“Football is a 360-degree sport, and I can’t do it,” said Tobin Heath to The Athletic. “If I ever would try to do it, it’s really sad.” And just like that, one of the most prolific forwards in US Women’s National Team history announced her retirement from the beautiful game on Thursday. This not-so-surprising yet heartbreaking decision comes after a serious knee injury Heath sustained back in 2022, leaving no hope of seeing her back in action. As the entire soccer community reacts to the end of this remarkable chapter, joining in tribute was none other than Megan Rapinoe.

Having first begun her journey with the USWNT by earning her first cap in January 2008, Heath hung up her boots as a serial winner, with two FIFA Women’s World Cups (2015, 2019) and three Olympic medals, including two gold (2008, 2012) and one bronze (2021). In total, Tobin made 181 appearances for the American ladies, notching 36 goals and 42 assists.

With such an iconic chapter of US Soccer coming to an end, it was only fitting that Megan Rapinoe mark this moment by giving a special honor to her former teammate. The former Seattle Reign star took to Instagram stories by sharing a tribute post uploaded by the USWNT. Additionally, she wrote a caption that read, “Legend like no other. Congrats @tobinheath welcome to this beautiful side of things. Thank you for everything.”

Megan, who herself announced her retirement after an unfortunate 2023 World Cup, had a chance to share a locker room with Heath for many years. The two stood as a centerpiece of the USA’s attacking line, collaborating to score many goals and even winning two World Cups and a gold and bronze Olympic medal each.

Just like Pinoe, Heath is also one of the 25 players in the history of USWNT to tally over a combined 50 goals and assists, even ranking in the top 20 all-time caps and goals in program history. Perhaps, the former Manchester United star’s biggest moment with Megan and the USWNT came during the 2015 WC Final, where she scored a goal to help sink Japan 5-2.

However, unlike Rapinoe, Heath’s career has been cut short since 2021 due to serious injuries. In fact, the last time the 2016 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year winner played donning the red, blue, and white colors was during a friendly match against South Korea on October 26, 2021, where, despite a 19-minute cameo, she managed to deliver an assist.

But that didn’t mean Tobin never played after that. A year later, she returned to action, at least on the domestic front, but only for a brief period. Somehow, her final appearance in the NWSL came while playing for Seattle Reign on August 14, where she helped her side secure an easy 4-1 win over Gotham FC.

She bowed out of the game with two NWSL championships with the Portland Thorns and two NWSL Shields—one with the Thorns and the other with the Seattle Reign. All of this came while being an opponent of Rapinoe in the NWSL

Either way, it was quite a heartwarming message from Megan, who welcomes yet another USWNT veteran into her retirement club. Speaking of which, we know someone else too who not only gave heartfelt tributes to Heath, but may also join this club very soon!

Another ex-USWNT teammate of Megan Rapinoe joins Tobin Heath’s tribute party

Former teammate and partner Christen Press also made some heartwarming gestures for the retiring icon. Sharing a collage picture of herself lying on the ground with Tobin Heath, which was shot after the 2019 World Cup, CP23 wrote quite a lengthy message for her significant other. “Tobin Heath knows about winning,” began Press. “She’s always won. And she learned it and taught it in the best locker room in the world. How laughing, dancing, yelling, crying, and sharing contribute to greatness.”

The Angel City star praised Heath’s ability to not only constantly learn from her competition but also to humiliate them and come out on top. Christen also underlined the former Paris Saint-Germain star’s leadership quality that saw her create space for others to shine as well. In fact, Press revealed that Heath is so thoughtful she messages every player who earns their first USWNT cap, let alone fighting in the biggest rooms to get people to invest in women’s sports and studying the “tactical nuance of the game to a degree that few will ever understand,” all to keep pushing soccer forward.

“And so, perhaps her greatest contribution was not a win at all. It was carrying the torch — a culture — in the pursuit of greatness for all to see and follow,” added Press, who shared a locker room with Tobin at both Manchester United and USWNT, “How do you say goodbye to something you’re not ready to let go of?…”

Notably, Tobin Heath announced her retirement on the latest episode of the RE—INC show, which she co-hosts with Christen Press. During the hour-long conversation, the former Arsenal star revealed that over New Year’s, she fully accepted that she wouldn’t be playing again — a realization that was the result of a two or even three-year process of coming to terms with it.

“I tried f—ing everything to get back; I spent tens of thousands of dollars and [had] two surgeries, one crazy surgery. And the whole time, I believed I was going to get back. The writing was definitely on the wall; I just couldn’t accept, I think, that that was my ending,” remarked Heath on the show, before insisting she never played the beautiful game just to be famous or make people care about her.

It was just because of the love she has for soccer. And perhaps, that was all she needed to carve her illustrious path, which unfortunately came to an end, at least on a high note.