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Spain captain Olga Carmona celebrated her match-winning goal in the FIFA Women’s World Cup final against England with a cryptic reference that almost had fans stumped.
Carmona scored in the first half with a shot from the left side of the penalty area that passed the outstretched hand of England goalkeeper Mary Earps, diving to her left.
It set the stadium alight as Carmona ran away in celebration, before curiously lifting her shirt up to reveal a one-word message on her under shirt.
Clearly wanting the world to see the written word, Carmona held the shirt up in her mouth for an extended moment.
It was tough to catch what was written on the undershirt until slow motion replays clearly showed the word ‘MERCHI’, written in black marker, with a love heart to dot the I.
Olga Carmona lifted her shirt to reveal a message. Credit: GettyFans were scrambling to work out what it meant. Credit: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images
Fans on social media had been completely stumped to try to work out what the message means until it was revealed that ‘Merchi’ was a tribute to her close friend’s mother, who recently died.
“I dedicate my goal and this victory to my best friend, who recently lost her mother,” she said after the match.
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In a tremendously sad post-script, it later emerged Carmona’s own father had died on Friday – but the news was withheld by her family until after the final.
The 23-year-old celebrated and danced on the field, and appeared to participate normally during the trophy presentation.
But at some point in the aftermath, Carmona would soon be told of her father’s death.
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Earlier, fans were racking their brains trying to work out what her message meant until it was confirmed afterwards.
One theory emerged that it was a tribute to her former school, Colegio Mercedes, which had recently posted about the Spanish star.
“Come on Olga!” the post read. “Our former student makes history with the Spanish women’s soccer team and scores the goal that gets us through to the final. All for Olga, all for Spain!
Other fans were desperate to know the real meaning.
“’Where were you for the World Cup final?’ On Twitter, trying to work out what was on Olga Carmona’s shirt,” one fan joked.
“Apparently no one could read what was on Carmona’s shirt lol Twitter is letting me down,” another said.
“Olga Carmona celebrates Spain’s opening goal with message on shirt that says ‘MERCHI’,” someone observed correctly.
“What was that on #Carmona shirt for the celebration?” one viewer said.
Another asked: “Olga Carmona’s shirt says ‘Merchi’ does anyone know what the significance is??”
A sixth said: “Someone who speaks Spanish tell me what word this is on Olga Carmona’s shirt.”
An earlier publication of this story incorrectly suggested the meaning of the message was a tribute to her school.
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