Alex Morgan: Two-time US World Cup winner announces retirement

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

Morgan, 35, who confirmed her decision to retire in a video she posted to social media on Thursday,, external also said she is pregnant with her second child.

The striker, who became one of the most famous players in the world, will play her last professional match on Sunday when her club San Diego Wave takes on North Carolina Courage.

In 2022, she was part of the US team that reached a groundbreaking equal pay agreement after all members of the team filed a lawsuit.

Morgan said she is “proud” to have played a part in making an “irreversible” impact on the sport for the next generation of female footballers.

“It has been a long time coming and this decision (to retire) was not easy,” she said.

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

Morgan gave birth to daughter Charlie in May 2020 and joined Tottenham’s Super League women’s team later that year, but played only four games in London before returning to the US.

She won the 2015 and 2019 World Championships with her country, won a gold medal at the 2012 Olympic Games in London and a bronze medal at Tokyo 2020.

Morgan said she has “so much clarity” about her decision to retire.

“Football has been a part of me for 30 years and was one of the first things I loved.

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