Megan Rapinoe, a winger for OL Reign in the National Women’s Soccer League and the United States national team, is an accomplished American professional soccer player.
Bio/Wiki
Age-38years
Height- 1.68 m
Weight-60kg
Born- 5 July 1985
Birthplace- Redding, California, United States
Full name- Megan Anna Rapinoe
Profession- Footballer
Spouse- Sue Bird (2017–)
Nationality- American
Current teams-United States women’s national soccer team (#15 / Forward), OL Reign (#15 / Forward), United States
Family
Rapinoe’s upbringing took place in Redding, California, where she resided with her parents, Jim and Denise, along with her five siblings, which included her fraternal twin, Rachael Rapinoe. In addition to their own children, Denise and Jim also raised two other children, Michael and Jenny, who were Denise’s son and daughter from a previous marriage. Brian, their older brother, followed by the twins five years later, completed the family. Both Jim and Megan’s grandfather, Jack, served in the Army. Megan has a blend of Italian heritage from her paternal grandfather and Irish ancestry. Her admiration for her older brother Brian sparked her interest in soccer, and at the age of three, she began playing the sport after observing him. Unfortunately, Brian’s struggle with drug addiction commenced when Megan and Rachael were in second grade. By the time Megan was ten and Brian was fifteen, he was placed in juvenile detention, and he subsequently experienced periods of incarceration in various prisons, including Pelican Bay State Prison. However, after witnessing Megan’s remarkable accomplishments in international soccer, Brian made a determined effort to steer clear of drugs. For both Rachael and Megan, soccer served as an escape from the prevalent drug abuse issues in California.
Wife
Rapinoe and Sue Bird, a basketball player for the Seattle Storm, publicly acknowledged their relationship on July 20, 2017, revealing that they had been dating since late 2016. A year later, in 2018, Bird and Rapinoe made history as the first same-sex couple to grace the cover of ESPN’s The Body Issue. On October 30, 2020, the couple shared the news of their engagement.
Career
Megan Rapinoe is an American professional soccer player who has had an illustrious career both on and off the field. Here is a brief overview of her career:
Early Years: Megan Anna Rapinoe was born on July 5, 1985, in Redding, California. She began playing soccer at a young age and quickly showed promise in the sport.
College Soccer: Rapinoe attended the University of Portland and played college soccer for the Portland Pilots. She was a key player for the team and helped them win the NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Championship in 2005.
Professional Club Career: In 2009, Rapinoe was drafted by the Chicago Red Stars in the inaugural season of the Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) league. She later played for the Philadelphia Independence and Seattle Sounders Women. However, her career truly took off when she joined Seattle Reign FC (now OL Reign) in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). Rapinoe became one of the league’s most prominent players and helped the team reach the playoffs multiple times.
International Career: Rapinoe made her debut for the United States women’s national soccer team in 2006. She has since represented her country in numerous tournaments, including the FIFA Women’s World Cup and the Olympics. She played a crucial role in the USWNT winning the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2015 and 2019, earning the Golden Boot and Golden Ball awards in the latter tournament.
Social Activism: Rapinoe is known for using her platform to advocate for various social issues, including gender equality, LGBTQ+ rights, racial justice, and equal pay for female athletes. She has been vocal in her support for marginalized communities and has actively participated in protests and campaigns.
Off-Field Ventures: In addition to her soccer career, Rapinoe has engaged in various business ventures and media appearances. She has worked as a brand ambassador for several companies and has made guest appearances on talk shows and podcasts.
Megan Rapinoe’s career has been characterized by her exceptional skills as a soccer player, her outspoken activism, and her leadership both on and off the field. Her impact on women’s sports and society as a whole has been significant, making her a prominent figure in the world of sports and beyond.
Achievement /Awards
Megan Rapinoe has received several awards throughout her career. Here are some of the notable awards and honors she has received:
- FIFA Women’s World Cup Golden Ball: In the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Rapinoe was awarded the Golden Ball, which is given to the tournament’s best player as voted by journalists.
- FIFA Women’s World Cup Golden Boot: Also in the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Rapinoe won the Golden Boot award for being the tournament’s top scorer with six goals and three assists.
- Ballon d’Or Féminin: Rapinoe was awarded the prestigious Ballon d’Or Féminin in 2019, recognizing her as the best female footballer in the world.
- Best FIFA Women’s Player: In 2019, Rapinoe was named the Best FIFA Women’s Player, as voted by national team coaches, national team captains, and media representatives from around the world.
- ESPY Awards: Rapinoe has won several ESPY Awards, including the Best NWSL Player (2019, 2020) and the Best Team (U.S. Women’s National Team) in 2019.
- Time 100: In 2019, Rapinoe was included in Time magazine’s annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world.
- Forbes 30 Under 30: Rapinoe was named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Sports list in 2013, recognizing her achievements and impact in the sports industry.
These are just a few of the notable awards and honors that Megan Rapinoe has received. Her contributions to soccer and her activism have garnered recognition and cemented her status as one of the most influential figures in women’s sports.
Net Worth 2023
As of July 2023, Megan Rapinoe, aged 38, is reported to have an estimated net worth of around $5 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Her primary wealth stems from her successful soccer career, while she also generates income through brand endorsements and sponsorships.
Megan Rapinoe Announces Retirement
Soccer superstar Megan Rapinoe has declared that she will retire alongside her team, the OL Reign, at the conclusion of the National Women’s Soccer League season. The upcoming FIFA tournament will mark her fourth and final World Cup campaign.
Renowned as one of soccer’s most influential figures, Rapinoe has had an illustrious career, securing two World Cup victories and an Olympic gold medal. Moreover, she has utilized her professional platform to shed light on critical social issues, such as LGBTQI+ rights and equal pay for female athletes.
In her retirement announcement on social media, she expressed, “With a profound sense of peace and gratitude, I have made the decision that this will be my final season playing this beautiful game. Soccer has shaped and transformed my life in ways I could never have imagined, as evident in the joy on this little girl’s face. She knew it all along.”
With the Women’s World Cup set to commence on July 20 in Australia and New Zealand, Rapinoe and her teammates are striving for a third consecutive championship. Addressing reporters, Rapinoe explained that she wanted to reveal her retirement plans before the US team departs for New Zealand, enabling them to concentrate on their primary objective of winning another World Cup.
“I comprehend how exceedingly rare it is for athletes of any stature to retire on their own terms, in their own way, at the time they desire, and experience a genuine sense of serenity and contentment,” she stated.