Megan Rapinoe had the worst ending to one of the best USWNT stories.
Megan Rapinoe’s last games for USWNT and OL Reign are straight out of a horror film
Megan Rapinoe has officially put an end to her marvelous career at both the international and club level. The 38-year-old closed an 18-year career full of international and club trophies, awards and recognitions.
What a career for Megan Rapinoe
Two World Cups
Three-time Olympian
Olympic gold
Ballon d’Or winner
NWSL Shield
Division 1 Féminine
Coupe de France Féminine
17 years with the USWNT pic.twitter.com/Jn01NQfY8t— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 12, 2023
A living legend and winner of the Ballon d’Or.
However, the legendary player’s ending with both the USWNT at the World Cup and OL Reign in the NWSL Final left the American with nothing but deep sorrow and disappointment in her final two competitive matches — all worthy of a sports horror film script ending.
Retires from USWNT after RO16 World Cup exit; misses penalty in shoot-out
A disaster class in Australia and New Zealand.
Rapinoe went into her final international tournament with the U.S. looking to close out her career with yet another trophy and a record-breaking third-straight World Cup. Her farewell with the USWNT at the 2023 World Cup was looking to be historic.
The outcome? Historically disastrous.
Rapinoe — along with most of the players in the national team squad — had a lackluster and uninspired performance at the tournament. They were a shot-to-the-goal-post away from being eliminated in the group stage for the first time in history.
When it came to reaching the knockout stage, the USWNT failed to get past the round-of-16 for the first time ever, losing to international rivals Sweden from the spot after a scoreless draw.
To top Rapinoe’s final World Cup appearance off, the American was one of two players to miss in the penalty shoot-out that sealed the national team’s fate as the worst USWNT World Cup squad in history.
Megan Rapinoe's last ever World Cup ends in heartbreak as she blazes her penalty over the bar after coming on as a substitute pic.twitter.com/jEbSETPwup
— SPORTbible (@sportbible) August 6, 2023
"This is like a sick joke to me personally... this is dark comedy. I missed a penalty [in my final game]" said Rapinoe after the game.
A sad way to go out for the two-time world champion.
Retires from soccer with heart-breaking injury in the NWSL final; loses the game
The American hero falls at the hands of Gotham.
Megan Rapinoe was to play her last ever career game in none other than the NWSL Final — the perfect opportunity to heal her USWNT farewell with a trophy last Saturday. She shared the farewell honors with USWNT legend Ali Krieger.
You couldn't ask for a better ending
Megan Rapinoe and Ali Krieger will play the final game of their respective careers against one another pic.twitter.com/sEwx7LiLYS— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 6, 2023
It was time to rewrite the script.
However, and despite being part of the starting eleven, the 38-year-old was forced off the field after picking up an injury in just the third minute of the game.
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
Heartbreaking.
The American still used her leadership and hierarchy off the field to cheer her teammates on for a victory, but two goals in the first half turned out enough for the Gotham FC championship victory.
The category is ✨ CHAMPIONS ✨
— NJ/NY Gotham FC (@GothamFC) November 12, 2023
Two-time World Cup winner Megan Rapinoe had her final professional appearance come to a crushing end after just three minutes last night pic.twitter.com/btebv6OxVl
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) November 12, 2023
The final nail in the coffin for the nightmare career finish for Rapinoe.
"Thank you to everyone who has been on the journey for all this time. It's been amazing." said the former USWNT forward.
"Maybe, besides [getting injured in the NWSL final and losing], I couldn't have written it any different." she added.
