Two-time world champion with the United States, Megan Rapinoe has announced her retirement at the end of the year | Women’s World Cup

American star Megan Rapinoe, one of the most successful players in world soccer, announced this Saturday that she will end her career at the end of the 2023 season, ahead of the Women’s World Cup. At 38, he’s still playing. Ten seasons in OL Reign from Seattle.

– I have decided with deep peace and gratitude that this will be my last season playing this beautiful game. I could never have imagined the ways soccer shaped and changed my life, but by the look on this little girl’s face, she already knew it all.

US President Joe Biden responded to the player’s post commemorating his achievements, including the Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest honor bestowed on a citizen, which he received in July last year.

– Olympic and World Champion, Freedom Medalist, tireless advocate for equal pay for women, dignity and respect for all. Congratulations on your wonderful life. I look forward to seeing how you will continue to help people believe in themselves and in the possibilities of our country – wrote the politician.

The U.S. will make its 2023 World Cup debut on July 21 against Vietnam. After that, they will play in Group D against Netherlands on 26th and Portugal on 1st August.

Although her only club titles were the French Championship and the French Cup with Lyon, during the 2012/13 season, Megan Rapinoe built a successful career with the US national team.

The striker was the Olympic champion at the London 2012 Games and won two World Cups in Canada-2015 and France-2019. For his performances in 2019, he received two of the biggest individual awards in world football: the Golden Ball by France Football magazine and FIFA’s The Best.

Four years ago, he became a symbol of America’s fourth World Championship, not just for his performances – he was named the Cup’s best player – but also for his poise off the field.

A defender of civil rights, particularly of the LGBTQIA+ community, the attacker, now married to former basketball player Sue Bird, has been a vocal critic of former US President Donald Trump.

During the Cup, he said he would not accept the traditional presidential invitation to visit the White House if the US won the title, drawing criticism from Trump and his supporters. In fact, upon returning to the United States after winning the trophy, the national team celebrated with a parade in New York, marked by a speech by Robinho praising the diversity in the world champion team.