“My Job Is to Be the Mouthpiece” Megan Rapinoe Once Opened Up on Shouldering the Responsibility of Being the Voice of the Group

Megan Rapinoe, the captain of the U.S. National Soccer team, has not only been successful in playing an instrumental role in two World Cup wins–2015, and 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, but also in achieving pay equality. Also, she was named the Best FIFA Women’s player in 2019. Besides her illustrious career, she is also renowned as a fearless advocate of LGQBT+ rights and equal pay.

Raising amidst parents who always taught her to do what was right and to help people, she never shied away from doing what the situation demanded. Especially being the voice of the moment needs. In a 2020 interview, the soccer pro opened up on playing a balanced role between being an individual and being the voice of the team.

Megan Rapinoe described being the “mouthpiece” as challenging

When asked about the equity push, Rapinoe said certain people like her and Alex Morgan are more vocal. However, it has always been a concern for the team. And the fight for equity dates back generations. She continued, “I might get more attention, but other people are the architects of our strategy.”

Speaking about making decisions, she said they always made decisions with the entire group. While mentioning the difficulty of doing it with 25 or 30 people on a call or in a room, the soccer legend said, “But if my job is to be the mouthpiece, I’ll do it.” She continued, “I’m conscious of being the louder one in the way that everybody wants.”

READ MORE: “More Relatable than Actresses Who Make Millions”: Megan Rapinoe Once Made a Controversial Statement on the Pay Scale of Women in Sports

Furthermore, she said it was a bit of a challenge to bring people along, as each one has their perspective. They argued and challenged one another behind closed doors, but while talking to the media, “we’re always doing so on behalf of the group.”

Rapinoe’s journey of becoming a leader

It is undeniable that the sport and the soccer icon are inseparable. Goal after goal, Rapinoe gradually rose to become a voice that represented her team. When asked about her growth as a leader, “Growing is a great way to describe it. It was a process.”

From being a young player to becoming a veteran. Rapinoe has traveled a long way learning from senior players and her mentors. She started to realize the power she had in 2016 or 2017. “I think I have a particular charisma and trust with my teammates.” Rapinoe then decided to shoulder more responsibilities and challenge herself “to be accountable in a way that I hadn’t before.”

Watch this story > Uswnt star Megan Rapinoe unveiled her super effective wellness routine