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The recent few days have been tumultuous for Megan Rapinoe. From facing the heartbreak of USWNT’s early exit from the World Cup to facing subsequent criticism for her actions and missed penalty, the OL Reign forward has seen it all. Nonetheless, one thing remains clear – her popularity is skyrocketing.

Rapinoe’s journey with the USWNT came to a bitter end with a missed penalty against Sweden in the penalty shootout in the Round of 16. As if that wasn’t enough, former US President Donald Trump took to Twitter to mock both the team and Rapinoe personally. But instead of letting these setbacks define her, Megan Rapinoe has gone on to experience a massive increase in social media popularity.

Megan Rapinoe’s popularity is growing despite all the backlash

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Known for her outstanding performances on the field and her outspoken nature, Rapinoe has never been one to shy away from sharing her thoughts and standing up for what she believes is right. Her fearless and unapologetic attitude has won the hearts of millions around the world, as evidenced by her enormous following on Instagram.

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In the week following her missed penalty and the subsequent criticism, Rapinoe has seen a staggering growth in followers. According to Social Blade, over 9,000 new followers have joined Rapinoe’s Instagram page, where she recently posted a heartfelt retirement farewell message. This surge in followers has brought her total count to an impressive 2.19 million.

But it doesn’t end there. Rapinoe’s popularity extends beyond Instagram. On X, she has gained over 7,000 new followers, taking her total count to over 888,000. This increase in social media following is a testament to the impact she has had, not only as a soccer player but also as a role model and advocate for equality and LGBTQ rights. It seems Donald Trump’s comments have actually resulted in a surge of support for Megan Rapinoe. Let’s examine exactly what Trump said regarding her performance.

Donald Trump mocked Megan Rapinoe for the huge blunder

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During the penalty shootout against Sweden, Rapinoe was one of the players who missed her shot. In response to this, Trump made critical remarks on the Truth Social App. He bashed the players for showing hostility toward America and added, “WOKE EQUALS FAILURE”.

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The former president also took a swipe at Rapinoe by sarcastically commenting on her missed shot. “Nice shot Megan, the USA is going to Hell!!! MAGA,” Trump concluded. Despite facing disappointment and criticism, Megan Rapinoe can find solace in the fact that her influence is only growing stronger.

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