This archive report was first published on 24 September 2019.
On Monday night in Milan, Megan Rapinoe was crowned the world's best female footballer of 2019 at The Best FIFA Football Awards ceremony.
During her acceptance speech, Rapinoe expressed gratitude to her family, twin sister, friends, and her girlfriend Sue Bird, a basketball great who plays for the Seattle Storm in the Women's National Basketball Association.
Published on September 24, 2019, Rapinoe's dedication to her girlfriend was a notable moment in the ceremony.
As the American footballer accepted her award, she also used the occasion to speak out against racism and homophobia in football.
She emphasized the need for a more inclusive and equal society, stating, 'If you really want a meaningful change (in society) what I think is most inspiring would be if everybody other than (Raheem) Sterling and (Kalidou) Koulibaly, if they were outraged against racism as they were if everybody was outraged about homophobia as the LGBTQ players, if everybody was outraged about the lack of equal pay and investment in the women's game other than just women, that would be the most inspiring thing to me.'
