Video: Alex Morgan Announces Retirement; USWNT Legend Won Gold Medal, 2 World Cups

It's the end of an era for a soccer legend.

Alex Morgan, who won two World Cups and an Olympic gold medal with the United States women's national team, announced her retirement Thursday.

"I'm going to get to the point quickly," she said at the start of the video. "I'm retiring. I have so much clarity about this decision, and I am so happy to be able to finally tell you. It has been a long time coming, and this decision wasn't easy. But at the beginning of 2024, I felt in my heart and soul that this was the last season that I would play soccer."

She also revealed that she is pregnant and expecting her second child.

"This is also not the retirement video I expected when I initially thought I was going to do this," she said (2:30 mark). "Because Charlie's going to be a big sister. I am pregnant. And, as unexpected as this came, we are so overjoyed. To me, family means everything."

Morgan, along with Megan Rapinoe, became the face of an entire generation for the USWNT as it found success on the field and fought for equality off it.

Her combination of speed, physicality and scoring prowess made her an offensive machine, and she ranks fifth in USWNT history with 123 goals. She is also ninth with 224 caps and is the only player outside of the legendary Mia Hamm to finish with 20 goals and 20 assists in one year.

Morgan also helped define an era for the team with iconic moments, including her extra-time winner to defeat Canada in the semifinals of the 2012 Olympics and her memorable goal and tea-sipping celebration against England in the 2019 World Cup semifinal.

The 35-year-old will be best remembered for her success with the national team, but she also played for the Portland Thorns, Orlando Pride, San Diego Wave, Tottenham and Lyon at the club level.

Her illustrious resume includes four CONCACAF Female Player of the Year awards, a 2013 NWSL championship with Portland, a 2016-17 Champions League title with Lyon, three inclusions on the FIFA FIFPro Women's World XI, two USSF Female Athlete of the Year awards and the 2022 NWSL Golden Boot with San Diego.

The Americans won the 2012 Olympic gold medal and the World Cup title in 2015 and 2019 with Morgan helping lead the way.

Despite her history of success at the highest level, the United States did not include her on its roster for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

"Today, I'm disappointed about not having the opportunity to represent our country on the Olympic stage," she wrote on Instagram at the time. "This will always be a tournament that is close to my heart and I take immense pride any time I put on the crest.

"In less than a month, I look forward to supporting this team and cheering them on alongside the rest of our country. LFG."

It was the Americans' first major tournament without her since the 2008 Olympics, although they ended up winning the gold thanks to a new group of superstars that includes prolific goal scorers in Mallory Swanson, Sophia Smith and Trinity Rodman.

They figure to be the latest in a long list of American forwards who star on the sport's biggest stages and deliver World Cup titles and Olympic gold medals for their country.

And that is a list that Morgan will always be a part of even after her retirement.