Megan Rapinoe of the US Women’s National Team (USWNT), a two-time Women’s World Cup champion, will play one more international game before retiring from the sport.
The 38-year-old will be honored in her “Farewell Game” against South Africa on September 24 in Chicago, US Soccer announced on Tuesday. The player will end her international career with 203 caps.
Rapinoe, an Olympic gold medalist from London 2012, is among the top 10 US women’s players in history with 63 career goals and 73 career assists.
Rapinoe has returned to her National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) team, the OL Reign, for the remainder of the season following her final World Cup appearance this year in Australia and New Zealand.
“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 joy and gratitude,” Rapinoe said in US Soccer’s press release.
“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.”
The star player, dubbed a “generational talent” by USWNT general manager Kate Markgraf, won the Ballon d’Or Féminin and FIFA’s The Best award in 2019 following an electrifying Women’s World Cup in which she won the Golden Ball for best player of the tournament and Golden Boot for top scorer of the competition.
She has won three NWSL Shields with the Seattle Reign and OL Reign in her domestic career. In the 2012–13 season, she won the French league title and French Cup with Lyon.
Source-CNN
