Megan Rapinoe, who announced Saturday that she plans to retire from professional soccer later this year, has become famous in part for her outspoken political views and her leadership of her sport off the field. But much of that was possible because his career on the field had so many highlight-reel-worthy moments.
She is expected to soon reach 200 appearances for the US women’s national team. She has 63 goals in her international career and is one of only seven American women with more than 50 goals and 50 assists in international competition.
She was the second pick of the 2009 draft of the defunct Women’s Professional Soccer league, and played most of her club career with the Seattle Reign of the National Women’s Soccer League. He won the French title with Lyon, a Ballon d’Or as world player of the year and Olympic medals in two colors.
But it was always the moments and the creativity of her offense, not the amount of goals or assists, that truly set Rapinoe apart. Here’s a look at some of his best touches.
2011 World Cup
The US women’s national team finished third in the 2003 and 2007 World Cups, unable to capitalize on the momentum of its 1999 win. In 2011, it faced a humbling early exit when it beat Brazil, 2-1 in overtime, in a quarterfinal match.
The game was in stoppage time when Rapinoe got the ball from Carli Lloyd near midfield. She took a dribble, looked up and sent a long ball toward the far post, where Abby Wambach was waiting.
Wambach rose behind Brazil’s goalkeeper and slotted the ball into the net, delivering what was considered one of the greatest goals in the history of the women’s game. The Americans won a penalty-kick shootout, but eventually lost in an epic final to Japan.
2012 Olympics
The United States faced Canada in the women’s soccer semifinals of the 2012 London Olympics. Down 1-0 in the second half, Rapinoe made Olympic history by scoring the so-called “Olimpico” — a goal that found the net directly from a corner kick. She was the first woman to do so in the Games. He then repeated the feat at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
2015 World Cup
In the first game of the 2015 World Cup, a match against Australia, Rapinoe scored twice to lead her team to a 3–1 victory. In the 12th minute, after fighting for a contested ball, Rapinoe did a full 360-degree spin at the top of the box before collecting herself with a few touches and firing a shot from 20 yards. The ball begging off the Canadian defender and found the back of the net.
2019 World Cup
The US enters the 2019 World Cup in France looking to become the first women’s team to repeat as World Cup champions. Rapinoe put together a career — winning both the Golden Boot, for most goals (six) and the Golden Ball as the tournament’s outstanding player. But it was his goal against France in front of 45,000 spectators that set him on his way.
A master of set pieces, Rapinoe stepped up to take a free kick in the opening minutes of what many expected to be a tense and crucial match. He sent a streak ball through the box that went through the legs of several teammates and defenders and into the back of the net. Rapinoe celebrated by running to the sideline and spreading her arms, a gesture that has become her signature celebration, and the lasting memory of a tournament in which she was routinely in the right place at the right moment.
Tokyo Olympics, 2021
Looking to build on two consecutive World Cup victories, the US women’s national team heads to Tokyo in 2021 to play in the Olympic Games that have been delayed by a year due to the coronavirus pandemic. In the quarterfinals, the US and the Netherlands squared off in a World Cup finals rematch. The game went to penalties after a 2-2 draw, which it was Rapinoe’s dagger in the upper right corner that sent the United States to the semifinal.