Megan Rapinoe’s farewell from the international football scene didn’t unfold as she had envisioned. She expressed her disappointment by labeling the experience a “dark comedy” and a “sick joke.”
After dedicating 17 years to representing the Stars and Stripes, the accomplished two-time Women’s World Cup champion was brought to tears as she bid adieu to the global stage for the final time.
In what marked her 202nd appearance for the USA, the defending world champions suffered a dramatic 5-4 penalty shootout defeat to Sweden after a goalless draw in the last-16 stage in Melbourne. The 38-year-old Rapinoe, who had announced her retirement plans before the tournament, ranks among the most successful athletes of her generation.
During a tense evening, the USA was leading 3-2 in the penalty shootout when Rapinoe, who was subbed in, missed her spot-kick. Subsequently, Sophia Smith and Kelley O’Hara also failed to find the net in the shootout. When Lina Hurtig converted the crucial penalty by the slimmest of margins, it marked the end of the road for the four-time world champions. Rapinoe’s emotions overwhelmed her, leading her to lift her shirt to shield her face.
Television cameras captured a poignant moment ten minutes after the match, as Rapinoe found solace in the arms of her teammate Lynn Williams. The dream of concluding her USA career on a high was shattered for the 2019 Ballon d’Or winner. Rapinoe candidly remarked, “This is like a sick joke. For me personally, I’m just like, this is dark comedy. I missed a penalty.”
In spite of the outcome, Rapinoe exits as a true American football icon. She made her debut on the international stage in July 2006 during a friendly against the Republic of Ireland in San Diego. Over the years, she solidified her position as one of the most prominent figures in the history of the United States women’s national team.
Participating in her fourth World Cup – having been present in the 2011, 2015, and 2019 editions – Rapinoe played a crucial role in establishing the USA as a dominant force in women’s soccer. She notably scored in the 2019 final, securing consecutive world titles for the Stars and Stripes. However, as Rapinoe waved a final farewell to her USA fans and walked down the tunnel, the triumphant night in Lyon four years prior seemed distant, and a sense of sadness enveloped her.
