American football icon Megan Rapinoe puts an end to her international career with a victory

The 38-year-old Rapinoe was substituted in the 54th minute to loud applause. This ended an international career of more than 17 years with 203 matches and 63 goals.

The attacker helped the United States to Olympic gold (2012) and bronze (2021), two world titles (2015, 2019) and three continental titles (2014, 2018, 2022). In 2019, she received the Ballon d’Or and was also voted the world’s best football player at The Best FIFA Football Awards. Rapinoe is also known as a fierce advocate for gender pay equity, racial justice and LGBTQ+ rights. She received the presidential Medal of Freedom from Joe Biden for this. She will end her career completely in November, after the regular season of the American championship. In it she will represent OL Reign.

“What we did off the field had an even greater impact” than the successes on the field, Rapinoe said on Sunday before her last international match. “I think we’ve played a role in bringing issues like gay rights, racial justice and trans people’s rights to the forefront within sports, and women’s sports in particular. Furthermore, I am grateful that I was able to play with so many great players for so long and that we were successful both on and off the field.”