Megan Rapinoe’s Farewell Game: A Painful End to an Impactful Career
Megan Rapinoe, acclaimed midfielder and two-time World Cup winner, recently voiced her displeasure towards a young member of the USA Women’s National Team (USWNT) who had shared anti-LGBTQ content and liked posts mocking Rapinoe’s career-ending Achilles injury. This controversy arose when the young player, Korbin Albert, appeared on the field wearing Rapinoe’s jersey number during a match for Paris Saint-Germain.
Albert, a former midfielder for Notre Dame, gained attention when fans discovered that she had reposted various anti-LGBTQ content on her TikTok account. Additionally, she had liked a post that joked about God causing Rapinoe’s ankle injury during her farewell game. Outraged by these actions, Rapinoe took to her Instagram story to express her disappointment, questioning whether Albert had contributed to creating a safer and more inclusive environment.
Rapinoe’s Instagram story contained a powerful message calling out hate and emphasizing the importance of respect and inclusivity. She highlighted the alarming fact that the repercussions of hate can be so severe that they drive individuals to take their own lives. With compassion and solidarity, Rapinoe expressed her support for the transgender community, acknowledging their struggles and vowing to stand with them.
Becky Sauerbrunn, a long-time captain of the USWNT, endorsed Rapinoe’s message on her own Instagram story, endorsing the sentiment expressed by her colleague.
In response, Albert issued an apology on her Instagram story, expressing regret for engaging with offensive and hurtful content. She acknowledged the immaturity and disrespectfulness of her actions and promised to do better, recognizing the importance of creating safe and respectful spaces for everyone.
Rapinoe’s farewell game itself was a heartbreaking end to her illustrious career. Suffering