Perhaps the best way to silence your naysayers is not through words but through undeniable success. Admit it, we’ve all been in situations where someone doubted us, questioned our abilities, or brushed aside our potential—only to feel the unmatched satisfaction of proving them wrong. That very feeling is one Alex Morgan knows all too well.

The U.S. Women’s National Team legend always had the clear goal of becoming a professional soccer player. And boy, did she achieve it—today, she remains one of the most celebrated figures in the women’s game. However, not everyone believed in her dream, with skepticism even coming from her own coach. As a teenager, AM13 was told that she wasn’t good enough for the team and would be better off as just a practice player.

This came up in the latest episode of the Call Her Daddy podcast, where host Alex Cooper admitted she was stunned to hear it. But Morgan herself? She couldn’t help but smirk as she recalled the incident—something the podcaster immediately picked up on. When asked why, the former San Diego Wave star revealed, “I’m smirking because I got a text from him last year. It was a long text.”

The retired soccer star, who hung up her boots just last year, continued, “I would have to pull it up, but it was like, ‘I’m so sorry. I was in the wrong headspace at the time, and I really apologize for what I said, but it seems like you’ve done it well for yourself and blah blah.'” Reading this message, we bet Morgan must have felt it no less than a full-circle moment.

Then again, one needs to be reminded that it’s Alex Morgan we’re dealing with, a figure who doesn’t tolerate nonsense. Her response was, “And I was just like, ‘F— this.’ I’m not giving this the time of day at all.” Hearing this, even Alex Cooper intervened, insisting she loves the fact of just how long it took for that coach to finally gather the guts to message.

After all, he was the one who was ultimately forced to eat his own words. Not to mention, it has been more than two decades since the former Tottenham star began enjoying her remarkable career. Cooper even slammed the coach for failing to realize it during the time when Morgan lifted the World Cup—not once, but twice—let alone when the retired forward was making her very first professional debut.

However, when the time finally came for the ex-NWSL star to call it quits from the beautiful game, in came the coach with his big reflection letter, admitting how he had messed it up back in Morgan’s teenage days by questioning her ability. Sure, even the San Dimas, California native has openly admitted that she never really considered herself the “most talented on the team,” but rather someone who “really had to work for it.”

Then again, that gives no right for anyone to question another person’s dream, especially when such skepticism comes from one’s own coach. Yet, from the looks of it, for the 36-year-old, this entire incident is nothing more than a case of letting bygones be bygones. Instead, Morgan can be proud of how far she actually came in her career, which, mind you, started with her own self belief and a promise.

It was the self belief that made Alex Morgan win in life!

At some point, almost everyone has made a promise to themselves about going pro in soccer. While many fall short of that goal, Alex Morgan is proof that such dreams can come true. As a little girl, she even wrote her mother a sweet note filled with hand-drawn hearts that read: “Hi mommy! My name is Alex and I am going to be a professional athlete for soccer! I love you, always, Ali Cat.”

That simple childhood declaration makes her journey even more remarkable. Morgan didn’t just achieve her dream by putting it on paper—she backed it up with relentless work. From playing for grassroots sides like West Coast FC and California Storm, she grew into a star at major NWSL clubs including Portland Thorns, Orlando Pride, and San Diego Wave.

Her impact stretched across continents, too. She lifted the UEFA Women’s Champions League with French giants Lyon and had a memorable stint with Tottenham Hotspur in England. Internationally, her numbers speak volumes: 224 caps, 123 goals, 53 assists, two FIFA World Cups, an Olympic gold medal, plus numerous CONCACAF and SheBelieves Cup titles, capped off by the first-ever W Gold Cup.

These feats, along with individual honors like the FIFA World Cup Silver Boot, NWSL Golden Boot, multiple FIFA FIFPro World XI nods, and repeated U.S. Soccer and CONCACAF Player of the Year awards, cement her legendary status.

Morgan didn’t just keep the promise she once scribbled as a child—she turned it into a global legacy. Today, she not only enjoys life with her family but also continues to thrive off her career successes. And fittingly, even after hanging up her boots, the sport found a way to honor her name—immortalizing her in the virtual world of video games.

Indeed, Alex Morgan’s legacy is here to stay.