Kansas City Current star Temwa Chawinga watched Lionel Messi’s World Cup hat trick in the same week she met the Argentine forward, bringing the focus back to a growing women’s soccer landscape in the U.S.—and to Chawinga’s push for even bigger personal milesto
Lionel Messi’s hat trick had the world buzzing last week, and Temwa Chawinga—standing close enough to feel the World Cup electricity—had a front-row view of what that moment can do.
The Kansas City Current forward, who was the Coca-Cola World Cup Coin Toss Assistant for the Group J match, got to meet Messi ahead of Argentina’s 3-0 win against Algeria at Arrowhead Stadium on Tuesday, June 16.
“Since I was young, I was watching Messi, so I’m really happy,” Chawinga told USAT’s Callie Fin in a video interview. “It was my dream to meet him.”
Chawinga is building her own resume in women’s soccer at a speed that’s hard to ignore. She was named the NWSL MVP in both 2024 and 2025—the first player in league history to receive the award twice in a row. She also earned the Golden Boot in those same two years, scoring 20 goals in 2024 and 15 goals in 2025.
The World Cup atmosphere in Kansas City didn’t just feel like spectacle to her. It also felt like a classroom.
“How can we learn something from them to bring in our game, the women’s game?” Chawinga said.
Kansas City, she pointed out, isn’t a coincidence. The city was one of 16 locations in the United States. Canada. and Mexico chosen by FIFA to host World Cup matches this summer. It has also developed a reputation as a soccer hub—built between MLS’s Sporting Kansas City and the NWSL’s Current. which has made history by building the first stadium specifically for a women’s soccer team.
Chawinga’s path into the Current began after stops in Sweden and China, before she signed with the club in 2024. She said the move has come with support she hasn’t experienced elsewhere.
“I’ve never seen the support the way here they support women’s game,” she said. “… No matter we lose, tie, win, they show up every game, they come support us. It’s so amazing. the way the owner. the way they love the team. the way they invest in women’s soccer. the beautiful facility they have. I’m so grateful to be here.”.
She described the team as a family, and said that belief shows up in the details of games—how teammates respond when a chance doesn’t go in.
“Without my teammates. I’m not winning anything. but they help me a lot in each game with a score or with an assist. ” Chawinga said. “If I miss a chance, they come up to me, ‘Don’t worry Temwa. Goal is coming. You will score. Don’t worry Temwa.’”… That keeps me motivated because I have support everywhere. the fans. the players. the team. so I’m happy the way they love me. they way they support me. The team, everyone, we love each other, it’s like a family. We’re together, if we lose or tie a game, we do it together.”.
Chawinga plays for Malawi, her home country, alongside her sister, Tabitha. Tabitha’s club team is French side OL Lyonnes. Chawinga said Malawi’s team—the Scorchers—have yet to appear in a World Cup.
The next chance to change that comes through the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying tournament for the 2027 World Cup. which kicks off July 25. Chawinga said she is confident in the Malawi roster. which includes Rose Kadzere from French club Montpellier Hérault and Faith Chinzimu from Swedish club BK Häcken.
“I’m looking forward to that and not just going there, but we need to shift something,” Chawinga said.
“It’s our dream,” she continued. “Every player who plays in Malawi, they’re looking for that. We need to go ahead to qualify to go to the World Cup.”
Meeting Messi also sparked another thread in her thinking: individual legacy. Messi has won the Ballon d’Or eight times, and Chawinga received her first nomination for the award last season, recognizing the best player in soccer every year. She said the nomination matters, but only as a step.
“It means a lot,” she said. “It means that I’m working hard. … Every player dreams to be on that list. … I’m just grateful for my work and for my teammates and I thank God.”
In her mind, there’s more to do before she’s placed in the same conversation as Messi—and Marta, who holds the record for most World Cup goals. Chawinga said she wants the Ballon d’Or and the world’s biggest stages to meet her at the same time.
“I want to win the Ballon d’Or, so I’m looking forward to that,” she said. “I need to work harder to win that thing.”
Temwa Chawinga Kansas City Current NWSL MVP Golden Boot Lionel Messi Arrowhead Stadium Malawi national team AFCON qualifiers 2027 World Cup Ballon d'Or
Messi hat trick and NWSL MVP?? Kansas City really said let’s go.
Not to be dramatic but it’s crazy she met Messi like that. I didn’t even know the Current had a stadium for women’s soccer though, thought it was all just the same place.
Wait so she met Messi because she was like a coin toss assistant? That seems like a made-up “celebrity moment” thing they do for TV. Also Messi beating Algeria 3-0 doesn’t even matter that much, it’s the women’s league they should be talking about more.
KC loves soccer now, so I’m like… good for them? But did anyone read the whole thing? It keeps saying Kansas City picked as a host with Canada and Mexico and then somehow it’s about Chawinga learning from Messi?? like okay sure. Also MVP twice in a row sounds fake, how is that even possible unless the league is weak or something.