14 February 2024 , 12:30
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Megan Rapinoe claims those who celebrated the end of her football career deserve a "special place in hell" and has made more controversial comments about Christianity.
Rapinoe, 38, planned to retire after last year's National Women's Soccer League season. Her team OL Reign went on to reach the Championship game against Gotham City, but she suffered an Achilles injury just three minutes into the final. Gotham then won 2-1.
Rapinoe is one of the most decorated and celebrated women's footballers of her generation, having inspired the United States to two World Cup titles in 2015 and 2019. She won the Ballon d'Or after the latter triumph, confirming her place among the greats.
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Yet Rapinoe is also an outspoken figure and made controversial comments about Christianity after her career-ending injury, joking it was proof there isn't a God. She's now reacted to that criticism and recalled the pain of her last dance in football.
"It is sad, like I wish that didn't happen," Rapinoe told the Pablo Torre Finds Out podcast. "I'm just thinking about my teammates coming over, of course it's sad... it's kinda just life.
"We want these perfect stories and I'm a controversial figure, and having people celebrate it - but then also be so disingenuous about it, that that part is kinda funny too. I'm like, wow you guys are in a special place in hell that you're celebrating this."
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Rapinoe suffered an injury in her final professional appearance (Photo by Ben Nichols/ISI Photos/Getty Images)Rapinoe then addressed her religious remark. She added: "Somebody needs to check on the Christians, they're not OK. They also missed the whole joke. Don't act like you're surprised by me making this joke about what happened, or finding a dig. I'm like, yeah, I'm gonna find a funny dig. Who's it at? God, myself, religion, the world? I don't know."
As well as winning the World Cup twice, Rapinoe also helped the United States win gold the 2012 London Olympics and bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. And they reached the World Cup final in 2011, losing on penalties to Japan.
Yet Rapinoe's international career ended on a sour note, as she missed a penalty in the United States' shootout defeat to Sweden in the last 16 of the 2023 World Cup. She was slammed for smiling after blazing her effort way over the crossbar.
In response to that criticism, Rapinoe said it was "like a sick, sick joke". She continued: "I've never hit it over, when I miss they are saved. That's why I had that smile on my face. I'm like, 'You've got to be f***ing kidding me.' I'm going to miss a penalty?"
Rapinoe claims she "can't remember" the last time she missed from the spot. The legendary footballer won't be involved in her country's bid to win this year's Paris Olympics, as Chelsea boss Emma Hayes takes charge of the United States. Hayes will leave the Blues at the end of the Women's Super League season to move into the international game.