Megan Rapinoe is finally ready to open up about an emotional family tragedy.

The former soccer player addressed her grief over her brother, Michael’s death, in a new episode of her podcast, and how it eventually shaped her outlook on life, family, and her career.

Megan Rapinoe recently got under fire from the public for her loud criticism of the U.S. men’s hockey team and how they celebrated their victory alongside President Donald Trump.

Megan Rapinoe Talks About The Effects Of Losing Loved Ones

In the June 11 episode of her podcast “A Touch More,” the soccer icon spoke about her older brother Michael, who died last year after years of battling drug and alcohol addiction.

Rapinoe spoke with her guest, former U.S. Women’s National Team teammate Abby Wambach, about the emotional toll of returning home after his death and how the loss was heartbreaking.

Soon, their discussion shifted to a more general discussion of the impact of their careers on their lives. Wambach, who lost her eldest brother, Peter G. Wambach Jr., in December 2023 to complications from a heart attack, spoke about Rapinoe’s grief and how she was juggling her career with family life.

Her brother’s struggle with addiction led her to take a more in-depth look at obsessive pressure and always looking for more emotions she has seen in herself as a player.

After spending months in the house following her brother’s death, she said she realized she had not slowed down or been present in her life, aside from holidays or big family gatherings.

Wambach seconded that, stating that soccer had provided her with many opportunities; however, it had also taken a toll on her, especially in regard to maintaining close friendships and staying connected to life outside of the sport.

The Athlete Detailed Her Family’s Struggles With Another Brother’s Addiction

While Rapinoe has never spoken about Michael’s death publicly before, she has previously been open about the effects of her older brother Brian’s addiction on her family.

In her 2020 memoir One Life, Rapinoe recalled the day her parents told the family that Brian had been arrested for meth possession and was detained as a juvenile.

As stated by PEOPLE, she added that his problems persisted into adulthood, leading to subsequent arrest and imprisonment for stealing a car at age 18, with a later pattern of moving in and out of prison for the next two decades. 

In a previous interview, Rapino stressed that punishment was never the answer in his addiction struggle. She shared the view that Brian needed treatment and support, not jail time, as addiction had grown its claws into his life.

Despite the challenges, Rapinoe has continued to express love for her brother publicly. After the U.S. Women’s National Team won the World Cup in 2019, she sent a postgame interview birthday message to him and publicly reminded him that he was still in her heart.

Megan Rapinoe’s Soccer Career Was Greatly Influenced By Her Older Brother

Prior to the arrival of soccer stardom, Rapinoe’s biggest influence was not a coach or teammate but her older brother, Brian. Before the packed stadiums and World Cup championships, Brian was the heart of the Rapinoe and her twin sister, Rachael’s childhood. 

PEOPLE noted that the soccer star and Rachael shadowed Brian’s habits, joined his adventures, and started to play soccer just because he did.

According to the family, Brian was the one who first introduced the twins to the sport, as he would go to a field close to where they lived and practice maneuvers with them while they attempted to replicate his actions. 

It started as admiration, then it turned to passion, and finally, soccer was not just a game; it was a possibility. But while the twins’ lives moved toward college athletics and professional opportunities, Brian’s path took a different turn. 

However, as Brian’s life became increasingly difficult due to addiction, his place in the family, especially in his sisters’ lives, never disappeared. As the twins’ soccer careers started to develop, they also carried their brother’s influence with them. 

The 40-Year-Old Spotlighted Her Family’s Support During FIFA Best Women’s Player Win

In 2019, the American former soccer player recorded a standout career accomplishment by clinching FIFA’s Best Women’s Player in 2019.

The recognition came after leading her team to another Women’s World Cup title in France while also collecting both the tournament’s Golden Ball and Golden Boot honors.

As stated by AS, in her heartfelt appreciation message on Instagram, she thanked her friends, family, loved ones, and USA women’s national teammates for being a part of her sterling accomplishments.

She described 2019 as a phenomenal year, which left her feeling all the anticipation for the year ahead. Rapinoe noted that she struggled to find the right words to capture the moment, but described the year as unforgettable and celebrated everyone who played a role in it. 

The athlete secured the recognition ahead of fellow finalists Alex Morgan and Lucy Bronze and became only the second U.S. Women’s National Team player to win FIFA’s top individual award after Carli Lloyd earned it in 2016.

Megan Rapinoe Criticized The USA Men’s Hockey Team Over Their Manner Of Celebration

The Blast noted in March that Rapinoe stirred heavy criticisms following her controversial opinion on the U.S. men’s hockey team’s post-Olympic celebration with Trump. During a March episode of her podcast, she questioned the team’s decision to identify with the politician in any way after winning Olympic gold.

She argued that significant moments like an Olympic victory must remain centered on the actual athletes rather than give in to political shenanigans and unhealthy narratives. She suggested the team had spent years working toward the achievement, only to allow attention to shift away from the accomplishment itself.

She also told athletes to exercise caution when engaging in political visits, explaining that public personalities may be better served by being present in these moments and may garner attention for themselves.

Part of Rapinoe’s criticism focused on the team’s reaction during the event after remarks were made about the women’s team. She asked herself how athletes can do something in a place where women’s accomplishments in the same sport seemed to be the punch line of the joke. In her words:

“Why don’t you respect you more than to have that moment be taken by someone who, for no reason at all, just takes a huge swing and a jab at women who did the exact same thing that you did?” 

Hopefully, Megan Rapinoe finds closure by sharing her truth!