Whether you like the character or not, in a country that is increasingly radically divided and unfriendly, Megan Rapinoe's performance has merit.
European football, here known as soccer, is not nearly the mass commercial practice that it is in the Old Continent or in South America, no matter how much Messi lands in that artifact called Inter Miami.
Soccer is behind, and at a distance, the king sport that is American football, basketball – in both cases both professional and university practice – baseball and even ice hockey.
But she and her colleagues have done more for soccer in the United States than all the fading male stars who have come to the MLS league to give it some life.
Rapinoe, 38 years old and a true legend, with the Ball and Golden Boot in the 2109 World Cup, retired from the national team this Sunday with a victory (2-0) against South Africa, in the friendly held in Chicago, at her honor and glorious career. Minutes before being substituted in the second half, she served the corner that scored the second goal. The pass was almost celebrated more than the shot.
Behind her is a career marked by the Olympic gold medal (London 2012) and being one of the key pieces in the last two world championships won by the USA (2015 and 2019), recovering the laurels of the victory of her predecessors in 1991 and 1999.
Although he still has a few games left to play with his team, Seattle's OL Reign, before hanging up his boots at the end of this season, his farewell to the national team (203 games, 63 goals) was the great tribute to the number 15.
His career goes beyond grass: art and advocacy. She has been one of the best, with a magnificent command of technique and vision of the game. In addition to being one of the most eloquent voices that have been heard for equal pay (another success), and the demands for civil rights (knee on the ground against police brutality with black citizens when the anthem is played) and for the LGBTQ community . This brought him many admirers and many detractors. In the recent World Cup, the Americans had trouble getting through the group stage and fell prematurely, as the current champions, to the first round. As if the rivals did not play, given the sense of exceptionality attributed to the country, the extreme right led by former President Donald Trump especially targeted it and that image of an open, diverse and inclusive United States that they hate. In short, they had lost the scepter due to their lack of patriotism.
Chicago's farewell became an act of reparation against all those cannon shots coming from guys who have no idea about soccer, but who wrap themselves in the flag to sow discord.
Therein lies Rapinoe's legacy. Both recognize her decisive role, whether as a heroine or a villain.
From the center of the field, Rapinoe thanked the audience for allowing her to realize “my childhood dream,” while bowing to the respectable person who was cheering her.
In his words he evidenced the awareness that he has helped change football and incorporate it into the media sphere more than any other player.
“We have fought very hard on the field, we have had a lot of fun and achieved numerous successes,” he told the crowd.
“We also fight very hard off the field to continue creating more space for ourselves to be who we are, but with the hope that, in turn, we create more space for you to be who you are,” she stressed. And he said goodbye remembering the fight and the demand of the Spanish players and showing pride in the shirt to which he has given so much.
