Rapinoe, icon of women’s football, announces retirement – 7/8/2023 – Sports

Twelve days before the opening of the Worlds in Australia and New Zealand, Megan Rapinoe, one of the greatest players in history and star of American soccer, announced that she will retire at the end of the season in the United States. This makes the 2023 World Cup the last of her career.

“I could never imagine how football would shape and change my life forever,” said the 38-year-old attacking midfielder, in an announcement made on her Twitter account this Saturday (8).

She was world champion with her national team in 2015, 2019 and gold medalist at the London 2012 Olympics.

“It is with a deep sense of peace and gratitude that I have decided that this will be my last season playing this beautiful sport.”

In addition to her on-field titles, Rapinoe also became known outside of football for her leadership in campaigning for equal pay for women’s and men’s teams and against sexual abuse in the sport. She was also one of the sportswomen who most opposed Donald Trump’s presidency (2017-2021) of the United States.

In 2019, during the World Cup, she said that she would refuse to visit the White House and meet Trump in the event of a title. She also refused to sing the country’s anthem before one of the matches. The president called the athlete’s behavior “inappropriate” and said that she should “finish the job” and win the tournament, before saying anything.

The United States were champions and Rapinoe was named the best of the tournament.

She took the fight for gender equality in sports pay to the US Congress. In testimony to parliamentarians, she spoke about the economic damage caused by the discrepancy in salaries paid to men and women. The following year, the United States Federation reached an agreement with the selection’s roster, ending a six-year legal battle over the athletes’ remuneration.

If she wins this year’s Worlds, Rapinoe could be part of the first team to win three consecutive tournaments. In addition to the 2015 and 2019 titles, the United States lifted the trophy in 1991 and 1999.

This year, the United States is in Group E, alongside Vietnam, the Netherlands and Portugal.