Fresh footage has emerged showing Megan Rapinoe sharing laughter with her family just moments after her notable reaction to missing a crucial penalty during the USA’s heart-wrenching exit from the Women’s World Cup.
The contentious winger, aged 38, is on the brink of retiring from professional soccer, and her final act was marked by a missed penalty in the team’s devastating 5-4 shootout defeat against Sweden.
Following this incident, Rapinoe faced criticism from fans who interpreted her response to the missed penalty as laughter. She later clarified that her reaction was due to seeing the situation as a “cruel joke.”
A newly surfaced video snippet captures Rapinoe standing on the sidelines alongside her family shortly after the penalty mishap. Initially displaying signs of distress, she eventually breaks into laughter again.
In the video, Rapinoe’s parents, Denise and Jim, are present among friends and family waiting to embrace her at the stadium. The group shares an extended hug before Rapinoe can be seen laughing with them.
During the shootout, Rapinoe took her team’s fourth penalty, aiming to secure a 4-2 advantage. However, her shot sailed high over the crossbar. As she returned to the halfway line, she appeared to be smirking and chuckling to herself, leading to confusion and frustration among fans on social media.
This incident occurred amidst backlash directed at the US Women’s National Team (USWNT) for some players remaining silent during the national anthem in all four of their matches Down Under.
Following the match, Rapinoe was captured in tears alongside her devastated teammates as the defending champions were eliminated in the Round of 16 in Melbourne.
Addressing her initial response afterwards, Rapinoe explained, “It felt like a sick, twisted joke. I’ve never shot one over the bar before; when I miss, they’re usually saved. That’s why I had that smile on my face.”
She continued, “I thought, ‘Are you kidding me? I’m going to miss a penalty?’ Honestly, I can’t recall the last time I missed.”
Despite a five-year gap since Rapinoe’s last penalty miss in an NWSL match, this instance proved to be far more consequential as it denied her a fairy-tale ending to her international career.
In a conversation with FOX after the defeat, Rapinoe commented, “I believe we played exceptionally well, and I’m glad we exited while displaying our strong performance. This situation has an element of dark humor – I missed a penalty. This counterbalances the beautiful aspects of the game.”
She added, “I felt a deep sense of gratitude and happiness. Knowing that this marks the end is sorrowful. This is my first experience with such an outcome [losing a World Cup penalty shootout], and it has been an honor.”
Rapinoe, a two-time World Cup champion, participated in every match as a substitute. She joined the match in extra time but struggled to make a significant impact during her time on the field.
In the immediate aftermath of the US defeat to Sweden, many fans expressed anger over Rapinoe’s apparent lighthearted reaction to her missed penalty kick.