Megan Rapinoe

At 38 years old, Megan Rapinoe has this physical status:

Megan Anna Rapinoe (listen) is an American professional soccer player who captained Reign FC in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and the United States women's national soccer team, primarily as a winger.

Rapinoe was the champion of the Ballon d'Or Féminin and named Best FIFA Women's Player in 2019, a gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics, and runners-up at the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Carli Lloyd and Alex Morgan co-captains the national team since 2018.

She appeared with the Chicago Red Stars, Philadelphia Independence, and MagicJack in Women's Professional Soccer (WPS), as well as Olympique Lyonnais in France's Division 1 Féminine. Rapinoe is known for her crafty style of play and activism around the world.

In the 122nd minute of the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup quarterfinal match against Brazil, her precise cross to Abby Wambach resulted in an equalizer goal and eventual victory for the Americans after a penalty shootout.

The last-minute attempt was named for the 2011 ESPY Award for Best Play of the Year by ESPN.

She scored three goals and tallied a team-high four assists, leading the US to a gold medal during the 2012 London Olympics.

She is the first female or male to score a goal at the Olympic Games from a corner.

At the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in France, Rapinoe is an ambassador for a variety of LGBT organisations, including the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN) and Athlete Ally.

The Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center's board of directors award in 2013 was coveted by the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center.

She has been featured by Nike, Procter & Gamble, BodyArmor, Hulu, LUNA Bar, Samsung, and DJO Global, and has appeared in several advertisements for clothing company Wildfang, as well as Nike.

re-inc, a gender-neutral lifestyle brand founded in 2019, alongside fellow celebrities Christen Press, Tobin Heath, and Meghan Klingenberg.

Early life

Rapinoe grew up in Redding, California, with her parents, Jim and Denise, and five siblings, including her fraternal twin Rachael Rapinoe. Denise and Jim raised seven children together, not all their own. Denise has a son and daughter from a previous marriage, Michael and Jenny; older brother Brian followed him and then the twins five years later. Jim and her grandfather Jack were both in the Army. She is half-Irman and Irish (from her paternal grandfather) and has Irish roots. She idolized her older brother Brian and started playing soccer at age three after seeing him play the sport, but she began using heroin when the girls were in second grade. When she was ten years old and he was fifteen, he was put in juvenile detention and was later transferred to and out of various jails, including Pelican Bay State Prison. Since seeing his younger sister's triumph in international soccer, Brian has since made a determined attempt to avoid opioids. Soccer was a way for Rachael and Megan to get away from the heroin use in rural California.

Rapinoe spent the majority of her youth with teams that her father had coached until high school. Rapinoe competed for the Elk Grove Pride club team, which is located south of Sacramento, rather than playing soccer at Foothill High School. She was on track to play basketball as a freshman, sophomore, and senior, and she was on the honor roll every semester of high school. As a junior and senior, Rapinoe was named Parade and National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA). In 2004, she was named to McDonald's All-American Girls High School Soccer West Team. In 1999, Rapinoe was a member of the Under-14 Northern California state Olympic Development Program (ODP) team, as well as the regional ODP team in 2002.

Rapinoe played for Elk Grove Pride in the Women's Premier Soccer League from 2002 to 2005, as well as her sister, Rachael, and future national teammate Stephanie Cox. She and her family travelled two-and-a-half hours from her hometown to play with the team. She scored an equalizer goal in the 18th minute to tie the game 1-1 against the Peachtree City Lazers in the United States Youth Soccer National Championships. Elk Grove United finished second at the nationals after the Lazers scored a game-winning goal in the second half.

In Portland, Oregon, Rapinoe and her sister attended the University of Portland. The Rapinoe twins nearly committed to Santa Clara University before deciding to compete for the Portland Pilots on full scholarships. In 2004, Rapinoe participated in the FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship in 2004, where the United States came in third place. The conclusion was that she did not play college soccer in that year.

Rapinoe, a freshman, helped the Pilots win their undefeated season and the NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship in 2005. She scored twice and served one assist in the College Cup quarterfinal against Notre Dame, assisting the Pilots in defeating 3–1 and advance to the College Cup. She scored one goal and helped the Pilots win 4–0 in the College Cup final against UCLA. She was selected as a member of the NSCAA First Team All-American and a member of the Soccer America First Team All-America. Rapinoe was selected to represent the NCAA Women's Soccer Championships All Tournament Team and was the year's first freshman. She was also selected 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, ranked fifth in freshman point totals in the school's history. She also scored seven game-winning goals last year.

Rapinoe was one of the country's top scorers in eleven matches as a sophomore in 2006. She sustained her first season-ending anterior cruciate ligament injury (ACL) injury while playing against Washington State University on October 5. Despite her injury, she was one of four Portland players in the program's history, with Christine Sinclair, Tiffeny Milbrett, and Shannon MacMillan all scoring 25 goals and 15 assists in two seasons. Rapinoe sustained her second season-ending ACL injury two games into the season in 2007. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) gave her a hardship waiver but she didn't use it.

Rapinoe returned to the Pilots in 2008 after suffering from her second ACL injury. She helped the team win a 20-2 record in scoring five goals and assisting 13 others. Her 13 assists earned her first rank among the Pilots and West Coast Conference, as well as in the West Coast Conference, and she was named West Coast Conference Player of the Year. She was also named a member of the Soccer America First Team and the NSCAA Second Team All-American. Despite the fact that she had one more season of college eligibility due to the NCAA medical hardship waiver, she decided instead to enter the Women's Professional Soccer Draft. Despite playing just 60 games, Rapinoe's 88-point record, which includes 30 goals and 28 assists, ranks tenth in the school's history.

Personal life

Rapinoe has admitted that she knew she was a lesbian by her first year in college. She came out in the Out magazine's July 2012 issue, claiming that she had been in a relationship with Australian soccer player Sarah Walsh since 2009. Rapinoe and Walsh's relationship came to an end in 2013. Sera Cahoone, a sub pop recording artist, was later dated by Rapinoe. In August 2015, Rapinoe and Cahoone announced their engagement. Rapinoe's wedding plans were postponed in January 2017. Sue Bird, a Seattle Storm's Rapinoe and basketball player, reported on July 20, 2017 that they had been dating since late 2016. On the front page of ESPN's The Body Issue, Bird and Rapinoe became the first same-sex couple on the front page. On October 30, 2020, the couple announced their engagement.

Rapinoe talked to Terry Gross of Fresh Air about how her older brother, who was the first to inspire her to play soccer, had heroin use. He has served time in prison, including solitary confinement. Rapinoe said that during his time in prison, her brother became involved with white supremacist organisations within jail.

Following the match, she stated:

She remained in silence during the national anthem during the 2015 World Cup. She spoke out against the use of artificial turf in stadiums, the first time in a senior women's or men's World Cup tournament.

Since at least 2016, Rapinoe has been involved in the women's team's equal pay case to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. She and 27 of her US Women's soccer teammates filed a lawsuit against the United States Soccer Federation in March 2019, alleging gender discrimination in order to gain equal pay. A judge dismissed key elements of the lawsuit, including the allegation of less pay than the US men's team's, in May of this year, but allowed others to go to trial.

Rapinoe has served on the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee and the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN). In 2013, she became a spokesperson for Athlete Ally, a non-profit group that works to eliminate homophobia and transphobia in sports.

Rapinoe and US teammate Alex Morgan were among a group of soccer players who pledged to the "Common Goal" campaign launched by Manchester United's Juan Mata. As supporters of other soccer-related charities, players contribute one percent of their individual wages in support of other soccer-related charities. Rapinoe and Morgan were the first two women players to sign up for the campaign.

Rapinoe has signed endorsement deals with Nike and Samsung. Throughout her career, she has appeared in numerous Nike commercials. She appeared in advertisements for the clothing company Wildfang and began working with medical device company DJO Global in 2013. She appeared in television commercials and print advertisements for Energy Brands' Vitamin Water in 2016. Cristiano Ronaldo appeared in a Nike commercial the same year. Procter & Gamble, BodyArmor, Hulu, LUNA Bar, and VISA sponsored her in 2019. She was proclaimed as one of Victoria's Secret's new stars in 2021 and appeared in Subway ads.

In December 2019, Rapinoe supported Elizabeth Warren in the 2020 Democratic presidential primaries. Rapinoe held a panel of the COVID-19 pandemic on the first night of the 2020 Democratic National Convention.

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Club career

The Chicago Red Stars selected Rapinoe second overall in the inaugural season of Women's Professional Soccer (WPS), the most important division of soccer in the United States at the time, with the highest division of soccer in the United States. In 17 of the 18 games in which she appeared for the Red Stars for a total of 1,375 minutes, she was in the starting lineup. Rapinoe scored two goals and assisted on three others on three others. She was voted to the league's All-Star Team in August 2009 and competed against Swedish Damallsvenskan champions Ume IK. She appeared in 19 of the 20 games in which she appeared for the Red Stars in 2010. She scored one goal.

Rapinoe joined Philadelphia Independence in December 2010 after the Chicago Red Stars' operations ceased operations. She appeared in four games and scored one goal before being sent to MagicJack (formerly Washington Freedom) in Germany for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup. The "cash considerations" involved in the transaction were estimated at $100,000, according to the publication. In the league, the average pay for a female player was $25,000 per year. Rapinoe was up for a second season in MagicJack's eight regular season appearances, including a fifth-place finish and a spot in the playoffs. Rapinoe scored in the 61st minute during the team's semi-final match against the Boston Breakers on August 17, 2011 advancing to the championship final after the team defeated the Boston Breakers 3–1. In the final, MagicJack was defeated 2–0 by the Philadelphia Independence. The WPS elected to abandon the MagicJack brand on October 25, 2011, leaving Rapinoe and several other players as free agents for the 2012 season. In early 2012, the league halted operations.

Rapinoe played for two games for two games as a guest in two games with Australian W-League team Sydney FC in October 2011. She scored with seven minutes remaining in her second match against Melbourne Victory, securing three points for Sydney. This was the first victory for Sydney during the 2011–12 season. Sydney FC finished third in the regular season and advanced to the playoffs, where they were defeated by Brisbane Roar in penalty kicks.

Rapinoe joined Hope Solo, Sydney Leroux, Alex Morgan, and Stephanie Cox in the Seattle Sounders Women's summer 2012 Summer Olympics as they trained for the 2012 Summer Olympics. "Stemming from her leadership and success at the University of Portland, Megan has continued to develop and grow into one of the most exciting, challenging, and flashy players in the women's game," Sounders head coach Michelle French said. Rapinoe made two appearances with the team during the regular season, with two assists. The Sounders sold out nine of their ten home matches at the 4,500 capacity Starfire Stadium, with Rapinoe and her national teammates on the team. During the 2012 season, the Sounders Women's average attendance was four times higher than the next closest team.

Rapinoe agreed to six months with Olympique Lyonnais, the French team that had previously won six consecutive French league championships and two straight European titles, earning a total of €11,000 (roughly $14,000) per month. Rapinoe appeared in six regular season games for the team, scoring two goals mainly as a left winger in the squad's 4–3–3 formation.

Rapinoe made her UEFA Women's Champions League debut against FC Malmö on March 20 in the first leg of the 2012-13 quarterfinals. During her 24 minutes on the pitch, she scored one goal, contributing to Lyon's 5–0 final victory. During Lyon's 6–1 victory over FCF Juvisy in the second leg of the semi-finals, she later scored a goal and served as an assist. When Lyon defeated German side VfL Wolfsburg on May 23, Rapinoe became the fifth American woman to play in a Champions League final. In the final, Lyon was defeated 1–0. Rapinoe scored two goals and provided one assist in her first appearance in Champions League, making five appearances on her debut, scoring two goals and giving one assist.

Rapinoe scored three goals in her eight appearances for Lyon in the 2013–14 season. She appeared on four occasions for Lyon during the 2013-14 Champions League, scoring one goal against FC Twente. Lyon was disqualified in the Round of 16. Rapinoe's time with Lyon had come earlier than expected, and the Seattle Reign announced it in January 2014 that she would return to the Seattle Reign for the entire 2014 season. She finished her time with Lyon, scoring 8 goals in 28 matches in all competitions.

Rapinoe joined Seattle Reign FC in 2013, which she had previously been in the National Women's Soccer League. The squad had been struggling to score goals before Rapinoe's call and was 0–9–1 in ten games. With the addition of Rapinoe, her national team and longtime Seattle Sounders Women colleague, Hope Solo, and some lineup updates, the Reign boosted their goal-scoring ability and turned their league record around. Rapinoe played a key role in all of Seattle's four goals during a match against her former club in the WPS, leading the team to a 4–1 victory over Chicago. She was named NWSL Player of the Week for Week 16 for the 2013 NWSL season after scoring two goals and assisting during the match. Despite only playing half of the season (12 out of 22 regular season games), Rapinoe was the Reign's top scorer with five goals.

Rapinoe sat out several games and made her second appearance against the Western New York Flash on July 3 after suffering a foot injury during the first home game of the 2014 season on April 14, April 14. With a 16–2–6 record and 54 points, the Reign secured the league's regular season crown (NWSL Shield) and 11 points ahead of the second place team, FC Kansas City, thanks to her four goals and one assist during the regular season. Rapinoe scored a goal during the Reign's playoff semi-final match against Washington Spirit, helping the Reign beat 2–1 and advance to the championship final against FC Kansas City. Despite Rapinoe's goal during the championship final, the Reign was ultimately defeated by Kansas City 2–1.

For the 2015 season, Rapinoe returned to the Reign. She scored her first professional hat trick and assisted Jess Fishlock during the Reign's first match against the Flash 5–1. For Week 1 of the season, she was voted league's NWSL Player of the Week.

Rapinoe and 11 others were named Reign FC Legend in September 2019, joining the 36 previous legends.

Rapinoe scored six goals in 12 appearances for the club in the 2021 season, as well as co-captained the squad with Lauren Barnes. Rapinoe was named National Player of the Month in August 2021. With a 13–8–3 record, the Reign took second place in second place in the regular season. They were ruled out of the NWSL Playoffs by eventual champions Washington Spirit after qualifying to the NWSL.

International career

In 2002, Rapinoe competed for the United States under 16 national soccer team and travelled with the team to France and Houston, Texas. In May 2003, she also participated in the United States Youth Soccer Association International Tournament in Houston.

Rapinoe competed for the United States under the age of 19 from 2003 to 2005. She made 21 appearances and scored nine goals. In January 2003, Chula Vista, California, she attended her first camp with the under-19 team. In July 2003, she traveled with the team on a European tour to the Netherlands and Germany. On March 1, 2003, she scored her first goal for the team against Mexico. At the 2004 CONCACAF Under-19 qualifying tournament, Rapinoe participated in three matches, scoring three goals. She scored a team-high three goals, including one against Brazil in the third place match win.

For the first time since the team's 2006 Residency Training Camp in Carson, California, Rapinoe trained with the US women's national soccer team. During a friendly match against Ireland on July 23, 2006, she made her debut for the senior team. During a friendly match against Taiwan on October 1, 2006, she scored her first two goals.

Rapinoe did not play for the senior team in 2007 or 2008, and later missed the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup and the 2008 Beijing Olympics due to two separate ACL injuries. With five goals and one assist, she led the team in points on her return to the team in 2009. In six of the seven games in which she appeared the same year, she was in the starting lineup in six of them.

Rapinoe's game-winning goal against Norway helped the team win by a 1–0 margin in the team's third group stage match of the tournament during the 2009 Algarve Cup. The United States was defeated by Sweden in the championship final after finishing at the top of their group.

Rapinoe started eight of the ten games she played in 2010 and scored four goals with two assists. Rapinoe won the 2010 CONCACAF Women's World Cup Qualifying Tournament, beating Sweden and China twice and twice against Guatemala. She also played three games against Guatemala. The United States placed third at the tournament, then travelled to Italy to compete for a spot in the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup in the UEFA-CONCACAF play-off against Italy. Rapinoe was on hand to assist Amy Rodriguez's game-winning goal, which earned the United States a spot in the 2011 World Cup for the second time in the team's second match of the season.

Rapinoe was selected to the United States roster for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup. She led the team up 2–0 in their second group stage match against Colombia in the 50th minute and scored almost immediately, putting the United States up 2–0. Rapinoe fulfilled her target by running to the corner to the left of Colombia's goal, tapping it, and then singing Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the United States" into it.

Rapinoe came on as a replacement and gave Abby Wambach's equalizer goal in the 122nd minute of the game, the highest goal ever scored in a World Cup match. Rapinoe would later convert her shot during the penalty shootout to help the United States advance to the semi-finals. Rapinoe characterized her last-minute crossing against Brazil: "I just took a touch and friggin' smacked it with my left foot." I don't think I've ever hit a ball with my left foot. I made it to the back post, but the beast in the air has stolen it."

Rapinoe was named ESPN Next Level Player of the Week after the match against Brazil for completing 5 of the 10 crosses, while the rest of the team was 0 for 18. She was a participant in the semi-finals against France, in which the US defeated France 3–1. Rapinoe assisted with the tournament's third goal during the dramatic final match against Japan in front of 48,817 spectators at sold-out Commerzbank-Arena in Frankfurt and a record-breaking international television audience, earning her third assist of the tournament to Alex Morgan in the 69th minute. During regular and overtime, the United States tied Japan 2–2 for their second penalty kick shootout of the tournament. They were defeated 3–1 on penalties and earned a silver medal at the end of the tournament. One goal and three assists were included in Rapinoe's tournament record. She appeared in all six games for the United States.

Rapinoe helped the United States win a gold medal at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. In what turned into a 3–0 win for the Americans, she scored the game-winning goal in the 33rd minute during the team's second group stage match against Colombia. The United States defeated North Korea 1–0 in their final group stage match, defeating New Zealand 2–0.

Rapinoe scored two game-equalizing goals in the 54th and 70th minutes during a thrilling semi-final match against Canada at Old Trafford. Her first goal was scored from a corner — a corner kick that goes unnoticed by another player into the net. She is the first and so far only female athlete to win an Olimpico at the Olympic Games. In the 123rd minute by Alex Morgan, the United States defeated Canada 4–3. 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.

After defeating Japan 2–1 at Wembley Stadium in front of 80,203 spectators, the United States team claimed the gold medal, the biggest audience for a women's Olympic soccer match ever. In the 53rd minute, Rapinoe assisted Carli Lloyd in his second goal of the final. She ended the tournament with three goals and a team-high of four assists (tied with Alex Morgan). Rapinoe, who is widely regarded as one of the top players of the Olympics, has been added to numerous 'Team of the Tournament' lists, including those selected by the BBC and All White Kit.

In 2012, Rapinoe scored a career-best 8 goals and 12 assists for the United States.

Despite participating in only two of the four matches in which the United States competed, Rapinoe was named Player of the Tournament at the 2013 Algarve Cup in Portugal. As the team defeated Germany to win the 2013 Algarve Cup, she was injured in preparation and did not participate in the final.

Rapinoe was on the front page of South Korea's tymie of Abby Wambach's record-breaking 159th international goal during his friendly match against South Korea on June 20, 2013. Wambach's target set the world record for most international goals scored by a male or female. Rapinoe scored the game-opening goal on a direct free kick at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California, and was named Player of the Match.

Rapinoe was accepted into the roster for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada, coached by national team head coach Jill Ellis in April 2015. In the 12th minute, she scored the game opening goal in the team's first group stage match against Australia. In the 78th minute, she scored her second goal. The United States defeated 3–1, with additional goals scored by teammate Christen Press in the 61st minute.

Rapinoe tore her anterior cruciate ligament in preparation for a Victory Tour match to celebrate the team's World Cup victory in late 2015. Due to poor field conditions, the national team game for which she was preparing was postponed.

Rapinoe was selected to the United States' 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup roster in May 2019, marking her third appearance in the World Cup. She scored a goal in a 13–0 win over Thailand in the tournament's group stage. The United States advanced to the knockout stage, where they met Spain. Rapinoe scored twice in a 2–1 victory that lifted the United States to a quarterfinal match against France. Rapinoe scored on a free kick in the fifth minute to put the United States up a step ahead of schedule. She later scored her second goal, and the United States maintained their undefeated status to progress to the semi-finals. Rapinoe was named Player of the Match by FIFA for her efforts in the quarters of 16 and quarterfinals.

Rapinoe was forced to miss the United States' semi-final victory over England due to a strained hamstring, but she recovered in time to start in the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup Final. Rapinoe scored her 50th international goal on a penalty kick in the 61st minute during a sold-out crowd of 57,900 supporters at Parc Olympique Lyonnais on July 7. The United States defeated the Netherlands 2–0 for its second straight World Cup title, after a second goal by teammate Rose Lavelle. Rapinoe, the oldest woman to score in a World Cup final, was named Player of the Match at age 34. She was named the top scorer in the tournament with six goals despite playing fewer minutes than her colleagues Alex Morgan and England's Ellen White, who also scored six goals. In addition, Rapinoe was named the best player at the tournament as the best player at the tournament.

In a 4–3 victory over Australia in the bronze medal match of the 2020 Summer Olympics, she scored twice (including a second Olympic Olimpico) on August 5, 2021.

In February 2022, Vlatko Andonovski, the head coach of the United States women's national team, announced that Rapinoe will not be included on the national team roster for the SheBelieves Cup.

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