex Morgan, expressed her happiness for Rapinoe’s decision to retire, remarking that she is a great player who has made significant contributions to the program and to the sport as a whole.
Rapinoe expressed her gratitude that her body has held up throughout her career, despite facing injuries and battling through this season with an ankle injury. Even if she won’t be at her peak physical condition, her leadership will be crucial for a relatively inexperienced U.S. team, consisting of 14 World Cup rookies out of a roster of 23. Many of these aspiring players have idolized Rapinoe since their childhood, and she continues to be an inspiration to them.
Crystal Dunn, a defender on the team, spoke highly of Rapinoe, describing her as someone she looks up to and leans on not only for soccer-related matters but also for random discussions. Dunn emphasized the importance of having Rapinoe in her corner.
For Rapinoe, it’s the little moments and details that she will cherish and miss the most. These include entering a locker room after a championship match, seeing the lockers covered in tarps, anticipating a wild champagne celebration, or the excitement of welcoming teammates back after maternity leave. She will also miss the Olympic experience, as her retirement means she won’t be competing in the 2024 Paris Games next summer. She acknowledges that some aspects of the game will be difficult to leave behind.
With the news of her retirement now public, Rapinoe aims to focus solely on winning the World Cup without any distractions. She firmly believes that even if there is only one second left on the clock, it is more than enough time, a lesson she learned early on in her career.
Claire Fahy reported from San Jose, Calif.
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