Megan Rapinoe

Megan Anna Rapinoe (born July 5, 1985) is an American former professional soccer player who played as a midfielder and winger. She spent most of her career playing for Seattle Reign FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and the United States national team. Winner of the Ballon d'Or Féminin and named The Best FIFA Women's Player in 2019, Rapinoe was a member of the national teams that won the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2015 and 2019, and the team that finished second in 2011. She also won gold at the Olympics in 2012. Rapinoe co-captained the national team alongside Carli Lloyd and Alex Morgan from 2018 to 2020. She previously played for the Chicago Red Stars, Philadelphia Independence, and magicJack in Women's Professional Soccer (WPS), as well as Lyon Women in France's Division 1 Féminine.

Rapinoe's precise cross to Abby Wambach during the 2011 Women's World Cup quarterfinal match against Brazil led to an equalizer goal and an eventual U.S. victory; the play received ESPN's ESPY Award for Best Play of the Year. During the 2012 London Olympics, Rapinoe contributed three goals and four assists to lead the U.S. to a gold medal. She is the first player, male or female, to score a goal directly from a corner at the Olympic Games, having done so twice. She won both the Golden Boot and Golden Ball awards at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in France.

Rapinoe is an advocate for various LGBTQIA+ organizations, including GLSEN and Athlete Ally. In 2013, she received the Board of Directors Award from the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center. Rapinoe was included in Time's 100 Most Influential People of 2020. In July 2022, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Joe Biden.