The USWNT jumped out to a 1-0 lead over France in the quarterfinals of the 2019 Women’s World Cup, and Twitter quickly made Megan Rapinoe’s goal celebration a meme.
Megan Rapinoe is a living legend in the football world, and while her activism has also made headlines in this year’s World Cup, her play on the pitch has been just as worthy of praise. The USWNT starting left winger scored both penalty goals to lift her team over Spain in the Round of 16, and her free kick in the third minute gave the United States an early lead over France.
There’s no way to overstate the importance of that first goal, too, as France vs. the United States is one of the biggest games in World Cup history. It feels like a final, and the USWNT needed that early cushion, courtesy of a driven free kick from Rapinoe.
She celebrated with power, too, stretching out her arms and smiling after scoring such a crucial goal.
And Twitter loved the celebration so much, they meme’d it in the most positive way possible.
when I get my inbox down to ten emails pic.twitter.com/yvBoAXZErA
— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) June 28, 2019
There’s nothing more satisfying than cleaning out an inbox from 13255235 emails to 10. Well, nothing except for scoring an all-important early goal against one of the best teams on the planet.
Others referenced Rapinoe’s understandable comments that she wouldn’t appear at the White House if the USWNT were to win the World Cup. For the record, Rapinoe could win the election in 2020. Probably. Nate Silver as her polling in first now that she’s scored each of the USWNT’s first three knockout round goals.
The day Megan Rapinoe became President pic.twitter.com/8JcGKYueh6
— Reese Waters (@reesewaters) June 28, 2019
https://twitter.com/ParkerMolloy/status/1144689892305362944
Wrestling Twitter even had their fun.
Who did it better, @mPinoe or @RandyOrton? pic.twitter.com/c0StOm9ygF
— Just Another Wrestling Podcast (@JAWPodcast) June 28, 2019
Randy Orton can burn in Megan Rapinoe’s light, for what it’s worth.
There were also Gladiator references abound.
“Are you not entertained!?” - Megan Rapinoe probably. #USAvFRA #USWMNT pic.twitter.com/pJx0tNpldm
— Christopher Edwards II (@realcedwards2) June 28, 2019
It’s safe to say that everyone is entertained by Rapinoe’s pinpoint crosses, inch-perfect set pieces, and dizzying dribbling. So, yes, she should have a statue.
Rapinoe making her statute easy to commission. #FRAUSA #FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/WuCcb56Owy
— Ann Odong 🐨🇺🇬 (@AnnOdong) June 28, 2019
Rapinoe isn’t done scoring yet, and she’s now up to four goals and two assists in the 2019 World Cup. She is closing in on 50 goals for the USWNT, too, as her free kick against France was her 48th career international goal.