american soccer player

Megan Anna Rapinoe ( ; born July 5, 1985 ) is an american english professional soccer player who plays as a winger and captains OL Reign of the National Women ‘s Soccer League ( NWSL ), angstrom well as the United States national team. Winner of the Ballon d’Or Féminin and named The Best FIFA Women ‘s Player in 2019, [ 2 ] [ 3 ] Rapinoe won aureate with the national team at the 2012 London Summer Olympics, 2015 FIFA Women ‘s World Cup, and 2019 FIFA Women ‘s World Cup and she played for the team at the 2011 FIFA Women ‘s World Cup where the U.S. finished in moment space. Rapinoe co-captained the national team aboard Carli Lloyd and Alex Morgan from 2018 to 2020, with the team earning the Bronze decoration in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. [ 4 ] [ 5 ] She previously played for the Chicago Red Stars, Philadelphia Independence, and MagicJack in Women ‘s professional Soccer ( WPS ), arsenic well as Olympique Lyon in France ‘s Division 1 Féminine. Rapinoe is internationally known for her crafty vogue of play and activism. [ 6 ] [ 7 ] [ 8 ] Her precise cross to Abby Wambach in the 122nd minute of the 2011 FIFA Women ‘s World Cup quarterfinal match against Brazil resulted in an equalizer finish and eventual acquire for the Americans after a penalty gunfight. The last-minute goal was awarded ESPN ‘s 2011 ESPY Award for Best Play of the Year. During the 2012 London Olympics, she scored three goals and tallied a team-high four assists to lead the United States to a aureate decoration. She is the first musician, male or female, to score a finish directly from a corner at the Olympic Games, having done indeed doubly. She won the Golden Boot and Golden Ball awards at the 2019 FIFA Women ‘s World Cup in France. [ 9 ]

Rapinoe is an preach for numerous LGBT organizations, including the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network ( GLSEN ) and Athlete Ally. In 2013, she was awarded the display panel of directors Award by the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center. She is sponsored by Nike, Procter & Gamble, BodyArmor, Hulu, LUNA Bar, Samsung, and DJO Global, and has appeared in multiple promotional pieces for clothing company Wildfang, ampere well as for Nike. In 2019, she co-founded a gender-neutral life style brand, re-inc, with colleague athletes Christen Press, Tobin Heath, and Meghan Klingenberg. [ 10 ] Rapinoe is included in Time magazine ‘s 100 Most influential People of 2020. [ 11 ]

early on life

Rapinoe grew up in Redding, California, with her parents, Jim and Denise, and five siblings, including her fraternal duplicate Rachael Rapinoe. Denise and Jim raised seven children together, not all their own. Denise has a son and daughter, Michael and Jenny, from a previous marriage ; then came older brother Brian and then the twins five years late. Jim and her grandfather Jack both served in the Army. [ 12 ] She has italian ( from her parental grandfather ) and irish lineage. [ 13 ] She idolized her older brother Brian and started playing soccer at age three after watching him play the fun, [ 14 ] but he started using drugs when the girls were in second rate. [ 12 ] When she was ten and he was fifteen, he was put in juvenile detention, and was thereafter in and out of respective prisons including Pelican Bay State Prison. Brian has since made a determine effort to avoid drugs after seeing his younger sister ‘s success in international soccer and not being able to be present with his family. [ 15 ] For both Rachael and Megan, soccer was a entail to get away from the drug abuse that is far-flung in rural California. [ 14 ]

gamey school

Rapinoe spent most of her youth play with teams coached by her beget until gamey school. [ 16 ] alternatively of playing soccer at Foothill High School, Rapinoe played for the Elk Grove Pride club team, located south of Sacramento. [ 17 ] [ 18 ] She competed in cut as a newcomer and sophomore ; competed in basketball as a freshman, sophomore, and elder ; and was on the respect roll every semester of high school. [ 18 ] Rapinoe was named Parade and National Soccer Coaches Association of America ( NSCAA ) All-American as a junior and elder. She was named to McDonald ‘s All-American Girls High School Soccer West team in 2004. [ 19 ] Rapinoe played for the under-14 Northern California department of state Olympic Development Program ( ODP ) team in 1999, deoxyadenosine monophosphate well as the regional ODP team in 2002. [ 20 ]

Elk Grove United, 2002–2005

From 2002 to 2005, Rapinoe played for Elk Grove Pride in the Women ‘s Premier Soccer League ( WPSL ) along with her sister, Rachael, and future national teammate, Stephanie Cox. [ 21 ] [ 22 ] She and her family commuted two-and-a-half hours from her hometown to play with the team. [ 23 ] During the US Youth Soccer National Championships, she scored an equalizer goal in the 18th moment to tie the game 1–1 against the Peachtree City Lazers. Elk Grove United finished second at the nationals after the Lazers scored a game-winning goal in the second one-half. [ 24 ]

University of Portland Pilots, 2005–2008

Rapinoe and her sister both attended the University of Portland in Portland, Oregon. The Rapinoe twins about committed to Santa Clara University before choosing to play for the Portland Pilots on full scholarships. [ 25 ] Rapinoe played in the 2004 FIFA U-19 Women ‘s World Championship in 2004, where the United States finished third base. The resultant role was that she did not play college soccer in that year. [ 26 ] In 2005, as a freshman, Rapinoe helped the Pilots to an undefeated season and the NCAA Division I Women ‘s Soccer Championship. During the College Cup quarterfinal against Notre Dame, she scored twice and served one serve, helping the Pilots win 3–1 and advance in the College Cup. [ 27 ] During the College Cup final examination against UCLA, she scored one goal and served an help helping the Pilots win 4–0. [ 28 ] She was named NSCAA First Team All-American and was on the Soccer America First Team Freshman All-America. Rapinoe made the NCAA Women ‘s Soccer Championship All Tournament Team and was the West Coast Conference Freshman of the Year. [ 29 ] She was besides named to the All-West Coast Conference First Team and the All-West Coast Conference Freshman Team. Rapinoe played and started all 25 games as an attacking midfielder, scoring 15 goals and adding 13 assists for 43 points – ranking fifth for freshman luff totals in the school ‘s history. [ 20 ] That year, she besides scored seven game-winning goals. [ 18 ]

“ I know this sounds eldritch, but getting injury was one of the best things that ever happened to me. It truly gave me a different perspective. Before, everything was going how it was supposed to be and I was n’t in truth appreciative of what I was doing and what it took to be there. The wound grounded me in a bunch of different ways. The rehab process makes you stronger on all fronts, mentally and physically. I feel stronger and a better person for it. I would never wish it on anyone, but I do n’t wish I could take it back. ”

—Megan Rapinoe [ 30 ]
As a sophomore in 2006, Rapinoe was among the nation ‘s leave scorers with ten-spot goals and two assists in football team matches. During a match against Washington State University on October 5, she suffered her first base season-ending front tooth cruciate ligament injury ( ACL ) injury. [ 31 ] Despite her injury, she was one of four Portland players in the program ‘s history, including Christine Sinclair, Tiffeny Milbrett, and Shannon MacMillan, to score 25 goals and 15 assists in two seasons. [ 18 ] In 2007, Rapinoe suffered her second season-ending ACL wound two games into the season. [ 20 ] She was granted a checkup adversity release by the National Collegiate Athletic Association ( NCAA ) but did not use it. [ 18 ] [ 32 ] After taking her clock time to recover from her moment ACL wound, Rapinoe returned for the 2008 season and was on the starting batting order in all 22 games for the Pilots. She helped the team secure a 20–2 record scoring five goals and serving 13 assists. [ 33 ] Her 13 assists ranked first for the Pilots equally well as in the West Coast Conference and she was named West Coast Conference Player of the Year. [ 34 ] She was besides named a Soccer America First-Team All-American and NSCAA Second Team All-American. [ 18 ] Although she had one more season of college eligibility remaining ascribable to her NCAA checkup adversity release, she opted to enter the Women ‘s Professional Soccer Draft rather. [ 18 ] [ 35 ] Rapinoe ‘s 88-point career, including 30 goals and 28 assists, ranks tenth in the school ‘s history despite her playing entirely 60 games. [ 18 ]

Club career

Women ‘s professional Soccer ( WPS ), 2009–2011

Rapinoe was selected irregular overall in the 2009 WPS Draft by the Chicago Red Stars for the inaugural temper of Women ‘s professional Soccer ( WPS ), the highest part of soccer in the United States at the time. [ 36 ] She was on the starting batting order in 17 of the 18 games in which she appeared for the Red Stars for a total of 1,375 minutes on the lurch. [ 37 ] Rapinoe scored two goals and assisted on three others. [ 18 ] In August 2009, she was named to the league ‘s All-Star Team [ 38 ] and played in the 2009 WPS All-Star Game against Swedish Damallsvenskan champions Umeå IK. [ 39 ] In 2010, she started in 19 of the 20 games in which she appeared for the Red Stars. She scored one goal. [ 18 ]
Rapinoe warming up before a MagicJack match, 2011 In December 2010, Rapinoe signed with expansion team Philadelphia Independence after the Chicago Red Stars ceased operations. [ 40 ] She appeared in four games and scored one goal before being traded to MagicJack ( once Washington Freedom ) while she was in Germany for the 2011 FIFA Women ‘s World Cup. [ 41 ] [ 42 ] It was reported that the “ cash considerations ” involved in the transfer were $ 100,000. [ 43 ] [ 44 ] The modal wage for a female player in the league was $ 25,000. [ 45 ] Rapinoe scored two goals in her eight even season appearances for MagicJack [ 37 ] helping the team eat up third gear in the league standings and secure a blot in the playoffs. [ 46 ] [ 47 ] During the team ‘s semi-final match against the Boston Breakers on August 17, 2011, Rapinoe scored in the 61st minute solidifying the team ‘s 3–1 acquire and promotion to the championship final. [ 48 ] MagicJack was later defeated 2–0 by the Philadelphia Independence in the final. [ 49 ] [ 50 ] On October 25, 2011, the WPS voted to terminate the MagicJack franchise, leaving Rapinoe and many other players as free agents for the 2012 season. [ 51 ] The league suspended operations in early 2012. [ 52 ]

Sydney FC and Seattle Sounders Women, 2011–2012

In October 2011, Rapinoe signed with australian W-League team Sydney FC as a guest musician for two games. [ 53 ] In her moment game against Melbourne Victory, she scored with seven minutes remaining to seal three points for Sydney. [ 54 ] The winnings was the beginning for Sydney during the 2011–12 season. [ 55 ] Sydney FC went on to finish third in the regular temper [ 56 ] and advanced to the playoffs where they were defeated by Brisbane Roar in penalty kicks. [ 57 ] During the summer of 2012, Rapinoe joined colleague national team members Hope Solo, Sydney Leroux, Alex Morgan and Stephanie Cox to play with the Seattle Sounders Women in between camps with the national team as they prepared for the 2012 Summer Olympics. [ 58 ] Of the sign, Sounders head coach Michelle French said, “ Stemming from her leadership and success at the University of Portland, Megan has continued to evolve and grow into one of the most excite, irregular, creative, and flashy players in the women ‘s game. ” [ 59 ] Rapinoe made two appearances during the regular season with the team, serving two assists. [ 60 ] With Rapinoe and her national teammates ‘ presence on the team, [ 61 ] [ 62 ] the Sounders sold out nine of their ten home matches at the 4,500 capacity Starfire Stadium. [ 63 ] average attendance during the 2012 season for the Sounders Women was four times higher than the next close team. [ 63 ]

Olympique Lyonnais, 2013–2014

In January 2013, Rapinoe signed for six months with Olympique Lyonnais, the french side that had previously won six consecutive french league championships and two straight european titles, for a reported €11,000 ( or approximately $ 14,000 ) a calendar month. [ 64 ] Rapinoe played in six regular season matches for the team, scoring two goals chiefly playing as a left winger in the squad ‘s 4–3–3 constitution. [ 37 ] Rapinoe made her UEFA Women ‘s Champions League introduction during the first leg of the 2012–13 quarterfinal against FC Malmö on March 20. [ 65 ] She scored one goal during her 24 minutes on the pitch contributing to Lyon ‘s 5–0 final victory. [ 66 ] She later scored a goal and served an assist during Lyon ‘s 6–1 succeed over FCF Juvisy in the irregular leg of the semi-finals. [ 67 ] Rapinoe became the fifth American womanhood in history to play in a Champions League final when Lyon faced german slope VfL Wolfsburg on May 23. [ 68 ] [ 69 ] Lyon was defeated 1–0 in the final. [ 65 ] Rapinoe concluded her Champions League debut having made five appearances, scoring two goals and serving one serve. [ 65 ] After returning to Lyon for the 2013–14 season, [ 70 ] Rapinoe scored three goals in her eight appearances for the club. [ 37 ] During the 2013–14 Champions League, she made four appearances for Lyon and scored one goal during the team ‘s 6–0 get the better of of FC Twente. [ 71 ] [ 72 ] Lyon was eliminated in the Round of 16. [ 73 ] In January 2014, it was announced that Rapinoe had ended her fourth dimension with Lyon earlier than planned and would be returning to the Seattle Reign for the stallion 2014 season. [ 74 ] She finished her time with Lyon having scored 8 goals in 28 matches in all competitions. [ 75 ]
Rapinoe during a match against the Boston Breakers, April 13, 2014

Seattle Reign FC, 2013–present

In 2013, Rapinoe joined Seattle Reign FC to which she had been previously allocated in the National Women ‘s Soccer League. [ 76 ] Before Rapinoe joined the police squad, the team had been struggling to score goals and were 0–9–1 in ten games. [ 77 ] With the addition of Rapinoe, her national team and former Seattle Sounders Women teammate, Hope Solo, and some lineup changes to the front man line, the Reign improved their goal-scoring ability and turned their league read around. [ 78 ] During a match against her former team in the WPS, the Chicago Red Stars, Rapinoe played a mastermind function in all of Seattle ‘s four goals – leading the team to a 4–1 succeed over Chicago. After scoring two goals and serving one assist during the match, she was named NWSL Player of the Week for Week 16 for the 2013 NWSL season. [ 79 ] Despite only playing approximately one-half of the season ( 12 out of 22 even season games ), Rapinoe was the Reign ‘s leading scorekeeper with five goals. [ 80 ] After suffering a foot injury during the first home match of the 2014 temper on April 14, Rapinoe sat out respective games and made her second season appearance on July 3 against western New York Flash. Her four goals and one assist during the regular season helped the Reign secure the league ‘s regular season championship ( NWSL Shield ) with a 16–2–6 commemorate and 54 points – 13 points ahead of the moment place team, FC Kansas City. [ 81 ] During the team ‘s playoff semi-final match against Washington Spirit, Rapinoe scored a goal helping the Reign win 2–1 and advance to the championship final against FC Kansas City. [ 82 ] Despite Rapinoe ‘s goal during the championship concluding, the Reign was ultimately defeated by Kansas City 2–1. [ 83 ] Rapinoe returned to the Reign for the 2015 season. During the team ‘s first base match against western New York Flash, she scored her first professional hat whoremaster and served an assist to Jess Fishlock to help the Reign defeat the Flash 5–1. [ 84 ] [ 85 ] She was subsequently named the league ‘s NWSL Player of the Week for week 1 of the season. [ 86 ] [ 87 ] In September 2019, the Reign FC recognized Rapinoe, along with 11 others, as a Reign FC Legend, joining the 36 previous legends. [ 88 ] [ 89 ]

International career

Youth national teams

Rapinoe played for the United States under-16 national soccer team in 2002 and traveled with the team to France and Houston, Texas. [ 18 ] She besides played at the United States Youth Soccer Association International Tournament in Houston in May 2003. [ 18 ] From 2003 to 2005, Rapinoe played for the United States under-19 team. She made 21 appearances and scored nine goals. [ 18 ] Her first camp with the under-19 team occurred in January 2003 in Chula Vista, California. [ 18 ] She traveled with the team during a european enlistment to the Netherlands and Germany in July 2003. [ 18 ] She scored her beginning goal with the team against Mexico on March 1, 2003. [ 18 ] Rapinoe played in three matches at the 2004 CONCACAF Under-19 qualifying tournament, scoring three goals. [ 18 ] During the 2004 FIFA U-19 Women ‘s World Championship in Thailand she scored a team-high three goals, including one in the third rate match victory against Brazil. [ 18 ] [ 90 ] [ 91 ]

senior national team

National team debut and injury recovery, 2006–2009

Rapinoe trained with the United States women ‘s national soccer team for the first base prison term during the team ‘s 2006 Residency Training Camp in Carson, California. She made her debut for the senior team on July 23, 2006, during a friendly match against Ireland. She scored her first gear two goals on October 1, 2006, during a friendly match against Taiwan. [ 18 ] due to two disjoined ACL injuries, Rapinoe did not play for the aged team in 2007 or 2008 and subsequently missed the 2007 FIFA Women ‘s World Cup and the 2008 Beijing Olympics. [ 92 ] Upon her return to the team in 2009, she led the team in points with five, including two goals and one aid. She was on the starting batting order in six of the seven games in which she played the lapp class. [ 18 ] During the 2009 Algarve Cup, Rapinoe scored the game-winning finish against Norway leading the team to a 1–0 victory during the team ‘s third base group stagecoach match of the tournament. [ 93 ] After the U.S. finished at the top of their group, they were defeated during a penalty kick gunfight by Sweden in the championship final. [ 18 ]

2011 FIFA Women ‘s World Cup

(top) celebrates with her teammates after the United States scores a goal during the Rapinoecelebrates with her teammates after the United States scores a goal during the 2011 FIFA Women ‘s World Cup final. In 2010, Rapinoe started eight of the ten games she played and scored four goals with two assists. [ 18 ] Rapinoe scored against Sweden and China and doubly against Guatemala at the 2010 CONCACAF Women ‘s World Cup Qualifying Tournament, in which she played three games. [ 18 ] After the United States finished one-third at the tournament, they traveled to Italy to vie for a target at the 2011 FIFA Women ‘s World Cup in the UEFA-CONCACAF play-off against Italy. During the team ‘s second match of the series, Rapinoe served the assist for Amy Rodriguez ‘s game-winning goal helping the United States earn a moor to the 2011 World Cup. [ 94 ] Rapinoe was named to the United States roll for the 2011 FIFA Women ‘s World Cup. [ 95 ] During the team ‘s second group stage pit against Colombia, she entered the match during the fiftieth infinitesimal and scored about immediately to put the United States up 2–0. [ 96 ] Rapinoe celebrated her goal by running to the corner to the leave of Colombia ‘s finish, picking up an on-field microphone being used for the match ‘s television circulate, tapping it, and singing Bruce Springsteen ‘s “Born in the U.S.A.” into it. [ 97 ] During the quarterfinal pit against Brazil, Rapinoe came on as a substitute and served the precise crossbreed to Abby Wambach ‘s counterweight goal in the 122nd minute of the game : a goal that holds the record for latest goal ever scored in a World Cup pit. [ 98 ] Rapinoe would by and by convert her inject during the penalty gunfight to help send the United States to the semi-finals. [ 99 ] Rapinoe described her last minute hybridization against Brazil : “ I just took a touch and friggin ‘ smacked it with my left foot. I do n’t think I ‘ve hit a ball like that with my left animal foot. I got it to the back post and that animal in the air out merely got a have of it. ” [ 100 ] Following the match against Brazil, Rapinoe was named ESPN ‘s Next Level Player of the Week for completing 5 of 10 crosses while the respite of the team was 0 for 18. [ 101 ] She served an assist in the semi-final against France in which the United States won 3–1. During the dramatic final meet against Japan in front of 48,817 spectators at sold-out Commerzbank-Arena in Frankfurt and a record-breaking international television receiver hearing, [ 102 ] Rapinoe served her third gear help of the tournament to Alex Morgan who scored the game-opening goal in the 69th minute. [ 18 ] The United States tied Japan 2–2 during even and overtime leading to their second penalty recoil gunfight of the tournament. They were defeated 3–1 in penalties and concluded the tournament with a silver decoration. Rapinoe ‘s tournament criminal record included one goal and three assists. [ 103 ] She played in all six games for the United States. [ 18 ]

2012 London Olympics

Rapinoe takes a corner kick in the gold decoration match at the 2012 London Olympics. Rapinoe helped lead the United States to a gold decoration at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. During the team ‘s second group stage match against Colombia, she scored the game-winning finish in the 33rd moment in what became a 3–0 win for the Americans. [ 104 ] After the U.S. defeated North Korea 1–0 in their final group degree match, they faced New Zealand in the quarterfinals and won 2–0. [ 105 ]

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During a dramatic semi-final match against Canada at Old Trafford, Rapinoe scored two game-equalizing goals in the 54th and 70th minutes. Her first finish was scored directly from a recess — a corner bang that goes untouched by another player into the net. [ 106 ] [ 107 ] She is the beginning and so far only player, male or female, to score an Olimpico at the Olympic Games. [ 108 ] The U.S. defeated Canada 4–3 with a stop time goal in the 123rd minute by Alex Morgan. [ 109 ] With her two goals, Rapinoe is one of only five players, including Wei Haiying, Cristiane, Angela Hucles and Christine Sinclair, to have scored two goals during an Olympic semi-final. [ 110 ]
Rapinoe after the amber decoration equal at 2012 Summer Olympics ; August 9, 2012 The United States team clinched the gold decoration after defeating Japan 2–1 at Wembley Stadium in movement of 80,203 spectators — the largest crowd ever for a women ‘s Olympic soccer game. [ 111 ] Rapinoe assisted on Carli Lloyd ‘s second goal of the final in the 53rd minute. [ 112 ] She ended the tournament with three goals and a team-high of four assists ( tied with Alex Morgan ). [ 18 ] wide regarded as one of the lead players of the Olympics, Rapinoe was named to numerous ‘Team of the Tournament ‘ lists including those selected by the BBC [ 113 ] and All White Kit. [ 114 ] Rapinoe achieved a career-best 8 goals and 12 assists for the United States in 2012. [ 115 ]

2013–2014

At the 2013 Algarve Cup in Portugal, Rapinoe was named the Player of the Tournament, despite playing in only two of the four matches in which the United States competed. She was injured in practice and did not play during the final examination as the team defeated Germany to win the 2013 Algarve Cup. [ 116 ]
Rapinoe battles for the ball during a match against New Zealand at Candlestick Park, 2013. During a friendly match against South Korea on June 20, 2013, Rapinoe served a corner recoil that ended up being the assist for Abby Wambach ‘s record-breaking 159th international goal. Wambach ‘s goal broke the world record for most external goals scored by a male or female. [ 117 ] [ 118 ] During a friendly catch against New Zealand at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California, Rapinoe scored the game-opening goal on a direct free recoil ( her 23rd external goal ) to help the U.S. win 4–1 and was named Player of the Match. [ 119 ]

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2015 FIFA Women ‘s World Cup

In April 2015, Rapinoe was named to the roll for the 2015 FIFA Women ‘s World Cup in Canada coached by national team lead coach Jill Ellis. [ 120 ] During the team ‘s first group phase match against Australia, she scored the game opening goal in the 12th minute. [ 121 ] She besides scored a second goal in the 78th infinitesimal. [ 122 ] With an extra goal scored by teammate Christen Press in the 61st minute, the United States won 3–1. [ 123 ] During train for a Victory Tour match to celebrate the team ‘s World Cup win in late 2015, Rapinoe tore her anterior cruciate ligament. [ 124 ] The national team game that she was training for was by and by cancelled due to inadequate field conditions. [ 125 ]

2019 FIFA Women ‘s World Cup

Rapinoe celebrates a goal with teammate Crystal Dunn, 2019 Rapinoe celebrates a goal with teammate Crystal Dunn, 2019 Rapinoe was named to the United States ‘ 2019 FIFA Women ‘s World Cup roll in May 2019 ; it was her third World Cup appearance. [ 126 ] In a 13–0 win over Thailand during the group stage of the tournament, she contributed a finish. [ 127 ] The United States advanced to the hard degree, where they faced Spain. Rapinoe scored doubly in a 2–1 victory that sent the U.S. to a quarterfinal match-up against the host nation, France. In the fifth infinitesimal, Rapinoe scored on a complimentary kick to give the United States an early jumper cable. She subsequently added a moment goal, and the U.S. held on to earn a semi-final mooring. Rapinoe was named Player of the Match by FIFA for her performances in the cycle of 16 and quarterfinals. [ 128 ] Because of an hurt hamstring, Rapinoe was forced to sit out of the United States ‘ semi-final victory over England, but she recovered in time to start in the 2019 FIFA Women ‘s World Cup Final. [ 129 ] During the final examination on July 7 in front man of a sold-out crowd of 57,900 fans at Parc Olympique Lyonnais, Rapinoe scored her fiftieth external finish on a penalty gripe in the 61st minute. [ 130 ] After a second gear goal by teammate Rose Lavelle, the United States defeated the Netherlands 2–0 to clinch its second consecutive World Cup championship. [ 131 ] At age 34, Rapinoe was the oldest womanhood to score in a World Cup final examination and was named Player of the Match. [ 131 ] She was awarded the Golden Boot as the top scorekeeper in the tournament with six goals, having played fewer minutes than her teammate Alex Morgan and England ‘s Ellen White, who besides recorded six goals. [ 132 ] Rapinoe besides earned the Golden Ball award as the best actor at the tournament. [ 133 ]

2020 Tokyo Olympics

On 5 August 2021, she scored doubly in a 4–3 win over Australia in the bronze decoration catch of the 2020 Summer Olympics. [ 134 ]

personal animation

Rapinoe has stated that she knew that she was a lesbian by her first year in college. [ 135 ] She publicly came out in the July 2012 edition of Out magazine, stating that she had been in a relationship with australian soccer player Sarah Walsh since 2009. [ 135 ] [ 136 ] After approximately five years together, Rapinoe and Walsh ended their kinship in 2013. Rapinoe subsequently dated Sub Pop recording artist Sera Cahoone. [ 137 ] Rapinoe and Cahoone announced their date in August 2015. [ 138 ] In January 2017, Rapinoe stated that their marry plans were on hold. [ 139 ] On July 20, 2017, Rapinoe and basketball actor Sue Bird of Seattle Storm confirmed that they had been dating since former 2016. [ 140 ] In 2018, Bird and Rapinoe became the foremost same-sex couple on the cover of ESPN ‘s The Body Issue. [ 141 ] The copulate announced their employment on October 30, 2020. [ 142 ] Speaking in an interview with Terry Gross on Fresh Air, Rapinoe discussed how her older buddy, who was the beginning to inspire her to play soccer, had suffered with drug misuse. He has besides spent periods of time in jail, including lone parturiency. Rapinoe explained that during his captivity, her buddy became involved with white supremacist groups within prison. [ 143 ]

activism

Rapinoe speaks on equal pay in March 2021 Rapinoe garnered national attention for kneeling during the national anthem at an international match in September 2016 in solidarity with NFL Colin Kaepernick. [ 144 ] [ 145 ] [ 146 ] Following the match, she stated :

It was a little nod to Kaepernick and everything that he ‘s standing for right immediately. I think it ‘s actually reasonably disgusting the way he was treated and the way that a batch of the media has covered it and made it about something that it absolutely is n’t. [ … ] Being a brave american, I know what it means to look at the flag and not have it protect all of your liberties. It was something small that I could do and something that I plan to keep doing in the future and hopefully spark some meaningful conversation around it. [ 147 ] [ 148 ] [ 146 ]

During the 2015 World Cup, she stood in silence for the national hymn. [ 149 ] She spoke out about the use of stadiums with artificial turf, its beginning use in a senior women ‘s or men ‘s World Cup tournament. [ 150 ] Rapinoe has been involved in the women ‘s team ‘s equal yield ailment to the peer Employment Opportunity Commission since at least 2016. [ 151 ] In March 2019, she, along with 27 of her US Women ‘s soccer teammates filed a lawsuit against the United States Soccer Federation accusing it of sex discrimination, [ 152 ] hoping to achieve equal pay. [ 153 ] In May of the stick to class a judge dismissed key parts of the lawsuit including the complaint over receiving lower pay than the U.S. men ‘s team but allowed other claims to move to trial. [ 154 ]

philanthropy

Rapinoe has done philanthropic bring for the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network ( GLSEN ) and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. [ 155 ] [ 156 ] [ 157 ] In 2013, she became an ambassador for Athlete Ally, a nonprofit organization organization that focuses on ending homophobia and transphobia in sports. [ 158 ] In September 2017, Rapinoe and U.S. teammate Alex Morgan were separate of a group of soccer players who signed up for the “ common Goal ” political campaign created by Juan Mata of Manchester United. As participants in the crusade, players donate one percentage of their individual wages in support of early soccer-related charities. Rapinoe and Morgan were the first two women players to sign on to the political campaign. [ 159 ]

Endorsements

Rapinoe has signed endorsement deals with Nike and Samsung. [ 160 ] [ 161 ] She has appeared in multiple commercials for Nike throughout her career. [ 162 ] [ 163 ] In 2013, she appeared in advertisements for the dress caller Wildfang and began a partnership with checkup device party, DJO Global. [ 164 ] [ 165 ] In 2016, she appeared in television commercials and print advertisements for Energy Brands ‘ Vitamin Water. [ 166 ] The lapp year, she was featured in a Nike commercial starring Cristiano Ronaldo. [ 167 ] In 2019, she was sponsored by Procter & Gamble, [ 168 ] BodyArmor, [ 169 ] Hulu, [ 170 ] LUNA Bar, [ 171 ] and VISA. [ 172 ] In 2021, she was announced as one of the new faces of Victoria ‘s Secret, [ 173 ] and appeared in ads for Subway. [ 174 ]

Politics

In December 2019, Rapinoe endorsed Elizabeth Warren in the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries. [ 175 ] [ 176 ] [ non-primary source needed ] During the opening night of the 2020 democratic National Convention, Rapinoe hosted a empanel with frontline workers of the COVID-19 pandemic. [ 177 ]

In popular polish

photographic print media

Rapinoe was featured on the blanket of the March 2013 edition of Curve. [ 178 ] She was profiled on August 6, 2012, edition of Sports Illustrated, [ 179 ] and the July 2012 edition of Out. [ 180 ] The April 11, 2013, edition of The New York Times featured an article about her experiences in France, with the home team, and coming out publicly before the 2012 Olympics. [ 64 ] In July 2014, she was featured in the ESPN ‘s The Body Issue. [ 181 ] In 2019, she became the first openly gay woman in the annual Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. [ 182 ] She was featured on multiple covers of Sports Illustrated, [ 183 ] [ 184 ] Marie Claire, [ 185 ] and InStyle [ 186 ] the like class .

television receiver and film

Rapinoe has made appearances on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, [ 187 ] The Today Show, [ 188 ] The Rachel Maddow Show, [ 189 ] [ 190 ] Meet the Press, [ 191 ] Good Morning America, [ 192 ] [ 193 ] and Jimmy Kimmel Live. [ 194 ] [ 195 ] In 2012, she appeared in an ESPN sport called Title IX is Mine: USWNT. [ 196 ] She was the focus of a Fox Soccer feature of speech, Fox Soccer Exclusive: Megan Rapinoe in November 2012. [ 197 ] In 2016, Rapinoe starred with teammates Hope Solo and Crystal Dunn in a docu-series called Keeping Score circulate by Fullscreen. [ 198 ] The episodes follow the athletes as they prepare for the 2016 Rio Olympics and addresses issues such as equal pay and racism. [ 199 ] In February 2019, she was featured in Nike ‘s “ Dream Crazier ” ad with Serena Williams, Simone Biles, Ibtihaj Muhammad, Chloe Kim, and early women athletes. The ad appeared during the 2019 Oscars. [ 200 ] In 2020, Rapinoe makes a cameo guest appearance on Showtime ‘s The L Word: Generation Q. [ citation needed ]

Video games

Rapinoe was featured along with her national teammates in the EA Sports ‘ FIFA video recording game series starting in FIFA 16, the beginning time women players were included in the game. [ 201 ] In September 2015, she was ranked by EA Sports as the No. 2 women ‘s player following teammate Carli Lloyd. [ 202 ]

Ticker tape parades, White House and Congressional honors, and a corn maze

Rapinoe celebrates with the United States women ‘s national team at the ticker record parade in New York City, July 2015. Following the United States ‘ win at the 2015 FIFA Women ‘s World Cup, Rapinoe and her teammates became the first women ‘s sports team to be honored with a watch record parade in New York City. [ 203 ] Each musician received a key to the city from Mayor Bill de Blasio. [ 204 ] In October of the same year, the team was honored by President Barack Obama at the White House, [ 205 ] and the president of the united states made note of the Northern California farm that had built a corn whiskey maze in the shape of Rapinoe ‘s face. [ 206 ] Following the 2019 Women ‘s World Cup, New York City honored the women ‘s national team with a second watch record parade and were introduced by Robin Roberts at City Hall. [ 207 ] Rapinoe and her teammates were invited to the national capitol by Senator Chuck Schumer [ 208 ] and Congresswomen Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ayanna Pressley and Nancy Pelosi. [ 209 ] [ 210 ]

fashion

In 2020, Rapinoe signed a compress to be the spokeswoman for international luxury manner post Loewe. [ 211 ]

National anthem

On September 4, 2016, during a game in Chicago against the Red Stars, Rapinoe knelt during the national anthem in solidarity with Colin Kaepernick, the San Francisco 49ers quarterback who refused to stand during the hymn to protest racial injustice and minority oppression. [ 212 ] [ 146 ] She said at the time she planned to continue to kneel. [ 213 ] Later that week on September 7, the Washington Spirit uncharacteristically played the national anthem prior to the teams taking the airfield, indicating that they did not want to “ subject our fans and friends to the disrespect we feel such an act would represent ”. In an extra affirmation, the Spirit management said “ to willingly allow anyone to hijack this tradition that means so much to millions of Americans and indeed many of our own fans for any cause would efficaciously be just ampere aweless as doing it ourselves. ” Rapinoe expressed displeasure with this move, saying, “ it was fabulously disgusting, four days before one of the worst tragedies in our area, to say I tried to hijack this event. ” [ 214 ] She continued the protest on September 15, 2016, during the national team game against Thailand. [ 215 ] U.S. Soccer then issued a instruction saying : “ Representing your state is a privilege and honor for any musician or bus that is associated with U.S. Soccer ‘s National Teams. consequently, our national anthem has particular significance for U.S. Soccer. In front of national and often global audiences, the play of our home anthem is an opportunity for our Men ‘s and Women ‘s National Team players and coaches to reflect upon the liberties and exemption we all appreciate in this state. As separate of the privilege to represent your nation, we have an anticipation that our players and coaches will stand and honor our flag while the national anthem is played. ” [ 216 ] In addressing the publish, Rapinoe stated in an interview that “ using this blanket patriotism as a defense against what the protest actually is was pretty cowardly ”, and far stated that she would probably never sing the national anthem again. [ 217 ]

autobiography

In November 2020 Rapinoe published her autobiography, One Life ( ISBN 1984881167 ) which details her early life, her career highlights and setbacks, her activism for racial and sex equality, and her personal relationships .

career statistics

baseball club

As of matches played 30 October 2021[218][219]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Sydney 2011–12 W-League 2 1 2 1
Lyon (women) 2012–13 D1F 6 2 5 2 11 4
2013–14 8 3 4 1 12 4
Total 14 5 9 3 23 8
OL Reign 2014 NWSL 9 4 2 2 11 6
2015 10 5 2 1 12 6
2016 5 1 5 1
2017 18 12 18 12
2018 17 7 17 7
2019 6 0 6 0
2020[220]
2021 11 6 2 0 0 0 13 6
Total 76 35 2 0 4 3 82 38
Career total 92 41 2 0 13 6 107 47

International goals

Scores and results list the United States’ goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Rapinoe goal.
Note
  1. ^ This goal was initially credited to Rapinoe in the match report. It has since been added to Morgan Brian ‘s total and removed from Rapinoe ‘s total .

Honors

Lyon
Reign FC
United States
Individual
Media

  • ESPY Award – Best Team (2015, 2019 as a member of the U.S. Women’s National Team)

Awards and realization

Rapinoe poses with the national team and President Barack Obama at the White House, 2015. Following the 2011 FIFA Women ‘s World Cup, Rapinoe ‘s hometown of Redding honored her with a parade and named September 10 “ Megan Rapinoe Day ”. [ 244 ] She received the Harry Glickman Professional Female Athlete of the Year prize at the sixtieth annual Oregon Sports Awards held on February 12, 2012. [ 245 ] On October 25, 2012, she was one of ten female soccer players shortlisted for the FIFA Women ‘s World Player of the Year award. [ 246 ] The same year, she was named a finalist for Sports Illustrated’s Most Inspiring Performers of 2012. [ 247 ] Rapinoe was awarded the dining table of directors Award by the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center on November 10, 2012, for bringing awareness to LGBT people in sports. [ 248 ] [ 249 ] In March 2013, Rapinoe was named Player of the Tournament at the 2013 Algarve Cup, which the U.S. won. She tallied a goal and aid in two games played. [ 224 ] After scoring two goals and serving one assist during a 4–1 succeed over the Chicago Red Stars on July 25, 2013, she was named NWSL Player of the Week by the media for Week 16 of the 2013 NWSL season. [ 228 ] In December 2014, Rapinoe was inducted into the Shasta County Sports Hall of Fame along with several other athletes from Shasta County including Ryan O’Callaghan and Ricky Ray. [ 250 ] [ 251 ] In 2015, she was inducted into the National Gay and lesbian Sports Hall of Fame. [ 252 ] besides in 2015, she was named NWSL Player of the Week for Week 1 of the 2015 NWSL season. [ 229 ] In 2019, Rapinoe won the Golden Boot ( the second american english to do so after Michelle Akers in 1999 ) [ 253 ] and Golden Ball awards at the Women ‘s World Cup in France. [ 254 ] The lapp year, she was Sports Illustrated’ s Sportsperson of the Year [ 12 ] and was named The Best FIFA Women ‘s Player [ 255 ] In 2020, Rapinoe won the Best in Sports Shorty Award. [ 256 ]

See besides

References

General citations

match reports

far reading

  • Grainey, Timothy (2012), Beyond Bend It Like Beckham: The Global Phenomenon of Women’s Soccer, University of Nebraska Press, ISBN 0803240368
  • Lisi, Clemente A. (2010), The U.S. Women’s Soccer Team: An American Success Story, Scarecrow Press, ISBN 0810874164
  • Murray, Caitlin (2019), The National Team: The Inside Story of the Women Who Changed Soccer , Abrams, ISBN 168335527X
  • Schultz, Jaime (2014), Qualifying Times: Points of Change in U.S. Women’s Sport, University of Illinois Press, ISBN 0252095960
  • Stay, Shane (2019), The Women’s World Cup 2019 Book: Everything You Need to Know About the Soccer World Cup, Books on Demand, ISBN 1782551921
  • Stevens, Dakota (2011), A Look at the Women’s Professional Soccer Including the Soccer Associations, Teams, Players, Awards, and More, BiblioBazaar, ISBN 1241047464
  • Theivam, Keiran and Jeff Kassouf (2019), The Making of the Women’s World Cup: Defining stories from a sport’s coming of age, Little, ISBN 1472143310
  • Walters, Meg (2019), World Cup Women: Megan, Alex, and the Team USA Soccer Champs, Simon and Schuster, ISBN 1510756302