Who is Alex Morgan? Former Captain of the US National Team Announces Retirement?

American professional football player Alex Morgan bid farewell to his 35-year professional football career and announced his retirement on September 5, 2024.

She will retire after her final game with the San Diego Wave FC on Sunday. Throughout her career, Morgan has received numerous honors and made significant contributions to the sport both domestically and internationally.

In addition to her Olympic gold medal, Morgan is a two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup champion. Morgan is a key player for the U.S. women’s national soccer team, scoring crucial goals in major tournaments.

Her influence on and off the field has inspired countless young athletes around the world. Now, the football icon is at a crucial stage in her life, announcing her second pregnancy as she retires.

So she decided to start a new chapter in her life with her husband, fellow professional footballer Servando Carrasco, and their four-year-old daughter Charlie.

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Who is Alex Morgan?

Morgan was born on July 2, 1989, in San Dimas, California, to Pamela and Michael Morgan. She was a standout in women’s soccer, known for her speed, skill and leadership on the field.

Growing up in Diamond Bar, California, the youngest of three daughters, Morgan played a variety of sports, focusing on soccer as a teenager. She attended UC Berkeley, excelling in soccer, winning numerous honors, and graduated in 2010 with a degree in political economy.

Early Career and Fame

Morgan’s professional career began in the 2011 Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) Draft where she was selected first overall by the Western New York Chargers.

Although the league disbanded after her debut season, she quickly adapted to the league, joining the Seattle Sounders women’s team, where she played alongside high-profile players such as Megan Rapinoe and Hope Solo.

In 2013, she signed with the Portland Thorns FC and contributed to the team’s success in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) until 2015. Morgan then moved to the Orlando Pride in 2016, where she continued to showcase her talents.

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International achievements

Morgan began her international career with the United States Women’s National Team (USWNT) in 2010 and quickly rose to prominence.

She was the youngest player on the team during the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup and scored her first goal in the semi-final.

Her breakout moment came at the 2012 London Olympics, where she played a key role in the United States’ gold medal win, most notably scoring the decisive goal in the semifinal against Canada.

Morgan’s contributions helped the U.S. women’s national team win the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2015 and 2019.

In the 2019 tournament, she scored five goals in a match against Thailand, tying the record for most goals in a Women’s World Cup match.

Despite a knee injury later that year, she continued to play a major role, scoring in the group stage as the team won a bronze medal at the postponed 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Recent Developments and Initiatives

Morgan has been a key player for the U.S. women’s national soccer team in recent years. She was named co-captain ahead of the 2023 Women’s World Cup and has further solidified her reputation by becoming one of the tournament’s top players.

However, the U.S. women’s national team unexpectedly crashed out early in the knockout stage, a challenging moment in her career.

In addition to her athletic achievements, Morgan is also an advocate for gender equality in sports. In 2019, she and several teammates filed a gender discrimination lawsuit against the U.S. Soccer Federation, demanding equal pay and working conditions with the men’s soccer team.

The landmark case was eventually settled in 2022, with the federation agreeing to pay the women’s team $24 million and implement a fair pay system in the future.

Personal life and legacy

Morgan is also a prolific author and has written a series of books aimed at inspiring young athletes.

Her memoir, Breakthrough: Beyond Your Goals, tells the story of her journey and the importance of perseverance. She currently plays for the San Diego Wave and is the NWSL’s leading scorer in 2022.

Alex Morgan achievements

Alex Morgan played for several teams during his career, including:

  • West New York Flash (2011)
  • Seattle Sounders Women’s Football Team (2012)
  • Portland Thorns Football Club (2013-2015)
  • Orlando Pride (2016–2020)
  • Lyon (2017)
  • San Diego Waves (2022-Present)

She currently plays for the San Diego Wave in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).

date

match

Place

opponent

Location

Winning

March 31, 2010

U.S. women’s national soccer team vs. Mexico

USA

Mexico

forward

win

October 28, 2010

U.S. women’s national soccer team vs. China

USA

China

forward

win

November 5, 2010

U.S. women’s national soccer team vs. Italy

USA

Italy

forward

win

June 28, 2011

U.S. women’s national soccer team vs. France

Germany

France

forward

win

August 9, 2012

U.S. women’s national soccer team vs. Japan

London, UK

Japan

forward

Win (Gold Medal)

June 20, 2015

USA Women’s National Soccer Team vs Colombia

Edmonton, Canada

Colombia

forward

Win (World Cup)

July 2, 2019

United States Women’s National Soccer Team vs. England

Decines Charpieu, France

England

forward

win

July 24, 2021

U.S. women’s national soccer team vs. New Zealand

Saitama Prefecture, Japan

New Zealand

forward

Winner (Bronze Medal)

June 4, 2024

US women’s national team vs South Korea

USA

South Korea

forward

loss

September 8, 2024

San Diego Tide vs North Carolina Courage

San Diego, California

North Carolina Courage

forward

To be determined (Final)

Alex Morgan: Excellence and advocacy in women’s football

During her career with the United States Women’s National Team (USWNT), Alex Morgan played 224 games, ninth all-time, and scored 123 goals, fifth on the all-time scoring list. She also contributed 53 assists, ninth all-time.

Morgan expressed her deep connection with the team, saying, “I grew up around this team; it’s about more than just soccer. It’s about friendships, unwavering respect and support for one another, a relentless push for global investment in women’s sports, and pivotal moments of success on and off the field. I couldn’t be more proud of the future of this team, and I will always be a fan of the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team.” She has twice been named the U.S. Soccer Player of the Year.

Her last match for the national team was against South Korea on June 4, 2024. It is worth noting that she was not included in the roster of the gold medal-winning team in the Paris Olympics.

In 2019, Morgan was one of the players who sued the U.S. Soccer Federation for gender discrimination, highlighting unequal pay and treatment compared to the men’s national team. The legal action led to a collective bargaining agreement in 2022 that provides for equal pay for both teams.

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