Wilfried Nancy led the Crew to the 2023 MLS Cup (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Darlington Nagbe’s path to the White House was also long and winding — and full of near-misses.
Nagbe, among the most consistently productive midfielders in league history, has been on four different MLS Cup-winning sides and even visited the White House in 2010 after winning an NCAA national championship with the University of Akron. Each time, though, scheduling conspired to deny him an audience with the President. In 2018, after winning an MLS Cup with Atlanta United, Nagbe — and the rest of the team — weren’t even invited to the White House by former President Donald J. Trump.
Nagbe fled his native Liberia at five months old to escape the First Liberian Civil War and followed his father, also a professional player, to France, Greece and elsewhere before landing in the United States at age 11.
Nagbe, among the most decorated players in league history, went on to represent the U.S. at the international level, earning 25 caps across a three-year stay with the US men’s national team.
“Given my family’s history and just the way I grew up, the things I’ve been through, the things my family has been through,” said Nagbe, “to get the chance to represent the U.S. was a big moment in my career and now I’m getting the chance to come to the White House, and meet the President.
“I just never thought that was possible for me, no matter how much success I achieved. I can’t wait to tell my mom, send her all these videos and pictures that I took. I think she’s going to be really emotional when she sees them because of her journey and what she’s been through.”
Nagbe, and a few other Crew players, milled about outside the White House after the ceremony, snapping photos of each other and of the building itself.
“Personally, all of this means so much more than just a picture,” said Nagbe, “because of the struggle my family has been through. This is special.”
(Top photo: Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)
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Publish date : 2024-09-27 08:39:00
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