- Rapinoe appeared to tweak something in her leg just minutes into the final
- It marks a brutal and sudden end to her career as a professional soccer player
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In a way, it’s the cruelest end to a career that has been dotted with so many highs – only to conclude with the lowest of lows.
Not even three minutes into the final game of her career -the NWSL Final between her OL Reign and Gotham FC – Megan Rapinoe suffered an injury and had to be substituted off.
Rapinoe fell to the ground and appeared to tweak something in her leg – needing the help of trainers. It looks as if her foot got caught in the turf at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego.
She was helped to her feet and then leaned on the training staff as she walked off the field and then down the tunnel.
Ali Krieger, the Gotham FC defender and one of Rapinoe’s best friends who is also playing in her final game, came over to hug her before she walked off.
As she was being helped to the tunnel, the crowd gave her a standing ovation and the crowd chanted her name.
The Krieger-Rapinoe final had been hyped up by NWSL and women’s sports media for days – with many excited for the final match of the two highly decorated athletes.
To add insult to [actual] injury, Gotham struck first in the contest thanks to Lynn Williams finishing a low pass in the box. Just minutes later, Rose Lavelle equalized for the Reign. Before the end of the first half, Gotham’s Esther Gonzalez made it a 2-1 game.
That was all that was required as Gotham FC lifted their first ever NWSL title in the club’s history.
Just prior to the start of the second half, Rapinoe was seen walking on crutches – smiling and waving to the crowd.
Rapinoe had never won an NWSL Championship during her career. She had won the NWSL Shield – given to the team with the best regular season record – three times.
She spent the entirety of her NWSL career with the Reign – totaling 55 goals in 125 total appearances for the club. Throughout that time, she also suffered multiple serious injuries.
But of course, Rapinoe may be best remembered for her contributions for the US women’s national team.
Rapinoe helped lead the United States to back-to-back World Cup titles in 2015 and 2019. In the latter tournament, she won the Golden Ball and the Golden Boot and her performances in France helped her win the 2019 Ballon d’Or Feminin.
She was also highly accomplished at the Olympic games. With Team USA, she helped to win the Gold Medal at the 2012 Summer games in London.
Across her club career – with three stops in the now-defunct WPS, with Sydney FC in Australia’s W-League, and with Lyon in the French Division 1 Feminine – Rapinoe logged 71 goals in 203 appearances.
With Lyon, Rapinoe won the only league title of her career – capturing the crown in the 2012-13 season. That year, she did the double by capturing the Coupe de Franc Feminine as well.
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
