Megan Rapinoe’s playing career came to an unceremonious end on Saturday. The USWNT legend left the final top flight game with OL Reign after just three minutes, felled by a leg injury.
The 38-year old crumbled to the turf after attempting to press an incoming NJ/NY Gotham FC defender. She burst into tears shortly thereafter, resting on the ground for a moment before being helped to the sideline. The Snapdragon Stadium concourses erupted into a standing ovation as she left the pitch.
Rapinoe’s status as a world soccer icon was cemented long before she departed the field. The two-time World Cup winner strung together 203 appearances with the Stars and Stripes, bagging 63 goals across the course of her 17-year tenure with the national side.
Here’s the latest on Rapinoe’s health as she rides off into the sunset of retirement.
Megan Rapinoe injury update
The Reign were dealt a serious blow to their title hopes when Rapinoe departed the action in the game’s sixth minute. According to The Athletic’s Meg Linehan, Rapinoe seemed to have gestured at teammate Rose Lavelle that the injury was to her Achilles tendon.
Rapinoe down, non contact trying make a cutting run in for a challenge. Strange look to it, like her leg buckled? Long wait here. #NWSLChampionship
— Meg Linehan…
