US great Megan Rapinoe is a force to be reckoned with, both on and off the football pitch

Think you know who Megan Rapinoe is? Think again.

Rapinoe — a two-time FIFA Women's World Cup winner, Olympic gold medallist, Ballon d'Or winner and a captain of the United States women's football team — feels she is still trying to figure out who she is.

Could have fooled me.

Standing only 168 centimetres tall, she is a giant both on and off the football pitch.

One of a cohort of women who took their sport to court and finally agreed to a $US24 million settlement for equal pay, Rapinoe is not afraid to take a stand. Or take a knee.

As part of the settlement, US Soccer has also pledged to equalise World Cup prize money and bonuses.

She was one of the first females to kneel during the US national anthem in support of NFL player Colin Kaepernick's career-ending gesture against police brutality and racism in America.

Rapinoe said she was still conflicted about how that all turned. Unlike Kaepernick, she kept playing her sport of choice because she compromised, a position she is not entirely comfortable with.

In early April Rapinoe will join some of the biggest names in global sport at Melbourne's SportNxt summit, which will look at the industry's future in an era of challenges and disruptions.

Rapinoe is one of the disruptors. In years to come it could be that description that best paints a picture of her impact on the game and her world — more than all the trophies, medals and titles she has earned during her decorated career.

When asked to describe what her makes her tick, Rapinoe told The Ticket that above all else it was «just wanting fairness … and wanting what we deserve and what we've earned».

Beyond that, Rapinoe said she was «still trying to figure that out».

She is entitled to ask questions. The world is in such a state of