U.S. soccer star Megan Rapinoe announces she'll retire at end of NWSL season

United States forward Megan Rapinoe will retire after this season, the 38-year-old said on Saturday, days before she leaves for the FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

The charismatic veteran will compete in her fourth World Cup when the tournament kicks off on July 20, and said she will hang up her cleats after completing her National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) season with OL Reign.

"I feel very grateful that I'm here and that I have the trust of this team and that my body has held up this long to do this," said Rapinoe, who is the oldest player on one of the most inexperienced squads the United States have produced.

Arguably the most recognizable figure in all of American soccer, Rapinoe earned the Golden Boot for her heroics in the 2019 World Cup, the same year that she helped kick start her team's pay equity fights against their own federation.

It is with a deep sense of peace &amp; gratitude that I have decided this will be my final season playing this beautiful game. I never could have imagined the ways in which soccer would shape &amp; change my life forever, but by the look on this little girl’s face, she knew all along. <a href="https://t.co/XGZ1T9i7Wy">pic.twitter.com/XGZ1T9i7Wy</a>

She told reporters she had known for about a year that this would be the point at which she would be ready to retire.

"I did want to do it my own way," said Rapinoe.

The United States are gunning for an unprecedented third consecutive title when the World Cup kicks off. They play Wales in a farewell warm-up match on Sunday in San Jose, California.