Riley Gaines criticizes Megan Rapinoe for congratulating ‘the MAN who won Women's Footballer of The Year’

Former soccer player Megan Rapinoe posted an Instagram story congratulating Barbra Banda for being awarded Best Female Footballer of the Year. The Zambian player was excluded from an African national competitions for high testosterone levels. This year Banda represented her country at the Paris Games and began playing for Orlando Pride, of Florida.

"You've thrilled, entertained and inspired us, and the world, all year long," Rapinoe wrote in words picked up by Goal.com. "This is so deserved as is every bit of your success. You stand so much taller than the tiny people trying to tear you down."

Activist and former swimmer Riley Gaines echoed Rapinoe's message and mentioned “the MAN who won Women's Footballer of The Year." "Man takes womans award while women applaud it. Progress!" she said.

Matt Gaetz, a former congressman until recently nominated to lead Donald Trump's Justice Department, responded to Gaines by saying he preferred "female award winners not to be men." Gaines replied and mentioned the Republican trifecta, "As does well over half the country as made clear on Nov 5th."