Megan Rapinoe suffered a painful end to her football career as the American star had to leave the pitch just three minutes into her farewell game.
The two-time World Cup winner, 38, said the National Women’s Soccer League final between OL Reign and NJ/NY Gotham FC was “really the last one”.
But a suspected torn Achilles tendon brought a premature end to her night.
“It was a tough one. It’s definitely not how I envisioned this last one going,” said a tearful Rapinoe.
“Thank you to everyone who’s been on the journey for all this time. It’s been amazing – maybe besides this. I couldn’t have written it any different.”
Gotham won the game 2-1, meaning that although Rapinoe helped USA secure two World Cups and an Olympic gold, she ends her career without an NWSL title – having spent 11 seasons with the Seattle-based Reign.
The 2019 Ballon d’Or winner announced in July, just before playing in her fourth World Cup, that she would retire at the end of the NWSL season.
USA were knocked out by Sweden in the round of 16 and Rapinoe ended her international career with a friendly win over South Africa in Chicago in September.
Rapinoe made her USA debut in 2006 and won 203 caps, scoring 63 goals, while winning the World Cup in 2015 and 2019 as well as the 2012 Olympics.
“I am just super proud of my whole career and really thankful for all that it’s given me and for how long I’ve been able to play,” she said.
“Even though it was a tough night, it was still amazing and I’m so thankful to be here and again, so proud of our group.”
Rapinoe also played for four US teams before the NWSL was founded in 2012, and had spells abroad with Sydney FC and Lyon, helping the latter win the French league in 2013.
‘You’ll definitely be seeing a lot of me off the field’
Fans gathered at San Diego’s Snapdragon Stadium hoping Rapinoe would enjoy a triumphant send-off after her World Cup career ended with a penalty miss in the USA’s shootout defeat to Sweden.
But the crowd was left stunned as Rapinoe went down with no other players near her and, despite receiving treatment, was helped from the field moments later.
Gotham defender Ali Krieger came over to hug her former USA team-mate Rapinoe as she left the field. The 39-year-old, whose 103 caps include the World Cup wins of 2015 and 2019, was also playing her final game.
Krieger’s side took a 24th-minute lead through Lynn Williams, only for Rose Lavelle to level five minutes later for Reign, who featured Wales international Jess Fishlock.
Gotham then struck the woodwork twice in quick succession and in first-half stoppage time Spain international Esther Gonzalez headed home the winner.
While Krieger bowed out by celebrating her first NWSL title, it was not the fairytale farewell Rapinoe had hoped for.
“I mean, I don’t deserve this, I’ll tell you that much,” she said. “I am a better person than this.
“I thought about that a little in the last two hours. This one feels different from missing the penalty [in the World Cup] but that’s life, it’s part of the game.
“I know you don’t always get to have the perfect ending. I’ve had so many perfect endings.”
Celebrated for her off-field activism as well as her success on the field, Rapinoe has been an active advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and gender equality and helped the US women’s team secure equal pay.
Rapinoe said she intended to remain involved in women’s football, possibly in a role with the Reign, adding “you’ll definitely be seeing a lot of me off the field”.
