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Megan Rapinoe says it has been an ‘honor’ to play for the US as she bids goodbye to national team

Megan Rapinoe says it has been an ‘honor’ to play for the US as she bids goodbye to national team
Alright, everybody, thanks for coming last game before we head down under that. I wanna share with you guys. This is gonna be my last season. Um my last World Cup in my last Nwl season. Um Obviously, there'll be more to come further down down the road after hopefully, we get done. What we want to get done can't brush that. I, I'm just really grateful to be able to do it in this way. I understand that it is incredibly rare for athletes of any stature to be able to go out in their own way on their own terms at the time that they want in *** way that feels really peaceful and settled for them. So I feel very grateful that I, that I'm here and I have the trust of this team and that my body has held up this long to be able to do this. So I just wanted to do it now and honestly kind of get it out of the way before we go down to New Zealand. So we can focus on the task at hand, which is winning another World Cup. So, um I mean, I think just the way the cycles lined up having this be *** World Cup, uh being *** World Cup year and, you know, being able to be in *** place, you know, physically that I still feel like I have *** lot to contribute. Um I think kind of at the beginning of, of this year, sort of knew that, uh I wanted to play the end of, you know, through the end of this year, obviously hoping to make the World Cup team and, and have 11 last chance at that. Um, you know, it was really important to me and something that I really wanted you had, I just started, I know what it is to lose in *** World Cup final and I certainly don't want to do that again. So, um, the best way that I could possibly go out is, is winning and so it feels really easy to focus and, and easy to put my all into it and easy to be really settled and, um, excited for what's, you know, undoubtedly going to be the best World Cup that we've ever seen. I get you happy for her that she's ready to announce that she wants this last year to, she wants to end on *** high note and she's, you know, she's doing it her way. And I think that's the most important thing is *** lot of people who retire from sport, soccer or sport in general don't always get to do it. On their terms and she's able to do that and she deserves that. I don't think we need extra motivation to want to perform well and win in this World Cup, but he is one of my good friends and of course you want someone to go out on top of the world. And I think there would be no better thing for us to be able to win in New Zealand and Australia for this country and this team and for her, that's it. There's ***, I don't even think there's words to say what pinot has meant to the growth of soccer in this country and not just this country worldwide. She is *** legend. She has spoken up and talked about *** lot of issues that were never talked about before. She's used her platform in the best ways to create change and on the field. I mean, she's *** legend. So it is *** really sad and bittersweet time, but I'm excited to be able to kind of go on this last journey with her in the World Cup and see all the great things that she does after her career. This I shake.
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Megan Rapinoe says it has been an ‘honor’ to play for the US as she bids goodbye to national team
Megan Rapinoe said it has been an 'honor' to play for the United States after making her fourth and final appearance at a Women's World Cup.Rapinoe, who has made more than 200 appearances for the national team, missed her spot kick as the U.S. was knocked out of the World Cup in a dramatic penalty shootout against Sweden on Sunday.Before the tournament, the 38-year-old announced that this would be her final year as a professional soccer player and she now returns to her National Women's Soccer League team, OL Reign, for the remainder of the season."This game is so beautiful, even in its cruelest moments," Rapinoe wrote on Instagram on Wednesday. "This group was so very special, and I am immensely proud of every single one of us."This team is in special hands as I walk away, just like it always was, and always will be. Because that is what this team is all about. We lay it all out on the line every single time. Fighting with everything that we have, for everything we deserve, for every person we possibly can."It has been my honor to play for our country, with so many incredible woman , for so many years. Thank you, a million times over."The defeat against Sweden condemned the U.S. to its earliest ever exit at a World Cup and signaled an end to the team's dreams for an unprecedented 'three-peat.'Rapinoe now departs international soccer with 63 goals, 73 assists, two world titles and the 2019 Ballon d'Or Féminin – awarded to the best player in the women's game.In addition to her on-field achievements, Rapinoe is well-known for her work on social issues, including LGBTQ+ rights, racial inequality and pay equity. In 2022, she became the first soccer player to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom.Speaking to Fox Sports after the defeat against Sweden, Rapinoe called it a "sick joke" and "dark comedy" that the U.S. had dominated much of the game before being knocked out in cruel fashion on penalties.

Megan Rapinoe said it has been an 'honor' to play for the United States after making her fourth and final appearance at a Women's World Cup.

Rapinoe, who has made more than 200 appearances for the national team, missed her spot kick as the U.S. was knocked out of the World Cup in a dramatic penalty shootout against Sweden on Sunday.

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Before the tournament, the 38-year-old announced that this would be her final year as a professional soccer player and she now returns to her National Women's Soccer League team, OL Reign, for the remainder of the season.

"This game is so beautiful, even in its cruelest moments," Rapinoe wrote on Instagram on Wednesday. "This group was so very special, and I am immensely proud of every single one of us.

"This team is in special hands as I walk away, just like it always was, and always will be. Because that is what this team is all about. We lay it all out on the line every single time. Fighting with everything that we have, for everything we deserve, for every person we possibly can.

"It has been my honor to play for our country, with so many incredible woman [sic], for so many years. Thank you, a million times over."

The defeat against Sweden condemned the U.S. to its earliest ever exit at a World Cup and signaled an end to the team's dreams for an unprecedented 'three-peat.'

Rapinoe now departs international soccer with 63 goals, 73 assists, two world titles and the 2019 Ballon d'Or Féminin – awarded to the best player in the women's game.

In addition to her on-field achievements, Rapinoe is well-known for her work on social issues, including LGBTQ+ rights, racial inequality and pay equity. In 2022, she became the first soccer player to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Speaking to Fox Sports after the defeat against Sweden, Rapinoe called it a "sick joke" and "dark comedy" that the U.S. had dominated much of the game before being knocked out in cruel fashion on penalties.