Megan Rapinoe is an American soccer player, who just recently won the Women’s World Cup as a member of the United States Women’s National Team. Rapinoe, who is co-captain of the USWNT, won the coveted Golden Boot and Golden Ball for her spectacular performance during the team’s World Cup run despite missing a game due to a hamstring injury. Rapinoe is also captain of Seattle Reigns FC, apart of the National Women’s Soccer League, where she has led Reign FC to two NWSL Shield, an award given to the team with the most points at the end of the regular season. Rapinoe plays midfielder and winger for both clubs.
Megan Rapinoe Net Worth as of 2019: $3 Million
#cheesinMegan Rapinoe, who recently turned 34, will be compensated $245,869 for her World Cup win. Rapinoe earns roughly $400,000 from other sources.
Early Career
In 2002, Rapinoe who had been attending Foothill High School with her twin sister decided to play for Elk Grove Pride instead of the Foothill soccer team. Rapinoe and her twin sister would play their remaining high school years with Elk Grove Pride (2002-2005), and later commit to the University of Portland. As a freshman Rapinoe helped lead the team to an undefeated season and an NCAA Division 1 Women’s Soccer Championship. Rapinoe followed up her successful freshman season with a strong start scoring 10 goals and assisting two in just 11 games. Unfortunately, Rapinoe would suffer a season ending ACL injury putting an end to a promising sophomore season. Rapinoe returned for her junior season but once again suffered her second ACL injury which resulted in her having to sit out for the rest of the season after playing only two games. After having two injury riddled seasons, Rapinoe responded to her critics by having a nation-leading 13 assists in 22 games. Rapinoe would forgo her final year of college eligibility and entered the Women’s Professional Soccer Draft.
International Career
Rapinoe began her international career as a member of the United States under-16 team. She would play with the under-16 team from 2002-2003, and would later get chosen to play for the under-19 team. After seeing success as a member of the youth national teams Rapinoe was added to the Senior National Team and began training with them during the team’s 2006 training camp. Due to Rapinoe’s history of knee injuries she did not play in the 2007 Women’s World Cup and also missed the 2008 Beijing Olympics. However, Rapinoe would make her World Cup debut as a member of the 2011 USWNT. Rapinoe established herself as one of the team’s important players when she came on as a substitute and made the game-winning goal against Brazil to move on the semifinals. The USWNT would receive Silver in the 2011 World Cup but it was very clear that the had a good core of players including Megan Rapinoe. The following year, Rapinoe took gold at the 2012 London Olympics. The USWNT would make there presence known in the 2015 Women’s World Cup-winning every single game with the exception of a 0-0 draw with Sweden en route to win their third world cup title.
Activism and Impact on Culture
Megan Rapinoe is openly lesbian and is currently in a relationship with WNBA legend Sue Bird. Rapinoe is an advocate for many LGBT organizations and has worked with Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, an organization that has worked to end discrimination and harassment on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression in schools. Rapinoe has also been very outspoken towards her view on social issues in the United States. Dating back to 2016, Rapinoe took a kneel during the national anthem in support of the Collin Kaepernick protest and has said it was an attempt on her part to shed light on issues such as social inequality in the United States. Rapinoe has also gotten the attention from President Donald Trump when she rejected any type of invitation to the White House. Earlier this year, 27 US woman soccer players, including Rapinoe, filed a lawsuit against the United States Soccer Federation for gender discrimination and has been heavily involved in getting USWNT members equal pay to their counterparts. Rapinoe will be considered one of the greatest woman soccer players of all time but her career has been a testament that athletes should not stay shut but rather speak on social issues and shed a light on events that are more than sports.