US Women’s National Team star Megan Rapinoe, a two-time Women’s World Cup winner, announced she would retire at the end of the 2023 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) season.
Rapinoe, an Olympic gold medalist from London in 2012, played in her fourth and final World Cup and it couldn’t have ended any worse for her. With Sweden and the USWNT scoreless through 90 minutes and extra time, Rapinoe had a chance to help send the United States to the World Cup quarterfinals when her turn arrived to take a penalty.
Rapinoe missed the penalty kick in brutal fashion, sending it straight over the net. She smiled and held her head down in bewilderment as she watched Sweden come back to stun the United States in penalty kicks and eliminate the USWNT before the semifinals for the first time.
It had been five years since Rapinoe had last missed a penalty in 2018, that one coming during a NWSL game.
ESPN aired a special tribute to Rapinoe, which was posted on YouTube.
The video, which was narrated by Rapinoe’s partner, Sue Bird, highlights the soccer star’s “patriotism” and her “love” for America.
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Fans took to the comment section and had many things to say about those descriptions after she became known for kneeling during the playing of the National Anthem, and when she did stand, she would refuse to sing along.
Rapinoe’s storied international career ends on a brutal note. The USWNT legend retires with two World Cup titles in 2015 and 2019, the Golden Ball and Golden Boot awards in 2019, and an Olympic gold medal in 2012.
In the aftermath, Rapinoe said the USWNT’s advocacy for social issues may be what she cherishes most about the team.
“I think this team has always fought for so much more, and that’s been the most rewarding part for me,” Rapinoe said Sunday, adding that her most memorable moment might have been hearing “equal pay” chants during the 2019 World Cup final.
“Of course, playing in World Cups and winning championships and doing all that. To know that we’ve used our really special talent to do something that’s changed the world forever, I think that means the most to me.”
Rapinoe is one of the greatest soccer players in the history of the U.S. women’s national team, but it looks like her career will end on controversy rather than the heroic exit she deserved for her stellar play.
When politics invade sports, this is basically the end result of it.
