Megan Rapinoe to announce shock retirement?

Sad news for Rapinoe fans. Speculation had been rife that the winner of the FIFA Women's World Cup 2019 is about to announce her retirement from sports, at age 40, with immediate effect.

UPDATE 20/03/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Being a footballer isn't fun anymore

“As we get older, there are phases of life that we enter into, and being a footballer-activist just isn't fun anymore,” she might have said, says a source who remained anonymous. Other reports hinted that she may branch out into other creative fields she is better at (and more interested in), though they didn't provide any details.

#ThankYouMegan

For a little while on Thursday evening, #ThankYouMegan was a trending hashtag on Twitter. As many fans reminisce and look back on all the unforgettable memories, some may wonder what about now made her make the decision.

“Megan Rapinoe was unlike any other footballer we’ve ever seen! #ThankYouMegan”
— @universalObserver, 19 Mar 2026

“Rapinoe wasn't retired?”
— @borisB0, 19 Mar 2026

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