University of Portland alumna and U.S. Women’s National Team co-captain Megan Rapinoe added to her long list of accolades on Monday by becoming the fifth American to receive the FIFA Player of the Year Award.
Rapinoe finished first in voting among both coaches and captains from national teams around the world. Each coach and captain were asked to name their top three players with a first-place nomination worth five points, second worth three points and third, one point. Rapinoe had 46 points, just four ahead of U.S. teammate Alex Morgan. Rapinoe also was named to the FIFA FIFPro Women’s World11 along with four other U.S. players.
At the FIFA Women’s World Cup in France this past July, the midfielder won the Golden Ball for best player and Golden Boot for top scorer. She had six goals and three assists during the tournament, scoring in four of the six matches.
She had the game-winning assist against Sweden in the final group game, scored back-to-back goals in the Round of 16 against Spain and the Quarterfinal against France and converted a penalty kick in the 61st minute to secure the fourth Women’s World Cup title for the U.S.
Rapinoe played for the Pilots from 2005 to 2008, helping lead the team to a national championship her freshman year. Despite suffering two season-ending ACL tears during her career in 2006 and 2007, respectively, and playing only 60 games, she ranks 10th in school history in total points at 88. She was All-WCC First Team twice, the 2005 WCC Freshman of the Year, 2008 WCC Player of the Year, and a two-time First Team All-American.
Kyle Garcia is the Sports editor for The Beacon. He can be reached at garciaky20@up.edu.
