United States women's national team forward Alex Morgan has announced her retirement from football through a video posted on social media on Thursday, 5th September. Morgan went on and said that she is pregnant and expecting her second child.
She will play her last game on Monday, 9th September when San Diego Wave FC will host North Carolina Courage at the Snapdragon Stadium.
What she said in the video?
"I have so much clarity about this decision, and I am so happy to be able to finally tell you. It has been a long time coming, and this decision wasn't easy, but at the beginning of 2024 I felt in my heart and soul that this was the last season that I would play soccer."
An illustrious career
35-year-old Morgan has two World Cups to her name and an Olympic gold medal. In 224 games for the national team (USWNT), she has netted 123 times. Despite being a regular starter for the USWNT this spring, she was not selected for the 2024 Olympics team.
Morgan made her debut for USWNT back in 2010. On top of it, her goal in Italy in a World Cup playoff was so crucial that it helped the national team qualify for the 2011 World Cup. With her skills on the ground, she started regularly and formed a formidable partnership with Abby Wambach. With the duo in the team, US finished runners-up in the 2011 World Cup and secured a gold medal in 2012 Olympics.
A long career of more than 15 years
In a statement to the US Soccer, she said, "I am so incredibly honored to have borrowed the crest for more than 15 years. I learned so much about myself in that time and so much of that is a credit to my teammates and our fans. I feel immense pride in where this team is headed, and I will forever be a fan of the USWNT. My desire for success may have always driven me, but what I got in return was more than I could have ever asked and hoped for."
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