United Kingdom, June 13 -- Megan Rapinoe's brother has died.

Michael passed away last year following a "long battle with alcoholism".

The former US Women's National Soccer Team star opened up about his death for the first time publicly on the latest episode of her A Touch More: The Beautiful Game podcast.

Megan, 40, told her guest, 46-year-old former professional soccer player Abby Wambach: "I went home last year after my older brother Michael died. It was a long battle with alcoholism, and it was sad."

Mourning Michael - one of her five siblings, Brian, fraternal twin sister Rachael, half-sister Jenny, and another sister - made Megan realise how similar they were, and the importance of taking a career break.

The Seattle Reign FC sta...