RAPINOE BRINGS THE CURTAIN DOWN

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Olympic champion and two-time World Cup winner Megan Rapinoe took her final bow in international football after the U.S. beat South Africa 2-0 in a friendly on Sunday in the Soldier Field stadium in Chicago.

The relentless 38-year-old striker was crucial to both of her team's goals, providing the long pass to Alex Morgan that set up Trinity Rodman's goal and taking the corner that Emily Sonnett headed into the back of the net.

Rapinoe, who won the Golden Boot, Golden Ball, and Ballon d'Or for her role in the U.S. 2019 World Cup campaign, received a heartfelt farewell as she left the field in the 52nd minute to a standing ovation from the crowd, handed the captain's arm-band to Lindsey Horan and hugged her team-mates.

TWICE US WORLD CUP CHAMPION ERTZ BOWS OUT

USA TODAY Sports 

Two-time World Cup champion Julie Ertz bid farewell to professional soccer with a 3-0 U.S. victory over South Africa in a friendly in Cincinnati on Thursday.

Ertz, a twice Female Player of the Year who played a key role in the team's World Cup winning campaigns in 2015 and 2019, was given an emotional send off with fans holding up messages of appreciation throughout the contest.

SPEAK UP! FROM MUTINY AND BOYCOTTS TO EQUAL-PAY DEMANDS, WOMEN'S GAME FACES RECKONING

Reuters 

From the American campaign against abuse in their professional leagues to France players demanding the removal of their coach and Canadians threatening boycotts, women's soccer is facing a reckoning in the lead-up to the ninth World Cup.

Some of the issues will be resolved, others might drag on, but it looks like the days when players suffered in silence rather than speaking out are long gone.

"One hundred percent, I think it's so prevalent," said Jonas Baer-Hoffmann, the general secretary of global players union FIFPRO.

"I think it's more prevalent than it's ever been in any other sport on a global stage. I don't think you've had this kind of co-ordinated - or uncoordinated - wave of speaking up, standing up, forcing change ever before."

Speaking up has proved highly successful in some cases.

LEHMANN MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN’S PLAYER ON INSTAGRAM AHEAD OF WORLD CUP

Reuters 

Switzerland's Alisha Lehmann, arguably as well known for her social media presence as her prowess on the pitch, is the top Instagram influencer heading to the Women's World Cup, according to Nielsen Sports, amassing 13.5 million followers to pass American Alex Morgan in the last year.

"The soccer players participating at World Cup 2023 are not only exceptional sportswomen but also social media powerhouses, capable of driving impactful conversations and fostering genuine connections with their followers," Jon Stainer, Nielsen's global managing director, said in a statement.

MEGAN RAPINOE'S WHITE HOUSE SNUB GETS TRUMP IRRITATED ON TWITTER

Megan Rapinoe is an American football idol who plays for the USA Women's national team and who scored two goals in the last 16 beating Spain...