American soccer legend Megan Rapinoe was excited for the U.S. women’s soccer team’s Olympic gold medal match against Brazil, cheering on her former team from the stands in Paris.
And it was a day to celebrate for Rapinoe, as the U.S. held on to beat Brazil 1-0 to claim the gold medal, with Mallory Swanson scoring the game-winning goal.
Rapinoe, sporting her trademark pink hair, attended the Olympic final at the Parc des Princes, home of club team Paris Saint-Germain. Her last tournament appearance for the U.S. national team came at last year’s World Cup.
Rapinoe competed for the United States in three Olympic Games, winning gold in London in 2012.
The 39-year-old was also part of the team that failed to reach the podium in Rio four years later, and of the bronze medallists in Tokyo three years ago.
Megan Rapinoe sits in the stands for Team USA’s Olympic gold medal final against Brazil
Rapinoe stands alongside American soccer legends Tobin Heath and Ali Krieger
Rapinoe has previously clashed with current American star Korbin Albert, who started in Saturday’s final against Brazil, and Rose Lavelle in midfield.
Rapinoe sat alongside legendary USWNT players Tobin Heath and Ali Krieger, all three of whom had previously represented the United States at the Olympics and the World Cup.
Rapinoe is remarkably famous for scoring the only two “Olimpico” goals in Olympic history, when she fired the ball over the goal line after taking a corner kick.
Albert’s feud with Rapinoe began in March, when Albert posted an anti-LGBTQ social media message on her TikTok.
The 20-year-old had previously shared a Christian sermon on the account, in which he discussed how it was wrong to be gay and “feel transgender.” The posts then resurfaced, prompting a backlash from Rapinoe.
The retired player shared a message on her Instagram Story addressed to “the people who want to hide behind ‘my beliefs'” and urged them to “wake up TF!”
Famous movie star Tom Cruise also attends the US-Brazil match in Paris
Rapinoe is one of the most outspoken, integral players in American soccer this century
Tierna Davidson, an American Olympic competitor and striker who started the final against Brazil with Albert, 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 difficult situation that has obviously affected me personally, given what she was talking about,” Davidson said on “Good Game with Sarah Spain.” “I think it’s something that you have to learn as a young player, especially with the platform that you’re given, that your beliefs or how you choose to express certain things is very public and people are watching and listening.”
“Whether it’s something you grew up with, or it’s something you’ve been taught from a young age, and you may not know any better, it’s something that can hurt other people,” Davidson continued. “I think she’s learned a lot since then and she needs to continue to do that, as we all do as human beings.”
The famous actor Tom Cruise is also part of the French public.