Megan Rapinoe’s farewell match dealt premature end following injury - ‘Not how I envisioned’

Two-time World Cup winner Megan Rapinoe limped off just three minutes into her final career match, in what she claimed was "really the last one".

The 38-year-old was injured early on during OL Reign’s 2-1 National Women's Soccer League final defeat to NJ/NY Gotham FC, after falling to the floor unopposed.

The result means Rapinoe, who won the World Cup in 2015 and 2019 with the USA, ends her career without an NWSL title.

"It was a tough one,” Rapinoe said after the match. “It's definitely not how I envisioned this last one going.

"Thank you to everyone who's been on the journey for all this time. It's been amazing - maybe besides this. I couldn't have written it any different."

The midfielder spent 11 seasons at the Seattle-based club and announced her decision to retire at the end of the current NWSL campaign.

She played at her fourth World Cup in the summer after making her international debut in 2006 and became an Olympic Gold medalist in 2012.

She represented her country 203 times and scored 63 goals across 17 years.

"I am just super proud of my whole career and really thankful for all that it's given me and for how long I've been able to play," the back-to-back World Cup winner said.

"Even though it was a tough night, it was still amazing and I'm so thankful to be here and again, so proud of our group."

The 2019 Ballon d'Or winner played for four different teams in America before signing for OL Reign when the NWSL formed in 2012.

She also had a spell in Europe where she played for Lyon and won the French league title in 2013.

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