2023 was a challenging year for the renowned soccer player. Forget about her unfortunate penalty miss during the World Cup that cost the USWNT. The farewell match of this iconic forward with her domestic team, OL Reign, turned out to be disappointing when she suffered a devastating Achilles injury within just six minutes. To make matters worse, she ended up losing the NWSL final against Gotham FC. Although she still feels “sad” about how her last game unfolded, Rapinoe has criticized those who celebrated her injury, labeling them as “disingenuous.”
This shocking statement was made during the latest episode of the “Pablo Torre Finds Out” podcast, where the two-time World Champion, accompanied by her fiancé Sue Bird, was invited as a guest. When Torre asked her to share her thoughts on getting injured in the final game of her career, Rapinoe expressed her sadness, saying, “It’s unfortunate, I wish it hadn’t happened. I’m just thinking about my teammates coming over.” While acknowledging that injuries are part of sports, she emphasized that “it’s a part of life” and not every story can have a perfect ending. It was at this point that the 38-year-old player made a bold statement.
“I’m a controversial figure, and it’s funny how some people secretly celebrate it but then pretend to be sympathetic. They’re in a special place in hell if they’re celebrating this. I won’t join them in that hell!” she concluded, wiping away her tears. Clearly, Rapinoe is not pleased with those who found joy in her injury during her final game.
It is worth mentioning that just a few months ago, Rapinoe underwent a successful surgery to repair her torn Achilles. She shared her gratitude with her 2.1 million Instagram followers, particularly thanking Sue Bird for taking care of her during the recovery process. Speaking of Bird, what was her reaction to Rapinoe’s injury?
Sue Bird revealed to Pablo Torre that she had already noticed the “typical signs” of a torn Achilles when she saw Megan Rapinoe sitting on the ground. Interestingly, Bird mentioned that she even received a text from someone suggesting that Rapinoe had only suffered a minor knock on her knees. However, the former Seattle Storm star knew that it was a much more serious situation for Rapinoe.
Expressing her disappointment about Rapinoe’s injury, Bird said, “I was really bummed out, knowing that you didn’t get to complete your final game in your last season.” Undoubtedly, it must have been disheartening for Rapinoe not to have a proper farewell. Nevertheless, her remarkable career accomplishments serve as a testament to her legendary status in the sport.
According to the Source essentiallysports.com