American soccer legend Megan Rapinoe is excited for Team USA’s Olympic women’s soccer gold medal match against Brazil, loudly supporting her former team from the stands in Paris.
Sporting her signature pink hair, Rapinoe was at the Parc des Princes, home of Paris Saint-Germain, for the Olympic final; her last tournament appearance for the U.S. women’s team was at last year’s World Cup.
Rapinoe appeared in three Olympics for the United States, winning gold in 2012 in London.
The 39-year-old was also part of the team that failed to make the podium four years later in Rio and of the bronze medallists three years ago in Tokyo.
Rapinoe has clashed in the past with current U.S. soccer star Korbin Albert, who started Saturday’s final against Brazil replacing Rose Lavelle in midfield.
Megan Rapinoe is in the stands for Team USA’s Olympic gold medal final against Brazil
Rapinoe is joined by fellow American soccer legends Tobin Heath and Ali Krieger.
Rapinoe was seated alongside fellow U.S. women’s national team legends Tobin Heath and Ali Krieger, all three of whom have participated in previous Olympic Games and World Cups representing the United States.
Rapinoe is interestingly famous for scoring the only two “Olympic” goals in Olympic history, meaning she kicked the ball over the goal line after taking a corner kick.
Albert’s feud with Rapinoe began in March when Albert shared an anti-LGBTQ social media post on his TikTok.
The 20-year-old had previously shared a Christian sermon on the account, in which she spoke about how being gay and “feeling transgender” is wrong. The posts resurfaced at the time, prompting a backlash from Rapinoe.
The retired player shared a post on her Instagram story directed at ‘the people who want to hide behind ‘my beliefs’ telling them to ‘wake up TF!’
Famous film star Tom Cruise will also be present at the match between the United States and Brazil in Paris.
Rapinoe has been one of the most outspoken and well-rounded players in American soccer this century.
Fellow American soccer Olympian Tierna Davidson, who started alongside Albert in the final against Brazil, also spoke out about her teammate’s social media posts.
Both Davidson and Rapinoe are members of the LGBTQ community.
“I think it’s a tough situation that’s obviously affected me personally, given what she said,” Davidson said on “Good Game with Sarah Spain.” “I think it’s something you have to learn when you’re a young player, especially with the platform that you’re given, your beliefs or how you choose to express certain things is very public and people are watching you and listening to you.”
“Whether it’s something you grew up with or it was instilled in you at a very young age, and you may not know it, it’s something that can hurt other people,” Davidson continued. “I think he’s learned a lot since then and he needs to continue to do that, as all human beings do.”
The famous actor Tom Cruise is also among the French public.