Morgan plays final game after announcing retirement

United States striker Alex Morgan said an emotional goodbye to professional football on Sunday, as the two-time World Cup winner played her final game in the National Women’s Soccer League.

Morgan, 35, announced her retirement last week after learning she is pregnant with her second child.

She captained the San Diego Wave in a 4-1 home defeat by North Carolina Courage.

Morgan, whose daughter Charlie was born in 2020, missed a 10th-minute penalty before being substituted three minutes later to a standing ovation by the 26,516 fans in attendance.

Addressing the crowd after the game, she said: “What a ride it’s been.”

Morgan has played at the top level of the women’s game for 15 years and was part of the USA teams that won two successive World Cups in 2015 and 2019.

She also claimed a gold medal with her country at the 2012 London Olympics.

“I want to thank my team-mates who have constantly challenged me every day and made me better,” she added.

“There have been so many incredible moments in my career but this last moment I share on the field with you I will cherish forever. So from the bottom of my heart, thank you.”

Morgan made her international debut in 2009 and has played 224 matches for the USA, scoring 123 goals – the fifth-best of all time. However, she was not included in new manager Emma Hayes’ squad for the 2024 Paris Games, where they won gold.

She has been a strong advocate for gender equality in football and in 2019, together with other players in the national team, filed a discrimination lawsuit against US Soccer regarding equal pay, with an agreement reached in 2022.

In her club career, she won a league title with Portland in 2013 before joining Lyon in January 2017, where she helped the French club win a treble, including the Women’s Champions League.

She also had a brief three-month spell with Tottenham in the Women’s Super League in 2020.