Now on bbc news, Megan Rapinoe was one of the stand out stars of the United States world cup Winning Campaign in 2019. Shes also been an outspoken voice on equal pay, lgbt rights and politics. In this special bbc interview she talks tojo currie about the issues facing the womens game on and off the pitch, and her role in that stunning world cup win. It is our responsibility to make this world a better place. This team does an incredible job of taking that on our shoulders, understanding the position that we have on the platform that we have. The usa have won the womens world cup for the time. They secured back to back titles after overpowering the netherlands. The usa have been champions in every sense with Megan Rapinoe winning the golden boot and the golden ball award for the tournaments best player. If we really want to have meaningful change, what i think is most inspiring would be if everybody other than Raheem Sterling and if they were as outraged as racism as they were. It is a few months on from the craziness of the world cup, what has it been like for you post france . Have you been home yet, whats life like . Can you go to the supermarket by milk . Milk and four selfies that is sort of the accompaniment. No, i can go places. But it is like so much more. There is not really a place i am going that for the most part people dont recognise me, even if they dont say anything. You get the sort of glances around. I am also very observant, just in general, so i feel like i could feel everything around all the time. Im like, its kind of interesting. Its been totally insane. In the best way, in the most exhausting way. Hard, in ways. Travelling around. I have been home a little bit, mostly to unpack and do laundry and repack and leave again. It is kind of amazing to have the career that i have where we started at this point. It just seems like every year is getting blown out of the water and the sport is growing so much so i have this real perspective of where things have come from, a visceral perspective of it, so knowing what we did this summer and feeling that and figuring out, you just cant help it. It feels surreal and i am awestruck by everything that has happened. Personally, i went through ten years of my career in a particular way, growing every year and whatever. But i got put on a rocketship. I am enjoying the ride but i am like, this is insane, this is crazy but in a good way. Winning back to back world cups is an incredible achievement but you also won the golden ball and the golden boot. Was there a point at the final or afterwards when they shut down the walk for you when the novelty of what you had achieved really hit home . I think coming back to new york and being in. Certainly the pre eminent city in our country, and starting to understand how other people were feeling about it, people were not like, you guys did so amazing at the world world cup it was not, great job for the soccer. And having the reference of 2015, going through that, it felt like 2015 we were being celebrated winning the world cup. And this parade in particular was like, we are all celebrating. Yes, we were the vehicle for it, but it felt like everybody won the world cup, everybody had sort of this piece of it and they were invested but they also helped, and it like, it was just something that transcended so far beyond what the sport was, and we are at the epicentre of that, getting to celebrate with everyone along the Parade Ground and the city hall, wherever it may be. And that sentiment has carried on into the rest of everybodys lives. It felt like we all won. Your goal celebration in france was one of the iconic images, with the arms outspread. Talk to me about the inspiration behind that. Has it got a name, is itjust the rapinoe . A lot of people are calling it the poz. I will go without. I did it for the first time against australia in a friendly. 0bviously they were one of the more talked about teams heading into the world cup. In sam kerr, it was ridiculous. They had a lot of hype around it. But it was more than that. It was time to stamp our dominance and gain that confidence heading into the world cup. So i scored the go ahead goal in the game or something. In the beginning, it was kind of like. Almost like a touch of arrogance. Like, i know you are entertained at this moment, i am entertaining you, sort of are you not entertained . Gladiatorfeel, a little bit, without the death of the gladiators. But certainly in the world cup, it was more of a defiance, but a joy as well, you will not take any of ourjoy. This is what you get, this is what you asked for, this is what you really want. Commentator rapinoe. Its in the french are left completely befuddled youre going to be like, the team got busted for celebrating too much. Everyone is like, she talks too much or whatever. But this is what you really want. And i will give it to you, and i am giving it to you, and this team is giving it to you, and you kind of like it. So it is sort of like a defiance but also playful but also, if i could have thrown a sneaky middle finger in there, i might have. It was sort of like a way to connect with the fans too in some sort of sense. Then they can do it and it means the same thing. If someone did the ronaldo, there is nothing behind it other than him. So this feels like theres more behind it there is more to everyone. It came right after president trumps tweets at me. The semifinal, this huge game, the biggest game outside of the finals, this is the biggest game we have ever played, most important game, the fans were insane. Fans in their home country, being a home nationan, fans in their home country, being a home nation, it was a nice moment. You touched on the word arrogance there. Alex morgans cup of tea celebration, i dont think we take our tea very seriously in england. What is the difference between confidence and arrogance . I dont know. I feel like were going to have fun. We work so hard, as every team does. We take a tremendous amount on and off the field very serious. We have had a lawsuit before. We were fighting for equal rights, all kinds of things. We have a very serious role to play. So it is kind of like the balance of that. When we get to be in the field, first of all, the whole point of the game is to score the goal, to win the game, so we have always done this, we have done cartwheels and when we played in the snow we did snow angels, danced and sang in microphones, everything, we want to have fun and we are going to enjoy it. And just next level trolling of the tea is so funny you are so uptight sometimes. It was so perfect. I think that, as long as we continue to do things the right way for the right reasons, i said this after the thailand game, if anybody wants to come at us for not playing the game the right way or for not being good ambassadors for the sport or doing the right thing, im happy to have that conversation, happy to listen to them try to break that one town, but i really do feel like we want to enjoy the game, this is entertainment, sport is for the love of it, but this is entertainment, and in order to become the biggest, baddest sport on the planet and the biggest, baddest team in place, lets have fun with it, why not . When that whole spat blew up, in the middle of the world cup, you were in the tournament of your life, what was that like for you . Honestly, it felt much less serious than it actually was. Logically, i understand the gravity of having a president quarrel with you. But president s do not quarrel with people over twitter, president s do not go after members of their own team and put undue pressure of them before the biggest game of the tournament. President s do not bash every single powerful woman he could possibly bash and come across. So its like hes not president ial to me. It carries so much less weight. Have that, oh feeling. Like, whoa. It was pretty chill. I had amazing support within the group. All of our media and comm staff, our president was there, he was supportive of me, all of the executives and coaches, everybody. Everybody had my back and it did not become a thing within the group. I was also already scheduled to do the press conference. So me and the media team decided i would address it head on, say exactly what i want to say, the media would have asked 1,000 questions if they could have. This is exactly what i have to say and how i feel about it, so hold my beer. You have stood up for womens rights, lgbt rights, youve said you feel like you found your voice going into your 30s. What was the trigger for you to think, i will use my platform for something more than soccer, more than football . Honestly, i think very early on in this team, you realise it is not just a national team, not a team that gets together, we have always fought for so much more. That is in the thread of the team. Very early on, we were going through bargaining negotiations for our contracts, understanding that we were a unique travelling team that represents america all over the country, we are charged with inspiring and motivating young girls and boys and people everywhere. So from the first bit, you realise it is much bigger. Ahead of the olympics, i decided to come out, it just started to feel weird i was not out. I didnt not want to be out, but im not. I did that. So much positive impact and feedback from that. Helping to move that conversation forward. In that, asking people to be my ally and to support me does not mean you are gay or you have to fully understand it in the way that i do but i need you to be my ally, i need everyone. So fast forward to 2016, Colin Kaepernick is kneeling and watching and hearing everything that is happening, immediately, im like, i can help, i have got your back, i dont know exactly what it is like to be you, but i believe you in what you are saying and i understand that, in order for it to change, it will have to be more than a press person taking on the responsibility, it has to be other people, people like me who had the privilege that i do. That was an easy decision for me. Going through all of the backlash and craziness and hatred, from that only solidified my understanding of myself and the power in my voice. And ijust think everyone has a responsibility to do whatever it is they can in the most impactful way that they can to make the world a better place. I am semi famous person on a very famous team that has media access that has media access every single day and we are a growing platform all the time. It is like, this is the most impactful way i can run in. To me, everything is connected, whether its fighting for equal pay, equal access to sport, racial inequality, police brutality, lgbtq rights, its all the same thing, it is one grouping in power, overlording over everybody else, trying to keep everybody else out of power and not really sharing in the wealth and not just weatlh and money, but the wealth of water is to live a really full life where you actually feel free and have the liberty to do whatever you want. So i think it is kind of still evolving, but i started to realise at a pretty young age, its actually all the exact same thing, its just in a different way with different people and people deal with different things, but we all need to be in it together in order for it to change. You sit here now. Youre confident, you look comfortable within your own skin, have you always been like this, what were you like at school . Middle school and high school was weird, i did not know i was gay, and as soon as i figured that out, that was obvious, thanks, nobody for telling me that would have been a nice little shout but growing up, middle school and high school is awkward anyway, every single kid is so awkward like, i see them now and i think, this is the cutest thing ever. They are breaking out, they dont know who they are, they are shy, even the confident once shy. You have had a twin as well . She was really confident during that time. So i was like, thank god, i will follow you around. I also had sport to gain my confidence from that, that was the place where i rested my identity for those years. But growing up, i was exactly the way i am now, i went through that weird lull, we have always bounced each other perfectly, and then getting into college, after that, i feel like i became myself. And being on a team like this, this team in particular, any sports team especially with girls can give them that confidence, but this team in particular, whenever you are elite as a woman, you are pretty much alone or with only a couple of other people. Usually you are alone. And so to be able to grow up and mature on a team that has 23 other women who were just as elite as you, just as confident, we give each other that space and build each other up, we challenge each other, but to us its normal to be big and bold and wild like this. So i guess when you take one of us out, and were doing that, people say, you dont see women act like this for us it is normal because this is how we are all the time, this is how we grew up, empowering each other, and naturally i am a confident person. And im very thankful for that. Whos your number one sporting hero growing up . I feel like it is two. For the sure the 99 team. That blew open all of our worlds at the time, girls who played soccer with 100,000 people watching a final, it transcended sport in such a big way, theyre our blueprint on and off the field for what it means to be on our team but how to shake things up on how to continue to grow the sport. And michaeljordan was always myjam. Hejust had such a swagger about him. Just the way that he played, the swagger and in the style and creativity, everything was top. Tell me about one breakthrough moment 01 crossroads moment in your career that has impacted you. Probably the most impactful was 2015. I made it back to the olympics but was terrible. I feel like i should not have been on that roster. I dont think i deserved that very much. The team didnt do well so i was very disappointed. And i wasnt myself at all. I was a shell of a player. What i had to do to get back to my old self. And in the process of committing myself to coming back, i blew past where i ever was before so i feel like that was a really pivotal moment, meeting sue, my girlfriend at that time, she is like benjamin button, i dont know what shes doing but whatever it is, i want to do that i changed up my training and eating habits, my level of professionalism. Im definitely not in this position without all of that, maybe i would still be on the team but not like this. Whats the one thing you are still desperate to achieve in your life . I guess in a footballing sense, no one has ever done world cup 0lympics back to back. Its very difficult for a reason. Once you win a world cup, there are a million things you have to do, celebrating, you dont have that moment after the world cup where you commit to win the olympics and nothing else matters. We are doing all these other things. That would be incredible. I think we have a Good Opportunity and the right mix of things, we have a new coach, so that puts a little extra anxiety, but in a good way. You know that kind of like. 0bviously, hes not won anything at International Level so he is super motivating and all of us feel. Some people who may be did not play as much of a fresh opportunity, if you play a lot, you have got to keep on top of your game to make sure you are there. So in a footballing sense, that is super motivating for all of us. In life, oh, god i mean, everything equal pay would be a really nice one. That would be a nice Little Cherry on the top of this year, if we could ever get to a deal or whenever that happens. In general, continuing to push the game forward, continuing to grow the game and challenge. Weve done everything to prove, everything. I dont think any female professional football has anything left to prove. Its just everyone else figuring it out. Young girls today, even young women, its hard on them, there is pressure from social media and everywhere, what is your message to young girls growing up in Todays Society about finding their identity and voice . Ijust learned very early on, after a game, you want to have a big pat on the back, you want to have someone ciush you , go on your comments. Its a made up world. Its not real feedback. So lean on the people that are actually real, tangible, in front of you your friends. Social media is one thing. Its good in a lot of ways but its horrible for kids. They are already dealing with so much. And never let anyone else define you or your dreams or what you want to be. Especially now, there are so many more opportunities and lanes for people to be in that theres an opportunity. Theres space for you to be exactly who you are and whatever you want to be, so dont let anyone ever tell you what that is. Hello there. Saturday sunshine was in short supply. Many of us got stuck with grey, gloomy conditions. Only the favoured few got to see much anyway brightness. A hopeful though that through the day ahead a few more of of us will get to see something just a little bit brighter and it certainly is going to feel mild, especially in the north of the uk with the speed of really warm air. You can see these orange colours extending in our direction from the south or the south west. And at the same time were going to start to tap into some of this drier air across the near continent so that should allow us to break some holes in the cloud and give us a little bit more in the way of sunshine. So this is how we start off sunday, with a lot of cloud, the cloud began up in parts of the west to give the odd spot of drizzle, submissive, murky conditions, but through the day, of east anglia, the south east, north wales showers northern england, Northern Ireland, southern and eastern scotland, these areas expected to see some bright and sunny spells developing. Some rain will continue to play the far north west of scotland. The southern half of the uk seeing nine or 10 degrees. With this south or south westerly winds, blowing across the high ground, where you get some shelter to the north of our grant on the north coast of Northern Ireland on the murray coast of scotland, you could get to 111 15 degrees, that is pretty exceptional for this time of year. As you go through sunday night, we will keep some areas of cloud but that cloud will tend to break up a little bit more. So well see more clear spells developing. This band of rain in the north west will try to make some progress south eastwards. Its going to be a slightly cooler night than weve had of late. So as we go into monday then, this front will be sitting around across the north west trying to make some progress south eastwards, bringing some rain for scotland and Northern Ireland through the day. You can see the outbreaks of rain pushing slowly south eastwards with a mix of sunny spells and a few showers coming in behind. Ahead of that rainband its stay largely dry day four much of england and wales, some areas of cloud. I think a fair amount of sunshine by this stage. And at this point the mildest weather will be in southern parts, highs of 12 or 13 degrees. Into tuesday, remember the weather front in the north west, it will have workers way southwards, lingering across the south west of england may the spot of drizzle, some extra cloud. For most with the bright skies, but we also feel the effects of something cooler and fresher, just five degrees in glasgow. Still perhaps up to ten in london. And then as we go through tuesday night into the very first part of 2020, well, it is looking predominantly dry. There will be some clear spells, it will be quite chilly, but there could be some fairly dense fog. This is bbc news, im james reynolds. Our top stories somalias president says his country will not be demoralised after a bomb attack kills more than 70 people. Translation you will never succeed in discouraging the Somali People and their government and you will never stop us from achieving our goals in developing and rebuilding our country. Democratic president ial contender joe biden says theres no legal basis to force him to testify at Donald Trumps impeachment trial. Hello and welcome to bbc news. The president of somalia has blamed al sha baab militants