BREAKING: Two-time World Cup champion has announced retirement from professional football

Alex Morgan, who has earned an Olympic gold medal and two Women’s World Cups with the United States, has declared her retirement from professional football.

Morgan, who is 35 years old, announced her retirement in a video that was shared on social media on Thursday. Additionally, she shared that she is expecting her second child.

The striker, who was one of the most renowned female players in the world, will compete in her final professional match on Sunday when her club, the San Diego Wave, plays the North Carolina Courage.

After all members of the squad filed a lawsuit, she was a member of the USA team that secured a groundbreaking equal pay agreement in 2022.

Morgan stated that she is “proud” to have contributed to the game’s “irreversible” influence on the next generation of female footballers.

“It has been a long time coming and this decision [to retire] wasn’t easy,” according to her.

“But at the beginning of 2024 I felt in my heart and soul that this would be the last season that I would play football.”

Morgan gave birth to her daughter, Charlie, in May 2020 and subsequently joined Tottenham in the Women’s Super League later that year. However, she only appeared in four matches in London before returning to the United States.

With her nation, she secured the 2015 and 2019 World Cup titles, as well as a gold medal at the London 2012 Olympic Games and a bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Games.

She stated that she has “so much clarity” regarding her decision to retire.

“Soccer has been a part of me for 30 years and was one of the first things that I ever enjoyed.

“I gave everything to this sport and what I got in return was more than I could ever have dreamed of.”

Former England defender Casey Stoney, who was Morgan’s manager at the Wave until she was fired in June, said “the game loses a great” with her retirement.

Stoney posted on X:, external “The most professional athlete with whom I have ever had the opportunity to collaborate.” You drove everyone around you to be better and challenged the status quo on a daily basis. We are grateful for the contributions you have made to our game.