Megan RAPINOE

Megan Rapinoe: Two FIFA World Cups and Olympic gold

Rapinoe made her USWNT debut in 2006 but anterior cruciate knee ligament injuries ruled her out of the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup and the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Despite those setbacks, she became a mainstay of the side. A lively forward with pinpoint accuracy from crosses and setpieces, she started the 2011 Women's World Cup Final and set up Alex Morgan's opening goal against Japan. After the game finished 2-2 after 90 minutes and extra time, USA lost 3-1 on penalties.

In her Olympic debut at London 2012, Rapinoe played a key role in the team's run to gold. In the semi-finals against Canada, she scored twice to level the match including the first goal direct from a corner in Olympic history. Morgan's goal at the end of extra time secured a dramatic 4-3 win, and Rapinoe assisted on Carli Lloyd's winner in the final as they avenged their World Cup defeat to Japan.

At the 2015 World Cup, Rapinoe scored twice in the group stages as the USWNT set up another final against Japan. Her third-minute corner set up Lloyd for her first of three goals as the United States scored a stunning 5-2 victory. Rio 2016 was less successful with the defending champions going out in the quarter-finals on penalties to Sweden.

Ahead of the 2019 World Cup in France, Rapinoe, Lloyd and Morgan were named co-captains of the side. And Rapinoe, 33 at this point, would enjoy the tournament of her life. In the round of 16, she scored both goals in the 2-1 win over Spain before repeating the trick in the 2-1 quarter-final triumph against hosts France.

In the final, Rapinoe fired home from the penalty spot after an hour before Rose Lavelle scored a second as the United States retained their title.

Rapinoe and Morgan both finished the tournament with six goals and three assists, but Rapinoe collected the Golden Boot award due to having played fewer minutes. Her goals were more important too with five of Morgan's coming in the opening 13-0 thrashing of Thailand. The veteran also won the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player before receiving the Best FIFA Women's Player and Ballon d'Or Féminin awards that year.

At Tokyo 2020, she was unable to stop her side going down to eventual winners Canada in the semi-finals. But she scored twice - including another goal direct from a corner - as the USWNT beat Australia 4-3 to take bronze.

Rapinoe announced that 2023 would be her last season. In her final World Cup match, she was one of three Americans to miss from the spot in the round of 16 penalty shoot-out defeat to Sweden. Her professional career came to an abrupt and painful end as she limped off just three minutes into the NWSL Final with a torn Achilles tendon.

Beyond her performances on the pitch, Rapinoe is also celebrated for her vocal activism in support of LGBTQ rights and social justice. She made headlines when she followed the lead of American football star Colin Kaepernick in kneeling for the United States national anthem, and played a key role in securing better pay and conditions for USWNT players.

At Rio 2016, Rapinoe met basketball hero Sue Bird and the pair have been engaged since 2020.