Last Tuesday, Alex Morgan announced that she would say goodbye to professional football in the San Diego Wave’s next match against the NC Courage, a game that ended with a 1-4 away victory. But the result was the least of it. Morgan’s farewell, brought about by the upcoming arrival of her second child, brought the entire crowd at Snapdragon Stadium to their feet at the end of the match to pay tribute to one of the best female soccer players in history.
The 35-year-old American forward played the first 13 minutes of the match before being replaced by Amirah Ali and receiving a standing ovation from the crowd of more than 20,000. The change in the 13th minute was a symbolic gesture, as the forward has won the vast majority of her professional titles with that number on her back. Morgan was unable to give her fans one last joy when she missed a penalty in the 10th minute that was saved by the goalkeeper. Visibly emotional, the forward left the field for the last time, applauded and surrounded by rivals and teammates as she unlaced her boots before retiring from the field and, ultimately, from professional football.
Morgan’s career has spanned 14 years at the highest level, wearing the jerseys of American clubs such as the Portland Thorns, the Orlando Pride and the club where she ended up hanging up her boots, the San Diego Wave. She also played some of her best games as a footballer in Europe, specifically with Olympique Lyon and Tottenham. Among other titles at club level, her list of achievements includes the Women’s Champions League, the French league and the French Cup won in the 2016-2017 season.
Alex Morgan’s meteoric career cannot be understood without her participation with the United States national team. Despite not being able to compete in the Paris 2024 Games due to a technical decision by coach Emma Hayes, Morgan has won an Olympic gold (London 2012) and two World Cups (2015 in Canada and 2019 in France). In total, the forward has scored 123 goals and 53 assists in her international career.
Alex Morgan saying goodbye to his fans wearing the number 13 jersey that has accompanied him through so many joys
MEG OLIPHANT / AFP
“I grew up on this team, it was so much more than just football. It was about the friendships and the enormous respect and support between us, the work to drive global investment in women’s sport, and the key moments of success on and off the field,” said the now ex-footballer after finishing the last match of her career. In addition to her successes on the pitch, Morgan was one of the main drivers, along with Megan Rapinoe, of the historic 2022 collective bargaining agreement that guarantees equal economic conditions between the US men’s and women’s teams.
After becoming a mother in May 2020, Alex Morgan will give birth to her second child in the coming months.
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