- Rapinoe appeared to pinch her leg just minutes into the final
- It marks a brutal and sudden end to her career as a professional footballer
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In a way, this is the cruelest end to a career that saw so many highs, only to end with the lowest of lows.
Less than three minutes into the last game of her career, Megan Rapinoe suffered an injury and had to be substituted.
In the NWSL final between her OL Reign and Gotham FC, Rapinoe fell to the ground and appeared to pinch something in her leg, requiring the help of trainers.
She was helped to her feet and then leaned on the training staff as she walked off the field and then into the tunnel.
Ali Krieger, the Gotham FC defender and one of Rapinoe’s best friends who is also playing in her last match, came over to hug her before she walked away.
Meghan Rapinoe had to be substituted just minutes after the last game of her career
Rapinoe appeared to pinch her leg slightly and appeared to be in pain on the ground
She was helped up by trainers and had to be helped to walk through the tunnel
As she was helped to the tunnel, the crowd gave her a standing ovation and chanted her name.
The Krieger-Rapinoe final had been hyped by NWSL and the women’s sports media for days – with many looking forward to the final match of the two highly decorated athletes.
But now Rapinoe will have to watch the rest of this match off the field: on a training table, on the sidelines or in the stands.
To add insult to injury, Gotham struck first in the match thanks to Lynn Williams finishing a low pass into the box. Just minutes later, Rose Lavelle equalized for the Reign.
Rapinoe had never won an NWSL championship during her career. She had won the NWSL Shield – awarded to the team with the best regular season record – three times.
She spent her entire NWSL career with the Reign – scoring a total of 55 goals in 125 appearances for the club. During that time, she also suffered multiple serious injuries.
But of course, Rapinoe is perhaps best remembered for her contributions to the U.S. women’s national team.
Rapinoe helped the United States to back-to-back World Cup titles in 2015 and 2019. In the latter tournament, she won the Golden Ball and Golden Boot, and her performances in France helped her win the 2019 Ballon d’Or Feminin.
Ali Krieger, who is also retiring after tonight, stopped by to hug her friend before she left
She was also very successful at the Olympic Games. With Team USA, she helped win the gold medal at the 2012 Summer Games in London.
Throughout her club career – which included three stops in the now-defunct WPS, with Sydney FC in the Australian W-League and with Lyon in the French Division 1 Feminine – Rapinoe scored 71 goals in 203 appearances.
With Lyon, Rapinoe won the only national title of her career and captured the crown in the 2012-2013 season. That year she did the double by also winning the Coupe de Franc Feminine.