The American star had to leave the field in the first minutes of the final of the United States championship, lost by his team OL Reign.
It must have been a grand goodbye, it ended in tears after four minutes. Women’s football legend Megan Rapinoe was injured very early in the last match of her career on Saturday November 11, the final of the United States championship between her team OL Reign and NJ/NY Gotham. The attacker was visibly injured in the Achilles tendon and had to come out in the 6the minute of the meeting.
On an acceleration, unopposed, Rapinoe collapsed on the pitch, immediately sitting down before putting her head in her jersey. “I felt a ‘pop’, then I couldn’t feel my Achilles tendon, I think I tore it, it’s honestly the worst imaginableshe commented after the final whistle. It’s horrible. Leaving a final so early, I don’t deserve that, frankly. But hey that’s life, it’s part of the game, I felt good before the match. From now on I’m a normal person, who will have to undergo a long rehabilitation, it’s killing me, it’s really bad….“
For Rapinoe, this serious injury ends a career rich in success on and off the field. Very committed to social issues, from the Black Lives Matter movement to equal pay for men and women obtained with the American selection, including the LGBT cause, the 38-year-old player will remain as a figure of her generation.
“It’s sad to end like this, but overall I feel happy with my career, lucky to have played for so long, with such incredible players, from several generations, to have been able to build friendshipsshe was moved. I feel ready to leave, it’s time. I’ve had an incredible career that I couldn’t have even dreamed of. I’m looking forward to my new role in the game as I’m leaving the field but you’ll still see me around.“
Double winner of the World Cup, 2019 Ballon d’Or, 2012 Olympic champion or even French champion with Olympique Lyonnais in 2013 and 2014, Megan Rapinoe will not add a United States champion title to her long list of accomplishments. OL Reign lost 2-1 against NJ/NY Gotham in San Diego after an electric final. Another legend of American football, the player of the New York franchise Ali Krieger also played the last match of her career, with more success than Rapinoe.