Two-time World Cup winner Morgan announces retirement

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

Morgan, 35, who confirmed her decision to retire in a video 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 female players in the world, will play her final professional match on Sunday when her club side San Diego Wave take on North Carolina Courage.

In 2022, she was part of the USA side which secured a landmark equal pay deal after all members of the squad filed a lawsuit.

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

"It has been a long time coming and this decision [to retire] wasn’t easy," she said.

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