The final match before retirement for Megan Rapinoe did not go as planned. The medical team had to help her off the pitch after only 3 minutes in the game. The US Soccer icon looked very disappointed. To make things even worse, OL Reign ended up losing the game against Gotham FC in the NWSL final. Soon after the game, news surrounding her injury surfaced on the internet. The soccer veteran is pretty certain that she tore her Achilles tendon.
This also sums up her injury troubles this season with the club and the national team. While there’s never been a doubt regarding her soccer prowess, now just felt like the right time to call it a day, considering the amount of time she spent on the sidelines.
Megan Rapinoe picks up a major injury during the last game of her career
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Megan Rapinoe’s career did not have a fairytale ending. After her World Cup disappointment, she hoped to win the NWSL final with her club. However, things did not go her way in the final match. After her third-minute exit, OL Reign suffered a painful 2-1 defeat. After the match, she revealed what exactly happened.
Rapinoe seemed certain that she had torn her Achilles tendon. The soccer icon described feeling a “huge pop“ before going to the ground. That pretty much summed up her entire season. Things did not go her way in the final at any moment.
“This is a tough one, definitely now how I envisioned this last one going, pretty sure I tore my Achilles,” she said.
Megan Rapinoe says she is almost certain she tore her Achilles' tendon. She said she felt a "huge pop."#NWSLChampionship
— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) November 12, 2023
However, the responses that she gave during her post-match interview were quite calm and composed like a true professional. It was remarkable how the former world champ remained humble and accepted her defeat. She also congratulated Gotham FC on winning the NWSL.
Teary-eyed Megan Rapinoe ‘super proud’ of her career despite heartbreak ending
Megan Rapinoe was quite emotional after the game. The soccer veteran thanked her teammates at OL Reign and the club for their support during her 11-year stay at the club. She said, “Yeah, it’s a tough one. Definitely not outvisioned this last month going. I’m so proud of the group. Obviously, they put everything out there. So deserving to Gotham, they had such a great year”.
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“Just thank you to everyone who has been on the journey for all this time. It’s been amazing. I couldn’t maybe device this or maybe have written it any different. Super proud of my whole career and really thankful for all that it has given me, and for how long I have been able to play.”
“Even though it was a tough night, it was still amazing and so thankful to be here. Again, so proud of our group, and congratulations to Gotham”.
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Megan Rapinoe will no doubt feel proud of her soccer career on the field and also the changes brought off the field. Certainly, this loss does not change her status as one of the best women’s soccer players in history.
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