- Megan Rapinoe left the final game of her career with an Achilles tendon injury
- The former USWNT star also laughed after a crucial missed penalty at the World Cup
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Megan Rapinoe has said those who celebrated her career-ending Achilles tendon injury have a “special place in hell”.
The controversial Rapinoe, 38, suffered the injury just three minutes into the NWSL Championship game in November and limped off the field as her OL Reign subsequently lost to Gotham FC.
And speaking a few months before that heartbreaking end to her career, she launched an attack on those who reveled in her misery.
“It's sad, I wish that hadn't happened. “I just think about my teammates coming over, of course it's sad. … it's kind of just life,” she continued “Pablo Torre finds out.'
“We want these perfect stories and I'm a controversial character and people celebrate it – but then they're also so disingenuous that that part is kind of funny.” I'm like, wow, you're in a special place in hell that you celebrate this.
Megan Rapinoe became emotional as she discussed the heartbreaking end to her career
Rapinoe had to be substituted just minutes into the final game of her career
After the game, which the Reign lost 1-0, Rapinoe joked that her injury was proof that there is no God.
Unsurprisingly, the comment angered religious people, although Rapinoe claims they “missed the whole joke.”
“Someone needs to check on the Christians, they’re not doing well,” she said, recalling the backlash she received. “You missed the whole joke too.”
“Don’t act like you’re surprised that I’m making this joke about what happened or finding a dig site. I think, yeah, I'll find a fun dig. Who is it with? God, myself, religion, the world? I don't know.'
Host Torre then said, “The thing is, here's another athlete who thinks the proof of God is that he wins and that it's really fun.” And if not, then obviously God 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
Megan Rapinoe suffers an injury in her final career game less than three minutes into the NWSL final 💔
She receives a standing ovation from Snapdragon Stadium pic.twitter.com/uwqG2epzMK
— Attacking Third (@AttackingThird) November 12, 2023
The former USWNT star has accomplished much in her career, including two World Cup triumphs, although she missed a crucial penalty against Sweden in the last 16 of the last World Cup as the Americans were eliminated.
The winger laughed and smiled after the miss, which angered many fans.
“There are so many more important things than that, and of course that's sad,” she told Torre about the end of her career. “I don't think it will hurt my career, I don't think missing that penalty will hurt my career – that's all part of it, actually. 'And if you don't try, you'll never do anything.'
Rapinoe later said that the reaction to her missed penalty was “like a sick joke”. I've never thought about it when I miss them being saved. That's why I had this smile on my face.
“I'm like, 'You've got to be kidding me.'” I'm going to miss a penalty? “I mean, honestly, I can't remember the last time I missed.”
Megan Rapinoe USA Football
Megan Rapinoe says those who cheered her career-ending Achilles tear have a “special place in hell,” adding that Christians “missed the whole joke” when she did said that an injury is proof that there is no God