American soccer star Megan Rapinoe | CNN

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US soccer player Megan Rapinoe celebrates after scoring a goal during the 2019 World Cup quarterfinals against France.
US soccer player Megan Rapinoe celebrates after scoring a goal during the 2019 World Cup quarterfinals against France.
Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images
Sports

In pictures: American soccer star Megan Rapinoe

Updated 5:39 PM EST, Sun November 12, 2023
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Megan Rapinoe has played her last professional match.

The 38-year-old bid farewell during a 2-1 loss to Gotham FC in the NWSL Championship on Saturday, November 11. Rapinoe exited the game with an injury in the opening minutes.

Since making her international debut in 2006, Rapinoe has gone on to become an Olympic gold medalist and two-time Women's World Cup winner. She was described by US Soccer as "one of the most impactful figures in the history of soccer in the United States and in the global women's game."

Off the field, Rapinoe is known for her work on social issues, including gender and pay equity, LGBTQ+ rights and racial inequality.

Rapinoe played in her fourth and final World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. The Americans were eliminated in the round of 16 after a penalty shootout with Sweden.

Rapinoe was born in Redding, California, on July 5, 1985.
Rapinoe was born in Redding, California, on July 5, 1985.
From Megan Rapinoe/Instagram
Rapinoe battles for the ball during the 2005 NCAA Championship in College Station, Texas. Rapinoe's Portland Pilots defeated UCLA to win the title.
Rapinoe battles for the ball during the 2005 NCAA Championship in College Station, Texas. Rapinoe's Portland Pilots defeated UCLA to win the title.
David J. Phillip/AP
Rapinoe began her international career in July 2006 when she debuted against Ireland in San Diego, California.
Rapinoe began her international career in July 2006 when she debuted against Ireland in San Diego, California.
Donald Miralle/Getty Images
Rapinoe, front left, poses for a photo with her Chicago teammates before a match against the Washington Freedom in 2009.
Rapinoe, front left, poses for a photo with her Chicago teammates before a match against the Washington Freedom in 2009.
Andy Mead/YCJ/Icon Sport Media/Getty Images
Rapinoe celebrates with members of her family after the United States defeated Brazil during the quarter-final match of the 2011 World Cup. It was her first World Cup appearance.
Rapinoe celebrates with members of her family after the United States defeated Brazil during the quarter-final match of the 2011 World Cup. It was her first World Cup appearance.
Odd Andersen/AFP/Getty Images
Rapinoe handles the ball during the United States' semi-final match against France at the 2011 World Cup. They would go on to defeat France before losing in the championship game to Japan.
Rapinoe handles the ball during the United States' semi-final match against France at the 2011 World Cup. They would go on to defeat France before losing in the championship game to Japan.
Odd Andersen/AFP/Getty Images
Rapinoe celebrates winning the gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics.
Rapinoe celebrates winning the gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics.
Robert Cianflone/FIFA/Getty Images
Rapinoe plays a cornerkick during a match against South Korea in Harrison, New Jersey, in 2013.
Rapinoe plays a cornerkick during a match against South Korea in Harrison, New Jersey, in 2013.
Al Bello/Getty Images
Rapinoe celebrates with her teammates after defeating Germany in the semi-final match of the 2015 World Cup in Montreal.
Rapinoe celebrates with her teammates after defeating Germany in the semi-final match of the 2015 World Cup in Montreal.
Stuart Franklin/FIFA/Getty Images
From left, Rapinoe, Lauren Holiday and Carli Lloyd celebrate Lloyd's second goal during the 2015 World Cup championship match against Japan, on their way to winning the title.
From left, Rapinoe, Lauren Holiday and Carli Lloyd celebrate Lloyd's second goal during the 2015 World Cup championship match against Japan, on their way to winning the title.
Elaine Thompson/AP
Rapinoe, far right, looks on with her teammates as then-President Obama welcomes them to the White House in October 2015. The visit was in honor of their World Cup victory.
Rapinoe, far right, looks on with her teammates as then-President Obama welcomes them to the White House in October 2015. The visit was in honor of their World Cup victory.
Zach Gibson/The New York Times/Redux
Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks with Rapinoe during a roundtable discussion on pay equality in New York in 2016. Rapinoe has been a long-time advocate of equal pay in sport.
Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks with Rapinoe during a roundtable discussion on pay equality in New York in 2016. Rapinoe has been a long-time advocate of equal pay in sport.
Eric Thayer/Getty Images
Rapinoe kneels during the National Anthem before a match against Thailand in Columbus, Ohio, in 2016. She was <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fbleacherreport.com%2Farticles%2F2663982-megan-rapinoe-kneels-during-national-anthem-before-usa-vs-thailand" target="_blank" target="_blank">protesting racial injustice</a> in solidarity with San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
Rapinoe kneels during the National Anthem before a match against Thailand in Columbus, Ohio, in 2016. She was protesting racial injustice in solidarity with San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
Kyle Robertson/The Columbus Dispatch/AP
Rapinoe celebrates scoring her team's first of two goals in their 2019 World Cup quarterfinal win over France in Paris.
Rapinoe celebrates scoring her team's first of two goals in their 2019 World Cup quarterfinal win over France in Paris.
Joosep Martinson/FIFA/Getty Images
Rapinoe celebrates with her family after defeating France at the 2019 World Cup.
Rapinoe celebrates with her family after defeating France at the 2019 World Cup.
Maddie Meyer/FIFA/Getty Images
Rapinoe scored her team's first goal from the penalty spot during the 2019 World Cup championship match against the Netherlands in Lyon, France. Rapinoe scored a tournament-high six goals as the Americans <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2019%2F07%2F03%2Ffootball%2Fgallery%2Fuswnt-world-cup-2019%2Findex.html" target="_blank">won their second straight World Cup title</a>.
Rapinoe scored her team's first goal from the penalty spot during the 2019 World Cup championship match against the Netherlands in Lyon, France. Rapinoe scored a tournament-high six goals as the Americans won their second straight World Cup title.
Elsa/Getty Images
Rapinoe lifts the World Cup trophy while celebrating with her teammates following the United States' victory over the Netherlands in 2019.
Rapinoe lifts the World Cup trophy while celebrating with her teammates following the United States' victory over the Netherlands in 2019.
Alex Grimm/Getty Images
Rapinoe poses with the Golden Boot and Golden Ball awards at the 2019 World Cup. The Golden Ball is awarded to the tournament's top player and the Golden Boot is given to the tournament's top scorer.
Rapinoe poses with the Golden Boot and Golden Ball awards at the 2019 World Cup. The Golden Ball is awarded to the tournament's top player and the Golden Boot is given to the tournament's top scorer.
Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
Rapinoe, right, pours champagne into Allie Long's mouth during a ticker-tape parade in New York to commemorate the Americans' World Cup victory in July 2019.
Rapinoe, right, pours champagne into Allie Long's mouth during a ticker-tape parade in New York to commemorate the Americans' World Cup victory in July 2019.
Damon Winter/The New York Times/Redux
Rapinoe poses for a portrait before The Best FIFA Football Awards in Milan, Italy, in 2019. During the ceremony she was recognized as the best women's player that year.
Rapinoe poses for a portrait before The Best FIFA Football Awards in Milan, Italy, in 2019. During the ceremony she was recognized as the best women's player that year.
Michael Regan/FIFA/Getty Images
From left, first lady Jill Biden, American soccer player Margaret Purce and Rapinoe watch US President Joe Biden sign a proclamation declaring March 24, 2021, as National Equal Pay Day during an event in Washington, DC.
From left, first lady Jill Biden, American soccer player Margaret Purce and Rapinoe watch US President Joe Biden sign a proclamation declaring March 24, 2021, as National Equal Pay Day during an event in Washington, DC.
Doug Mills/The New York Times/Redux
Rapinoe scores the game-winning penalty kick against the Netherlands during the quarterfinals of the Tokyo Olympics in July 2021. The goal advanced the United States' to the semifinals.
Rapinoe scores the game-winning penalty kick against the Netherlands during the quarterfinals of the Tokyo Olympics in July 2021. The goal advanced the United States' to the semifinals.
Jack Gruber/USA Today/Reuters
Rapinoe watches the ball with Australia's Alanna Kennedy during the bronze medal match of the Tokyo Olympics. Rapinoe scored two goals during the match, lifting her team to a 4-3 victory.
Rapinoe watches the ball with Australia's Alanna Kennedy during the bronze medal match of the Tokyo Olympics. Rapinoe scored two goals during the match, lifting her team to a 4-3 victory.
Lu Yang/Xinhua News Agency/eyevine/Redux
Rapinoe kisses her fiancée, American basketball player Sue Bird, after the United States defeated Japan in the women's basketball gold medal game at the Tokyo Olympics in August 2021. Rapinoe and Bird met at the 2016 Olympics and were engaged in 2020.
Rapinoe kisses her fiancée, American basketball player Sue Bird, after the United States defeated Japan in the women's basketball gold medal game at the Tokyo Olympics in August 2021. Rapinoe and Bird met at the 2016 Olympics and were engaged in 2020.
Tim Clayton/Corbis/Getty Images
Rapinoe attends the Met Gala in September 2021. She was carrying a red, white and blue clutch that read "in gay we trust."<br />
Rapinoe attends the Met Gala in September 2021. She was carrying a red, white and blue clutch that read "in gay we trust."
Calla Kessler/The New York Times/Redux
President Joe Biden <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2022%2F07%2F07%2Fpolitics%2Fbiden-presidential-medal-of-freedom%2Findex.html" target="_blank">presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Rapinoe</a> at the White House in July 2022. She became the first female soccer player to receive the award.
President Joe Biden presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Rapinoe at the White House in July 2022. She became the first female soccer player to receive the award.
Alex Wong/Getty Images
Rapinoe waves to fans after a match against Mexico in Monterrey, Mexico, in July 2022.
Rapinoe waves to fans after a match against Mexico in Monterrey, Mexico, in July 2022.
Daniel Becerril/Reuters
Rapinoe walks off the field after the United States won the SheBelieves Cup in Frisco, Texas, in February 2023.
Rapinoe walks off the field after the United States won the SheBelieves Cup in Frisco, Texas, in February 2023.
Brad Smith/ISI Photos/Getty Images
Rapinoe announces at a July 2023 news conference <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2023%2F07%2F08%2Ffootball%2Fmegan-rapinoe-announces-retirement-spt-intl%2Findex.html" target="_blank">that she will retire at the end of the season</a>.
Rapinoe announces at a July 2023 news conference that she will retire at the end of the season.
John Todd/USSF/Getty Images for USSF
Rapinoe reacts to her team being <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2023%2F08%2F05%2Ffootball%2Fusa-sweden-womens-world-cup-2023-spt-intl%2Findex.html" target="_blank">knocked out of the Women's World Cup</a> after a shootout loss to Sweden in August 2023.
Rapinoe reacts to her team being knocked out of the Women's World Cup after a shootout loss to Sweden in August 2023.
Alex Pangling/FIFA/Getty Images
Rapinoe hugs Gotham FC's Ali Krieger during the National Women's Soccer League final match in San Diego in November 2023. Rapinoe<a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2023%2F11%2F11%2Fsport%2Fmegan-rapinoe-ali-krieger-nwsl-final-spt-intl%2Findex.html" target="_blank"> limped out of the final game of her storied career</a>, suffering an apparent ankle injury less than three minutes into the match. Krieger, another US soccer legend and Rapinoe's longtime teammate on the US Women's National Team, also announced her retirement from professional soccer at the end of the 2023 NWSL season.
Rapinoe hugs Gotham FC's Ali Krieger during the National Women's Soccer League final match in San Diego in November 2023. Rapinoe limped out of the final game of her storied career, suffering an apparent ankle injury less than three minutes into the match. Krieger, another US soccer legend and Rapinoe's longtime teammate on the US Women's National Team, also announced her retirement from professional soccer at the end of the 2023 NWSL season.
Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images
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