NFL
By: Joe Cardoso
On Saturday one of the best athletes to step on a soccer field decided to walk away from the game. But the play on the field is a small part of the Megan Rapinoe legacy. The 5’6 Redding, California native rose to fame one way and that’s her way. Letting her play speak for itself and you couldn’t help but take notice and respect it. She also was a voice for those who most times don’t have one.
Playing Career
After playing for the University of Portland she made her national team debut in 2006 and her amazing career began. Injuries forced her to miss the 2007 World Cup and 2008 Olympics fueled the fire that would see her make a real splash during the 2009 Algarve Cup as a solid goal scorer and playmaker. The bigger the stage the better she performed. You could write a series on the number of crosses she whipped into the box, that lead to key goals for the USWNT. Her resume is incredible, and I will always remember her iconic goal celebrations. Just look at her playing resume.
- Olympic Gold Medalist
- 2-Time World Cup Winner 2015, 2019
- 2019 Golden Boot Winner
- Ballon d’Or Féminin Winner
- 199 caps along with 63 goals and 73 assists
So many moments of brilliance that have left fans of the game craving for more and also bringing new fans to the game. Her ability to come off the bench and change the flow and momentum cannot be forgotten. She talks about leaving the game in better shape than how she found it and I would say loudly mission accomplished.
Video courtesy of U.S. Soccer/Veritone
A Voice For Change
When we think back to Colin Kaepernick and his silent protest against police brutality we don’t always remember the names of the people who supported him. Rapione was the first White athlete, as well as the first female athlete, to kneel during the national anthem in solidarity with Kaepernick. No topic or issue is off limits to her and risking her standing in the public doesn’t matter. If she feels it is wrong, she uses her platform to voice concerns and raise awareness. She was one of the loudest voices in the push for equal pay for the USWNT which is a fight the ladies won. Making the United States the first soccer federation to do so. And instead of sitting down, she continues to push for other countries to do the same for their women’s teams.
Seeing what the game of soccer has done for her life she has been a voice for the Gay and LBGTQ+ community. Pushing for those communities to have an equal opportunity to play sports and have a normal life like everyone else. Something that should be common sense but in the world we live in today it’s not and that needs to change, Megan is someone who continues to push for change.
Heading into this month’s FIFA Women’s World Cup another change is happening in part to her and others not remaining silent. FIFA increased the prize-money purse for the Women’s World Cup to $152 million four times what it was in 2019, they also agreed to pay each participant $30,000. I call that progress. The first soccer player male or female to receive the highest honor a citizen can get the Presidential Medal of Freedom. When the President noticed the work, you are putting in that says something. She also made Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People list.
Her next stop is the World Cup as she looks to be another first, back-to-back-to-back World Cup wins. Her role will change as the next generation steps up, but you can trust she will be a leader and looked to for guidance. Something tells me she still has some magic left in those legs and could come up big in a key moment or two.
Megan Rapione should be remembered as a trailblazer who never shied away from a big moment on or off the field. A woman who is willing to risk it all to speak when many are quiet and never apologize for it. Salute to you queen.
