It was the 53rd minute. Megan Rapinoe had just taken a corner that ended in her team’s second goal and took a free kick that hit the crossbar. Her number 15 appeared on the substitution board. She handed over her captain’s armband, hugged her teammates one by one with a smile lighting up her face, and after a bow in front of some completely devoted spectators, she became the star of the United States women’s soccer team that concluded most successful chapter of her career, that of the national team.
It was a friendly against South Africa that became a farewell celebration for a footballer who defined an era. Rapinoe, 38, says goodbye to the national team with a smile and not with the bitter tears of her last-16 exit to Sweden at the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand when she missed a crucial penalty in the tiebreak shootout. Rapinoe goes home with a resume full of trophies and recognition, but also leaves a mark that goes far beyond the sport.
“I feel like I was able to grow before all of you. We’re here in Chicago, but there are so many fans all over the country and all over the world. When I think about what it means to me to represent not just this team but our country, it’s like a little snapshot of all of you. I think this team has always been very proud of that. Show ourselves as we are. I know how important it is to me. I know how important it is for the entire team. “We fought so hard on the pitch, we had so much fun and we had so much success,” Rapinoe said from the middle of the pitch at the end of the game, microphone in hand.
“We have fought so hard off the field to continue to create more space for ourselves to be who we are, but at the same time I hope you have more space to be who you are.” It was a great honor to be able to wear this jersey and play with all these incredible players and live my childhood dream in front of the world. Thank you for always loving and supporting us, for singing everything we sing, only much louder. For always supporting us and for everything that is important to us. I won’t be gone forever. Don’t worry, I’m one of you now. “I’m this team’s biggest fan,” she added. At times his voice would break and tears would appear.
The player, who was born in Redding (California), has managed to become the figurehead of her sport. With the American team, she won gold at the 2012 Olympics, became runner-up in 2011 (after losing the final on penalties) and won the 2015 and 2019 World Championships. At the latter, she was not only the top scorer, she was also the best player of the whole Tournament award and played in three games, including the final. He left behind one of the most iconic images of this period of American dominance: celebrating a goal in the final with his arms outstretched and his hair dyed purple. In the same year, she was voted FIFA’s best player of 2019 and received the Ballon d’Or. She became the first footballer in history to receive both awards.
Megan Rapinoe, captain of the American team, celebrates a goal against the Netherlands in the 2019 World Cup final.Francisco Seco (AP)
However, Rapinoe leaves a legacy that eludes the field. She was a tireless campaigner for equality and recognition of women’s football. After several years of unheeded lawsuits, she was one of 28 players who sued the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) in a Los Angeles court on March 8, 2019, alleging discrimination and demanding equal pay to the men’s team. The players on the men’s soccer team earned more money from qualifying for the World Cup than the female soccer players from winning. When the Americans were crowned world champions in France in 2019, the spectators in the Lyon Stadium chanted “Equal pay, same pay!” shortly before Rapinoe lifted the trophy In May 2022, the US Federation announced two agreements with the associations of soccer players of both sexes that would stipulate that the men’s and women’s teams would earn the same amount.
She is one of the athletes who openly identifies as gay and has supported LGBT causes, including the rights of transgender people, especially minors. In 2012, weeks before the London Olympics, Rapinoe publicly announced that she was a lesbian in an interview for Out magazine. In it she stated that she had been in a relationship with Australian soccer player Sarah Walsh since 2009. After nearly five years together, they married and called off their relationship in 2013. Then Rapinoe and artist Sera Cahoone announced their wedding in August 2015, but ultimately called off their engagement. He then began a new relationship and married basketball player Sue Bird, a five-time Olympic champion on the US basketball team, who accompanied her this Sunday in Chicago. Rapinoe also spoke out against racial discrimination (in 2016, she knelt during the national anthem in solidarity with Colin Kaepernick). In 2022, President Joe Biden awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States’ highest civilian honor.
The farewell game took place at Soldier Field in Chicago, whose stands were covered with banners thanking Pinoe, as fans affectionately call her. He received all kinds of messages of recognition and honor before, during and after the game.
Equipped with great technique, Rapinoe has been a goalscorer for years, a regular assistant to her teammates and the US team’s set-piece specialist. He continued to take free kicks and corners in the farewell game. Although direct corner goals are considered Olympic, until her at the London 2012 Games, no soccer player, male or female, had scored one in a game. She repeated this with another double Olympic goal in Tokyo in 2021.
In their farewell game, the first goal came in the 18th minute on a volley from Trinity Rodman, Dennis Rodman’s daughter, after a precise pass from Alex Morgan. The second goal was scored by Emily Sonnet with a header in the 5th minute of the second half, after the South African goalkeeper cleared a corner that was of course taken by Rapinoe, who ended her career in the national team with a victory (2-0). . The soccer player still has a few regular season games left with OL Reign, including the farewell in front of her fans, which is scheduled for October 6th in Seattle. Another day full of smiles and tears.
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