Megan Rapinoe, 38, waves goodbye to a record number of fans after an impressive football career: ‘I’m speechless’ | sports

“It is difficult to express in words my feeling of gratitude and happiness on this beautiful day,” Rapinoe said after the goalless draw against the Washington Spirit. A number of fans appeared with pink hair in imitation of their beloved, who will play her last match in Chicago next October 15, unless her team qualifies for the playoffs.

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The 34,130 spectators who attended Rapinoe’s farewell set a record. No National Women’s Soccer League match has ever been better attended. “It’s always felt like home. The fact that I’ve been able to play here my whole career is very special to me. This has always been a place where I can be myself,” Rapinoe told the fans in attendance. – United States International Time, which recently bid farewell to the US women’s national team in a training match against South Africa (2-0 win).

Before the game, her teammates wore No. 15 during warmups, Rapinoe’s jersey number. A video clip was also shown in which sports icons spoke kind words about Rapinoe, including tennis legend Billie Jean King. ,,I can not Talk. “It’s been an amazing journey, thank you all,” Rapinoe said.

Rapinoe, also known for her commitment to the interests of the LGBTQ+ community, played 203 times internationally for the United States, won two world titles (2015 and 2019) and became an Olympic champion in 2012. At her peak, at the 2019 World Cup in France, she scored six goals and was awarded the Golden Ball as best player. In the same year, she also won the Golden Boot and the Golden Ball. In 2022, she became the first female soccer player to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, from President Joe Biden.