Megan Rapinoe reflected on the swings of fortune that often make football so cruel as she bowed out her final World Cup after the United States lost to Sweden on penalties on Sunday night.
The 38-year-old’s prowess on set-pieces has helped her win two World Cups with her country. But she was one of three USA players to miss a penalty in Sunday’s shootout, which Sweden won 5-4. Before the World Cup began, Rapinoe announced she would retire at the end of the 2023 NWSL season, making this summer's tournament in Australia and New Zealand her final World Cup.
Rapinoe made her USWNT debut in 2006 and was part of the World Cup-winning squads in 2015 and 2019.
After 17 years of putting herself on the line for the Stars and Stripes, the two-time Women's World Cup winner was in tears as she departed the global stage for the final time.
On Rapinoe's 202nd appearance for the USA, the defending world champions dramatically lost 5-4 on penalties to Sweden after a last-16 goalless draw in Melbourne.
Rapinoe, 38, ranks among the most successful players of her generation and announced before the tournament she would be retiring at the end of the season.
With the USA leading 3-2 on penalties on a tension-filled night, substitute Rapinoe missed her spot-kick before Sophia Smith and Kelley O'Hara also failed to score in the shootout.
Rapinoe is not necessarily done with soccer. She has said she will play out the season with her club team, OL Reign in the National Women’s Soccer League. She may say goodbye to fans back home in a few more Women's World Cup 2023: Megan Rapinoe leaves final world cup, penalty missU.S. matches to wrap up the year.
President Donald Trump did not take kindly to the player's comments and tweeted at her during the tournament that she should win first before making such a remark.
Rapinoe, who was then captain, went on to play a starring role in the final as the United States defeated the Netherlands to secure back-to-back World Cups.
But it was not enough for some critics.
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