USWNT superstar, Megan Rapinoe has pointed out that she would be retiring from professional football at the end of 2023, as she clocks 38.
She’ll leave the game as one of its most decorated players, with two World Cup triumphs, an Olympic Gold Medal, a World Cup Golden Ball, a World Cup Golden Boot, a Ballon d’Or, and a FIFA The Best Women’s Player award, just to name a few.
Her time on the big stage didn’t end the way she would have liked, as she failed to make an impact against Sweden firing a penalty over the bar at the 2023 World Cup round of 16.
“I’m exactly what they’re familiar and comfortable with, just packaged up differently,” she told TIME ahead of the World Cup. “I’m exactly the brash, arrogant athlete that Americans love.”
Speaking about her retirement, the icon said, “Obviously I’m 38 years old, I’m not going to be playing forever and it just always feels weird for me to have something settled and feel at peace and to not answer a question honestly,” Rapinoe said. “I kind of wanted to have that for myself.
“I think it allows me to focus a lot more, allows the team to focus a lot more. We don’t have to get questions every time, every single game. It’s just kind of out there and I can just really enjoy it and focus on trying to win the tournament.”
Her teammates took to social media to praise the USWNT legend who has had two World Cups under her belt.
