In the soccer world, many players have left a significant impact. Lionel Messi. Maradona. Pele. Mia Hamm. Marta. Just a few who are the first names that come to mind anytime someone says "world-class soccer".
But there's one that deserves, and rightfully so, should also be on that list: Megan Rapinoe.
The End of an Era for USWNT's Rapinoe
The women’s soccer star announced on July 8th that she would retire later this year at the end of the National Women's Soccer League season.
https://twitter.com/mPinoe/status/1677728746789548032?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1677728746789548032%7Ctwgr%5E39b747fbd2639df2c51ed63b3eb03f48af92981e%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2023%2F07%2F08%2Fsports%2Fsoccer%2Fmegan-rapinoe-retirement-world-cup.html
Rapinoe and her career on the field had so many highlight-reel-worthy moments. She's about to reach 200 appearances for the U.S. women's national team as they head into the 2023 Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. And, as expected, the accolades don't stop there.
She's played most of her professional soccer career with the OL Reign out of Seattle. Rapinoe played with French side Olympique Lyonnais and what did she do there? Won a French title in 2013-2014 and the prestigious Ballon d'Or Feminin in 2019.
The 38-year-old has 63 goals in her international career. She's one of only seven American women with at least 50 goals and 50 assists in international competition. Rapinoe has a gold and bronze medal from the 2012 and 2020 Olympics, respectively.
She's played in three World Cups and in the 2019 contest, earned the Golden Boot for most goals scored and the Golden Ball for being the top player in the tournament. And in the quarterfinal match against host country France, she had one of many highlight reel moments.
After then President Donald Trump tweeted at her "Megan should WIN first before she TALKS! Finish the job!” In the quarterfinal, Rapinoe in the fifth minute of that match scored on a free kick. Then came the iconic moment seen around the world:
https://twitter.com/NESN/status/1144711463891820549?s=20
To cap it off, she scored again in the second half to catapult the team into the semifinals and ultimately, win her second World Cup.
In the 2023 edition of the event, Rapinoe is on her farewell tour. But not everything is sunshine and roses. An ankle injury has been plaguing the midfielder and a calf injury caused her to miss two national team friendlies against Ireland in April. Yet for the 23 players on the USWNT roster, she's a force in the locker room and on the pitch. There are 14 rookies on the roster this time around and having a vet like her is undoubtedly going to be a huge plus.
Rapinoe is ready for a championship-winning swan song
Rapinoe is fearless. She continues to her mark by being aggressive, bold, and innovative on the pitch, including fighting for equal pay. Back in 2016, she and four other teammates filed a federal labor complaint against U.S. Soccer for wage discrimination. The lawsuit saw Rapinoe become one of 28 players who filed a lawsuit in March 2019 against the U.S. Soccer Federation for pay discrimination. While the suit was dismissed by a federal judge in May 2020, an agreement was then reached in December to improve working conditions and pay parity.
Her biggest off-field accomplishment peaked in February 2022 when U.S. Soccer agreed to pay male and female players at an equal rate in all future friendlies and tournaments, including the World Cup.
Expect this World Cup to be a send-off on the international stage for Rapinoe. With the distraction of questions about retirement out of the way, she's going to do what she does best: leave it all on the pitch.
The USWNT plays its first match on Friday, July 21st against Group E competitor Vietnam. It should be a game that the U.S. will win and there's an expectation that Rapnioe will score her first goal of her last World Cup. There will be tough competition as the global sport of women's soccer has put a target on the back of the USWNT. They will face stiffer competition than in previous World Cups.
She's also going to be more of a more muted on-field role, as a reserve and veteran mentor for younger players on the U.S. team. But Rapinoe is going to be part of the push for any soccer team, men's or women's, to win three consecutive World Cup titles
There’s no doubt that she belongs in the upper echelon of all-time American women's soccer players. She deserves to join players like Abby Wambach, Hope Solo, Michelle Akers, and Julie Foudy. After her last NWSL game, they'll welcome her with open arms (which they likely already do).
The Land Down Under will be the first stop on a goodbye tour for the ages. As with all sports GOATs, it's never really goodbye as she hangs up her cleats.
It's just see you soon in a different capacity.
Yet one thing is for sure: Rapinoe helped to change the game of women's soccer, especially in the U.S. and that might be her biggest achievement of all.
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Mandatory Credit: AP Photo/Francisco Seco, AP Photo/Ashley Landis, & AP Photo/Josie Lepe
