Rapinoe also has a big influence off the pitch and is known for her activism surrounding the likes of LGBTQ rights and equal pay. In 2019, she was named Sports Illustrated's Sportsperson of the Year.
On her return from injury, Rapinoe helped her nation qualify for the 2011 Women's World Cup. The attacker's profile soared when she sang Bruce Springsteen's Born in the USA into a pitchside microphone after scoring in a group stage game against Colombia. She turned provider in the quarter-final, for Abby Wambach's 122nd-minute equalizing header, before scoring herself in the penalty shootout. Rapinoe again assisted in the semis and set up another in the final against Japan but had to settle for a runners-up medal.
She became a World Cup winner in 2015 and was again recognised for her individual performances. Rapinoe ended the tournament with two goals and two assists - one of which was a cross to Carli Lloyd, who scored a hat-trick in the 5-2 final victory over Japan. Rapinoe was selected in the Dream Team, an XI selected by fifa.com users.
Megan Rapinoe celebrates scoring USA's first goal of the 2019 World Cup final
In 2016, Rapinoe made headlines for becoming the first white American athlete to kneel during the national anthem at a sports game. She did so in support of American football player Colin Kaepernick who had knelt a week prior in protest against racial injustice. US Soccer's board of directors soon banned kneeling during the anthem, but overturned their decision in 2020 following the George Floyd protests.
Rapinoe's parents are called Jim and Denise. She has a twin sister called Rachael and a younger brother named Brian. Brian has suffered from drug addiction and has spent a lot of his adult life incarcerated. Speaking to ESPN in 2019, Rapinoe said: "My brother is special. He has so much to offer. It would be such a shame if he left this world with nothing but prison sentences behind him."
She supports the Democratic Party. Her father Jim voted for Republican candidate Donald Trump in the 2016 election and, upon finding that out, Megan and sister Rachael didn't speak to him for a month.
Megan Rapinoe has joined the growing number of voices protesting Luis Rubiales planting an unsolicited kiss on the lips of Spain star Jenni Hermoso.
United States forward Megan Rapinoe has announced she will retire at the end of the season.
Barcelona announcement sends Twitter into overdrive and Olivier Giroud takes centre stage at Milan.
