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USA Today via Reuters

The USWNT‘s redeeming CONCACAF W Gold Cup triumph has an uncanny resemblance to Argentina’s 2022 FIFA World Cup win. Both teams trembled in the group stage. Argentina lost the opener to Saudi Arabia, inviting backlash and mockery. Meanwhile, pundits and fans doubted and ridiculed the US after they lost to Mexico in the group stage of the Gold Cup. Nevertheless, Twila Kilgore’s team defied all odds to beat Brazil and win the silverware, like Lionel Messi and Argentina went all the way in Qatar to win soccer’s biggest prize. There is yet another similarity between the USWNT and Argentina’s wins, as star forward Jaedyn Shaw emulated Messi to cherish her lifelong achievement!

USWNT’s Jaedyn Shaw won the W Gold Cup’s Golden Ball award for the best player. In pictures from the aftermath of the USWNT’s success, Jaedyn Shaw could be seen sleeping with the Golden Ball memento by her side on the bed. The San Diego Wave star’s post-Gold Cup antic immediately reminds one of Messi cuddling his coveted FIFA World Cup trophy to sleep. The 8x- Ballon d’Or winner had then dropped 3 pictures with the World Cup from the bed.

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Messi’s sweet post-World Cup moment has been a superhit for a long time. But it made its way to the women’s soccer world way before Jaedyn Shaw mirrored the Argentine icon. Last year, when Spain lifted the FIFA World Cup, veteran forward Jenni Hermoso took the web by storm after posing with the World Cup trophy in bed. Now, Shaw has carried La Pulga’s legacy forward. Well, not only off the field but with her stellar on-field exploits as well.

Jaedyn Shaw’s 4-goal contribution placed in line with Lionel Messi’s WC heroics on and off the field!

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Jaedyn Shaw unleashed her beast for the USWNT starting from the group stage. Her goal riot began with a brace against Argentina. Thereafter, when the US team swept Colombia in the QF, the 19-year-old concluded the scoring rout with a strike before halftime. Then, she scored the US’ opening goal against Canada in the W Gold Cup SF. Courtesy of such an impressive run, the CONCACAF W Gold Cup chose her as its best player. Interestingly, she scaled this peak at just 19 years.

USA Today via Reuters

During Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph, Lionel Messi also won the Golden Ball for the best player in the tournament. La Pulga scored an impressive seven goals and provided three assists en route to winning the Best Player award. Notably, the Argentine also scored a brace in the six-goal thriller of a World Cup final against France.

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Thanks to the likes of Shaw, the USWNT’s future is in safe hands.

Written by

Krishna Prasad M

980Articles

One take at a time

Krishna Prasad is Soccer Writer at EssentiallySports. Unlike others, his journey as a sports enthusiast was not colored by soccer initially. The 2006 FIFA World Cup, however, changed his perspective, as the beautiful game took up a small space in his heart.
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Edited by

Daniel D'Cruz