Megan Rapinoe’s tragic final act as American’s career comes to an end

The illustrious career of American football star Megan Rapinoe came to a nightmare end during her final ever match on Sunday.

Megan Rapinoe leaves the field for the final time in heartbreaking scenes. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)

Playing in the final game of her storied soccer career, Megan Rapinoe went down with an injury.

In the NWSL championship game, Rapinoe, a forward for the OL Reign, tried to make a play on the ball on the defensive half of the field when she went down with a non-contact injury, the NY Post reports.

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After a delay, the U.S. Women’s National Team icon was substituted from the game in the sixth minute by Bethany Balcer, and Rapinoe shared a hug with Gotham FC’s Ali Krieger, a fellow USWNT star also playing in her final professional soccer game.

In June, the 38-year-old announced that this year’s Women’s World Cup and following NWSL season would be her last in soccer.

Megan Rapinoe goes down with an injury less than three minutes into the NWSL Final in her last career game 💔

She receives a standing ovation from Snapdragon Stadium pic.twitter.com/uwqG2epzMK

— Attacking Third (@AttackingThird) November 12, 2023

“I’ve been able to have such an amazing career, and this game has brought me all over the world and allowed me to meet so many amazing people,” Rapinoe said in a statement released by U.S. Soccer then.

“I feel incredibly grateful to have played as long as I have, to be as successful as we’ve been, and to have been a part of a generation of players who undoubtedly left the game better than they found it.

“To be able to play one last World Cup and one last NWSL season and go out on my own terms is incredibly special.

“I want to thank my family for being by my side all these years. Thanks to all my teammates and coaches all the way back to my first days in Redding, on to college at the University of Portland and of course thanks to U.S. Soccer, the Seattle Reign and especially Sue [Bird] for everything.

Rapinoe lasted only minutes before the injury occured. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)

The tragic end to her career. (Photo by Robyn Beck / AFP)

“I will forever cherish the friendship and support over the years in this game and I am beyond excited for one last ride with the National Team and the Reign.”

The 38-year-old American had vowed the match was “really the last one,” in a career that included World Cup titles in 2015 and 2019 and gold at the 2012 London Olympics.

Celebrated for her off-field activism as well as her success on the pitch, Rapinoe announced earlier this year it would be her final season.

The 2019 FIFA Women’s Player of the Year ended her epic national team career with 63 goals, earning 203 caps over more than 17 years and played her final international game in September.

This article originally appeared on the NY Post and was reproduced with permission.