- Megan Rapinoe left the last match of her career with an Achilles injury
- The ex-USWNT star also smiled after a crucial penalty miss at the World Cup
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
Megan Rapinoe has said those who celebrated her career-ending Achilles injury have a “special place in hell.”
The controversial Rapinoe, 38, suffered the injury just three minutes into the NWSL Championship match in November, limping off the field as her OL Reign lost to Gotham FC.
And when she was a few months away from that heartbreaking end to her career, she took a shot at those who reveled in her misery.
“It’s sad, like I wish this hadn’t happened. I just think about the arrival of my teammates, of course it’s sad. …it’s just kind of life,” she began “Pablo Torre finds out.’
“We want these perfect stories, and I’m a controversial figure, and have people celebrate this – but then be so insincere about it that that part is quite funny too. I’m like, wow, you guys are in a special place in hell that you’re celebrating this.
Megan Rapinoe got emotional as she discussed the heartbreaking end to her career
Rapinoe had to be substituted just minutes after the final match of her career
After the match, which the Reign lost 1-0, Rapinoe joked that her injury was proof that God did not exist.
It’s no surprise that the comment angered religious people, although Rapinoe claims they “missed the whole joke.”
“Someone has to check on the Christians, they are not doing well,” she said, recalling the reactions she received. “They missed the whole joke too.”
“Don’t pretend to be surprised that I’m making this joke about what happened, or that I found a dig. I’m like, yeah, I’m going to find a funny dig. Who is it with? God, myself, religion, the world? Don’t know.’
Host Torre then said, “The problem is that here is another athlete who thinks that proof of God is found in the fact that they win and good things happen. And if that’s not the case, then God clearly doesn’t exist. That’s the joke.’ Rapinoe agreed with his assessment.
Rapinoe laughed to herself after missing a crucial penalty for the United States last year
The former USWNT star has achieved a lot in her career, including two World Cup victories, although she missed a crucial penalty against Sweden in the round of 16 of the last World Cup as the Americans were eliminated.
The winger was seen laughing and smiling after the miss, which angered many fans.
“There are so many more important things than this, and of course that’s sad,” she told Torre of the way her career ended. ‘I don’t think it takes anything away from my career, I don’t think missing that penalty takes anything away from my career; it’s actually all part of it. And if you don’t try, you’ll never do anything.”
Rapinoe later said the reaction to her penalty miss was “like a sick, sick joke.” It’s never happened to me, if I miss, they’re saved. That’s why I had that smile on my face.
“I’m like, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me.’ Am I going to miss a penalty? I mean, honestly, I can’t remember the last time I missed.”