Megan Rapinoe

Megan Rapinoe is one of the most decorated and outspoken athletes in the history of women’s soccer. Born in Redding, California, she grew up playing alongside her twin sister Rachael and developed into one of the most skilled wingers in the women’s game. After a standout college career at the University of Portland, where she helped lead the Pilots to the NCAA championship in 2005, Rapinoe was drafted into professional women’s soccer and eventually became a fixture on the United States Women’s National Team.

Rapinoe’s career reached its peak during the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France, where she was the undisputed star of the tournament. She scored crucial goals throughout the competition, including the opening penalty in the final against the Netherlands, as the United States won their second consecutive World Cup title. She was awarded both the Golden Boot as the tournament’s top scorer and the Golden Ball as the best player, and later that year she won the Ballon d’Or Feminin, becoming only the second American to receive the honor.

Beyond her athletic achievements, Rapinoe has been one of the most prominent athlete-activists of her era. She was an early supporter of Colin Kaepernick’s kneeling protest during the national anthem, one of the most vocal advocates for equal pay in women’s sports, and a visible champion of LGBTQ rights. Her willingness to speak out on political and social issues, including publicly clashing with then-President Donald Trump during the 2019 World Cup, made her a polarizing but influential cultural figure.

Rapinoe retired from professional soccer in 2023 after a career that included two World Cup titles, an Olympic gold medal in 2012, and multiple NWSL seasons with OL Reign. By 2026, her net worth is estimated at $5 million, accumulated through her playing career, endorsement deals with brands like Nike, Samsung, Subway, and Victoria’s Secret, and her work as an author and media personality. She published her memoir ‘One Life’ in 2020 and continues to be active in advocacy and media work in retirement.