Megan Rapinoe to retire after current National Women's Soccer League season, World Cup 2023

American soccer star Megan Rapinoe revealed on Saturday that she plans to retire after the current National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) Season 2023 and the upcoming FIFA Women's World Cup 2023.

Rapinoe announced the news during a press briefing in San Jose, Calif., where the The United States Women's National Team will face Wales on Sunday.

"This will be my last season, my last World Cup and my last NWSL season", Rapinoe said said. "Obviously there will be more to come further down the road after. Hopefully we have done what we want to do. But I just want to say thank you to everyone, to you guys, to Vlatko, to football American, literally everyone I've played with, all my coaches."

Rapinoe has been a forward on the United States Women's National Team since 2006. She has won two medals Olympics and two world championships with her teammates. Rapinoe announced with her impending retirement that the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup would be her final tournament. The next Women's World Cup will take place in New Zealand and Australia from July 20 to August 20.

Rapinoe followed the initial announcement with a tweet, captioning a photo of her as a child : "It is with a deep sense of peace and gratitude that I have decided that this will be my last season playing this beautiful game. I could never have imagined how football would shape and change my life forever, but from the look on this little girl's face, she knew all along."

In addition to confirming her retirement during a press briefing and via Twitter, Rapinoe also made a statement in the United States. football, "I've been able to have an amazing career, and this game has taken me all over the world and allowed me to meet so many amazing people."

"I'm incredibly grateful to have played for as long as I was able to have as much success as us" I was and was part of a generation of players who undoubtedly left the game better than they found it. To be able to play one last World Cup and one last NWSL season and go out on my own terms is incredibly special."

Rapinoe has also made a name for himself off the football pitch, turning his attention to reveal inequalities that both women and the LGBTQ community face in sport.