A Look Back at Megan Rapinoe’s Best Moments on the Pitch

Megan Rapinoe, who announced her retirement from professional soccer on Saturday, rose to stardom in part because of her outspoken political views and her leadership in her sport beyond the field. But much of that was possible because her career on the pitch had so many highlight-reel-worthy moments.

She is expected to soon reach 200 appearances for the U.S. women’s national team. She has 63 goals in her international career and is one of only seven American women with more than 50 goals and 50 assists in international competition.

She was the second pick of the 2009 draft of the defunct Women’s Professional Soccer league, and played the majority of her club career with the Seattle Reign of the National Women’s Soccer League. She is sixth in the league in career goals scored, with 48.

But it is the creativity, not the volume, of her offense that truly sets Rapinoe apart. Here’s a look at some of her best touches.

2011 World Cup

The U.S. women’s national team finished third in the 2003 and 2007 World Cups, failing to capitalize on the momentum of its win in 1999. It was looking like another early exit in 2011 when the United States went down 2-1 against Brazil in overtime during a quarterfinal match with only 10 players on the pitch after a red card.

The game was already in stoppage time when Rapinoe got the ball at midfield. She took one dribble, looked up and sent a long ball toward the box, where star forward Abby Wambach was waiting. Wambach headed the ball into the upper right corner of the goal, in what is considered one of the greatest goals in the history of the game. The Americans went on to win in penalties.

2012 Olympics

The United States faced Canada in the women’s soccer semifinal of the 2012 London Olympics. Down 1-0 in the second half, Rapinoe made Olympic history by scoring what is known as an “Olimpico” — a goal that finds the net directly off a corner kick. She was the first, and remains the only, woman to ever do it in international competition. In fact, Rapinoe repeated the feat during the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

2015 World Cup

In the first game of the 2015 World Cup, a matchup with Australia, Rapinoe scored twice, leading her team to a 3-1 victory. In the 12th minute, after battling for a contested ball, Rapinoe made a full 360-degree spin at the top of the box before collecting herself with a couple touches and firing a shot from 20 yards out. The ball ricocheted off a Canadian defender and found the back of the net.

2019 World Cup

The U.S. women’s national team entered the 2019 World Cup in France looking to make history by becoming the first team to ever win two consecutive tournaments. Rapinoe put together a career run — winning both the Golden Boot, for most goals scored, with six, and the Golden Ball, for best player. But it was her goal against France in front of 45,000 onlookers that sent her on her way.

A master at set pieces, Rapinoe stepped up to take a free kick in the early minutes of the match. She sent a streaking ball through the box, a shot that wound its way through the legs of multiple teammates and defenders, to find the back of the net. Rapinoe celebrated by running to the sideline and spreading her arms wide, a gesture that became her signature celebration.

Tokyo Olympics in 2021

Looking to build off two consecutive World Cup victories, the U.S. women’s national team headed to Tokyo in 2021 to play in Olympic Games that had been delayed a year because of the coronavirus pandemic. In the quarterfinals, the U.S. and the Netherlands squared off in a World Cup finals rematch. The game went to penalties after a 2-2 draw, and it was Rapinoe’s dagger to the upper right corner that sent the United States to the semifinal.