Alex Morgan, an icon of U.S. soccer and a defining figure in a generation of women's soccer, announced her retirement from soccer on Thursday.
A tearful Morgan took to social media to thank the countless fans who supported her during a 15-year career with the senior national team and women's professional team that saw her win seven world championships, multiple FIFA Women's World Cups and two titles in 2015 and 2019.
She also led the United States to a gold medal at the 2012 London Summer Olympics.
Morgan, 35, will play her final professional game this Sunday in the NWSL's match between the San Diego Wave and North Carolina Courage. What's even more surprising is that if Morgan plays in that game, she'll be pregnant with her second child, a fact she also revealed in her Thursday announcement.
“I grew up on this team and this team meant more than soccer,” Morgan told the U.S. Soccer Association website, reflecting on her start as a member of the U-20 national team in 2009. “I learned a lot about myself during that time, and a lot of that is thanks to my teammates and the fans. I take great pride in the direction this team is going and I will always be a fan of the U.S. Women's Soccer National Team. My desire to succeed has always driven me, and what I've received in return has been more than I could have ever asked for or hoped for.”
Morgan finished her international career with 123 goals, good for fifth all-time behind such USWNT notables as Mia Hamm, Abby Wambach, Christine Lilly and Carli Lloyd.
Photo by David Berding/USSF/Getty Images for USSF
In her 15 years with the senior national team, the U.S. lost just 15 games combined under Morgan's roster. Her last appearance for U.S. Soccer was against South Korea in June as a warm-up for the Paris Summer Olympics, but Morgan was left out of the 18-man squad and replaced by Sophia Smith, Mallory Swanson and Trinity Rodman, who helped the U.S. return to the No. 1 spot in the world rankings by winning the gold medal.
Perhaps the first sign that Morgan's reign as world soccer's dominance was coming to an end was the decision of new U.S. women's national team head coach Emma Hayes.
“[It’s been] “A defining moment of friendship, unwavering respect and support for one another, a relentless push for global investment in women's sport and success on and off the field,” Morgan continued. “It has been an incredible honour to borrow the crest for more than 15 years.”
