NEW YORK : The United States's Megan Rapinoe will take on a different role in her fourth Women's World Cup appearance, coach Vlatko Andonovski said on Wednesday, as he named his 23-player squad for the quadrennial tournament.
The pink-haired forward's heroics led the U.S. to a fourth title in 2019, as her larger-than-life persona helped cement her as the biggest celebrity in American soccer, drawing legions of fans and the ire of former U.S.
President Donald Trump. But when the 2023 World Cup kicks off on July 20 in Australia and New Zealand, the 2019 Ballon d'Or winner may take a backseat to a new generation of talent."Megan Rapinoe is probably going to have a different role than the last World Cup or the previous two World Cups.
She certainly is going to have different types of minutes. But her role first from the leadership standpoint is so important," Andonovski told reporters.The 2019 Golden Boot and Golden Ball winner turns 38 next month, some two decades older than the youngest member of the U.S.