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Megan Rapinoe Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 5, 2026 • 3 min read

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Quick Info

Date of birthJuly 5, 1985

Age34 (as of 2019)

BirthplaceRedding, California, United States

ProfessionAmerican soccer player

NationalityAmerican

Marital statusUnmarried

FamilyParents: Jim and Denise Rapinoe; Siblings: Brian Rapinoe, Rachael Rapinoe (twin)

Megan Rapinoe Biography

Megan Rapinoe is an American soccer player from Redding, California. A winger and midfielder, she has been a key figure for club and country, earning top ­

Early life and background
Megan Anna Rapinoe was born on July 5, 1985, in Redding, California. Raised in a family that encouraged her athletic interests, she began playing soccer as a child and credits an older brother, Brian, as an early inspiration. She attended Foothill High School in Redding and went on to study at the University of Portland, where she completed her undergraduate degree.

Career
Rapinoe made her professional debut with the Chicago Red Stars in 2009 during the inaugural season of Women’s Professional Soccer. Playing primarily as a midfielder and winger and wearing the number 15, she has competed at the highest levels of women’s soccer domestically and internationally. At club level she has been associated with Reign FC in the National Women’s Soccer League, where she served as captain.

Rapinoe’s international career began early: she appeared for the United States under-16 national team in 2002 and scored her first international goal against Mexico on March 1, 2003. She endured significant setbacks from two ACL injuries that caused her to miss the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the 2008 Beijing Olympics, but returned to help the U.S. to continued success across multiple tournaments.

Major highlights include contributing to the U.S. team that won silver at the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup, gold at the 2012 London Olympics, and the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup. At the 2012 Olympic Games she became the first player at the Olympics to score a goal directly from a corner, a rare feat often called a “gol olímpico.”

Rapinoe’s 2019 campaign was particularly distinguished. She played a pivotal role in the U.S. victory at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, earning Player of the Match for the final against the Netherlands and finishing the tournament with six goals to claim the Golden Boot. Her overall impact on the competition was recognized with the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player. Later that year, on December 2, 2019, she received the Ballon d’Or award as the Best Female Player in the world.

Public profile
Beyond the pitch, Rapinoe is known for activism and advocacy. She has worked with LGBT organizations including Athlete Ally and GLSEN and received recognition from the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center with its Board of Directors Award in 2013. She has appeared in mainstream media, including a cover feature for Curve magazine and a spread in ESPN’s Body Issue in July 2014.

Rapinoe has a public persona that extends into cultural interests and personal style. She lists hobbies such as playing guitar and piano, singing, and traveling. She has several tattoos, including an outline of California as a nod to her hometown. Her listed favorite entertainers include Adele, Missy Higgins, Jack White, and Florence Welch, and she has named The Shawshank Redemption as a favorite film.

Personal life
Rapinoe is openly lesbian. Her relationships reported in the public domain include past partners and, since July 2017, a relationship with basketball player Sue Bird. She remains unmarried and has no children. Her parents are Jim and Denise Rapinoe, and she has two siblings, including a twin sister, Rachael.

Latest updates
In recognition of her success at the 2011 World Cup, Rapinoe’s hometown of Redding celebrated her with a parade and declared September 10 as Megan Rapinoe Day. She won the Harry Glickman Professional Female Athlete of the Year Award at the Oregon Sports Awards in February 2012. In domestic play she was part of a Reign FC side that won the NWSL Shield in 2015 for the best regular-season record.

Rapinoe’s career has been shaped by both on-field achievements and off-field commitments. Her performances for club and country, coupled with visible advocacy work, have made her one of the most prominent figures in modern women’s soccer.

Editorial Review and Sources

This F4U profile is written from publicly available career and profile information, then reviewed for clarity before publication. If you spot an outdated detail about Megan Rapinoe, send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded

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Recent Work

2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup

Key player for the United States; Golden Boot (6 goals), Golden Ball (best player), Player of the Match in the final against the Netherlands; helped the U.S. win the tournament.

2019
Ballon d’Or (Best Female Player)

Awarded the Ballon d’Or as the Best Female Player in the world.

2019
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Career Highlights

  1. Debut for Chicago Red Stars in 2009 (WPS)
  2. First player at the Olympics to score directly from a corner (2012)
  3. Olympic gold medalist (2012)
  4. Member of U.S. teams that won 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup
  5. 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup Golden Boot and Golden Ball winner
  6. Ballon d’Or winner for Best Female Player (2019)
Reviewed by F4U Editorial Desk

F4U profile pages are prepared from public career information, checked for readability, and updated when reliable correction sources are shared with the editorial team.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Megan Rapinoe born?

Megan Rapinoe was born on July 5, 1985.

What is Megan Rapinoe known for?

Megan Rapinoe is known for american soccer player.

What is Megan Rapinoe’s marital status?

Megan Rapinoe's marital status is listed as Unmarried.