Megan Rapinoe is one of the most successful women's soccer players of all time but after helping the U.S. win a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics, the 36-year-old says she's taking some time to decide what's next for her career.
"Just in terms of my whole career, I don't really know yet. I need to take some time to think about it," Rapinoe said on ESPN's Spain and Fitz radio show Monday. "They always say, 'You'll know when you know,' but it's not really like that, because you could kind of keep going, and it's like 'Aw yeah, you've accomplished so much, you'll be fine stepping away.' But the conversation is always anguished in your mind. Or people just don't think about it... I've been thinking about it a lot."
The question about her future was posed after fellow long-time national league star Carli Lloyd announced she would be retiring from the game later this year. Rapinoe has not slowed down at all in limited action this year due to the pandemic, scoring twice in the bronze medal match win over Australia in Tokyo to tie her personal record of nine national team goals in a single year.
Off the field, Rapinoe has been a vocal advocate for LGBTQ rights and other marginalized communities. Last fall, she released her first book, titled One Life, in which she spoke about her advocacy efforts and using her platform to make change.
The Redding, Calif., native -- who also stars for the NWSL's OL Reign -- has 185 national team caps on her resume with 61 goals. The Reign are currently seventh in the NWSL standings with a 6-7-1 record and Rapinoe has one goal in six appearances this season.
