The current World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada is full of stars, goals and on-field drama, but some of the most attention-grabbing moments have come from people not playing in the tournament. Over the past few days, two well-known athletes have become attractions away from the pitch, each in a very different way.
Harry Maguire, the 33-year-old Manchester United and England defender, was left out of Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad, one of the biggest disappointments of his career. Rather than stay home, he flew to the United States and turned the tournament into a different kind of experience. On Friday, he was seen in New York’s Rockefeller Center handing out Panini stickers to children and young fans. The images quickly went viral, with social media users joking about him as if he were a different person, including calling him “Gary Maguire.” He later appeared at a Manchester United fan event near Times Square, where he answered questions and took part in World Cup-related activities. Gary Lineker had invited him to the U.S. as part of the popular podcast “The Rest is Football.”
The other surprise came in Seattle during the United States vs. Australia match, which ended 2-0 to the Americans. There, former NFL star Marshawn Lynch showed up first to energize U.S. fans outside the stadium, then was seen on the sidelines with a professional camera, working as a sports photographer. Lynch, who won a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks, has built a second career in photography and has already covered NFL games in that role.
Lynch has also appeared in television series, Hollywood films and the new season of “Euphoria.” Together, he and Maguire showed that the World Cup can produce memorable scenes far beyond the field.
