US soccer icon Megan Rapinoe says she will retire at the end of the season: 'I feel incredibly grateful'

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Legendary American soccer player Megan Rapinoe announced she will retire from professional soccer at the end of the 2023. National Women’s Soccer League season. 

Rapinoe, 38, became one of the brightest stars in U.S. women's soccer and delivered some of the most clutch performances in the sport's history. She has also been outspoken on a long list of social issue throughout her career including, LGBTQ+ rights, racial inequality, voter rights and gender and pay equity.

She is a two-time World Cup winner and is scheduled to compete in the final World Cup of her career later this summer, before finishing the NWSL season with OL Reign in Seattle.

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Megan Rapinoe, #15 of OL Reign, controls the ball against Angel City FC in the second half of the 2023 NWSL Challenge Cup at BMO Stadium on April 19, 2023, in Los Angeles, California.  (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

"I’ve been able to have such an incredible career, and this game has brought me all over the world and allowed me to meet so many amazing people," said Rapinoe. "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.

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Rapinoe also expressed gratitude for the support she has received throughout her career.

"I want to thank my family for being by my side all these years.