Iconic Megan Rapinoe to play final game for US on Sept 24
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Rapinoe, 38, announced before the recently concluded Women's World Cup that she would retire at the end of the season.
PHOTO: AFP
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LOS ANGELES – Megan Rapinoe has rejected the notion that she will be walking away with “sadness” when she plays her final game for the United States in a Sept 24 friendly against South Africa in Chicago.
Governing body USA Soccer has confirmed that the 38-year-old will be honoured before the match, the second of a two-game series, and she will not play in the first game in Cincinnati on Sept 21.
Rapinoe announced before the recently concluded Women’s World Cup that she would retire when the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) season ends in November.
The 11-year NWSL veteran midfielder is scheduled to play her final regular-season match for the OL Reign away at Chicago Red Stars on Oct 15. Her home farewell game, against the Washington Spirit at Seattle’s Lumen Field, will be on Oct 6.
As the curtain closes on her career, she is just thankful for all that she has achieved.
“People may think that my career coming to an end would bring sadness but, when I think back on the past 30-plus years of playing this game, my overriding emotions are of joy and gratitude,” Rapinoe said in a statement.
“It’s been an unbelievable ride. It will be special to have this one last opportunity to play for my country in front of our incredible fans and get the chance to thank my teammates and everyone who has had an impact on me as a person and player over the years.”
Crucially for her, it was the people around her who mattered more than the trophies and awards won.
When announcing her retirement, she said: “This game has brought me all over the world and allowed me to meet so many amazing people. I feel incredibly grateful to have played as long as I have, to be as successful as we’ve been, and to have been a part of a generation of players who undoubtedly left the game better than they found it.”
Fifa’s 2019 Player of the Year, the 14th American to earn 200 caps, was denied a third straight World Cup title when the United States failed to reach the quarter-finals in Australia and New Zealand.
She will end her international career with 203 caps from 2006 to 2023, a period encompassing 63 goals and 73 assists.
In those years, Rapinoe played in four Women’s World Cups – including Germany in 2011, Canada in 2015 and France in 2019.
She also helped the United States to Olympic gold in London 2012 in one of her three Olympic appearances.
Off the pitch, Rapinoe has also been a driving force in the campaign for gender equality in the sport and beyond.
An advocate for LGBTQ rights who has lent her voice to an array of social justice issues in the United States, Rapinoe was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America’s highest civilian honour, by President Joe Biden in 2022.
AFP, REUTERS
