The professional soccer career of Megan Rapinoe came to a premature end on Saturday when the former U.S. captain lasted just six minutes before she was forced off with an injury.
Rapinoe’s right leg appeared to buckle under her while attempting to close down a Gotham FC defender during their match with OL Reign in San Diego’s Snapdragon Stadium.
After a long check with the medical team, she was able to walk off the field under her own volition. She appeared to tell teammate Rose Lavelle it was an achilles injury, according to the Athletic.
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The 38-year-old was consoled by long time friend Ali Krieger when she left the field. Krieger, who plays for Gotham, was also making her last appearance in the NWSL.
Speaking before the game, Rapinoe said: “I’ve always tried to play the game the right way, always tried to enjoy it.
“At the end of the day, I feel like we are in the entertainment business and especially in a growing sport and a growing league, I feel like that’s really important.
“I’ve always tried to make things better and I just walk away so proud and so happy of not only my contributions to the game but the era that I’ve played in. Knowing that the game is in such a better place and that’s testament to all the players that have played in this generation and played in this league, some of us playing with the national team.”
Rapinoe’s international career came to an end earlier this year. A two-time Women’s World Cup champion and one-time Olympic gold medalist, she and the U.S. were surprisingly dumped out of the tournament in the round of 16 after a series of underwhelming performances.
Speaking in the aftermath of the team’s defeat, Rapinoe, who has been a lightning rod for conservative criticism, claimed it felt “everybody on the right” had been waiting for her team to “stumble” for several years now, during an interview with The Atlantic.
“One thing that America does really well is backlash,” Rapinoe said. “I think there’s a huge backlash against women happening right now. I think we see that with the overturning of Roe v. Wade. We’re seeing that with the trans argument in sports.”
In Rapinoe’s final game for USA, she opted not to sing the National Anthem, something she had been criticized for throughout her career.
