The whole of England was left devastated last night after watching the Three Lions lose to Italy in the Euro 2020 final.
But few will be as heartbroken as Marcus Rashford, who along with Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka, missed their penalties in the crucial shootout.
Rashford was visibly distraught after hitting the post, and was then seen heartbreakingly sad as he shared a hug after the game.
But on top of the disappointment of losing England’s first final since 1966, Rashford and his teammates were subjected to a string of racist abuse.
Somehow, people have even managed to find a way to take a swipe at the Manchester United star’s charity work, which has fed millions of disadvantaged children all over the UK.
Tory MP Natalie Elphicke told other MPs in a WhatsApp group after the game: ‘They lost – would it be ungenerous to suggest Rashford should have spent more time perfecting his game and less time playing politics.’
She later apologised but other disappointed football fans have since made a string of similar comments.
However, true fans have not let their team down, with many flooding their social media accounts with messages of love and support.
One little boy wrote a tear-jerking letter to Rashford, which read: ‘I hope you won’t be sad for too long because you are such a good person.
‘Last year you inspired me to help people less fortunate. Then last night you inspired me again, to always be brave.
‘I am proud of you, you will always be a hero’.
On top of inspiring kids to be better people, here is a list of everything Rashford has achieved while ‘playing politics’.
All the amazing things Marcus Rashford has done
Manchester United supporter Matt Waymont tweeted a request for help to get match tickets for his friend in the US, John Berk, who had never been to England or seen a game live before.
Rashford casually replied: ‘Hey man, drop me a DM. I’ll sort this for you.’
Mr Berk, who had beaten stage-three cancer, was later pictured fully kitted out, smiling next to the footballer.
Rashford launched his ‘In the Box’ campaign, inspiring people to donate 1,200 boxes of essential items to homeless shelters in Manchester.
The Government announced the closure of all schools in the UK, as part of its pandemic response, on March 19.
Just one day later, Rashford announced he was partnering with the charity Fareshare so kids who would ordinarily get free school meals would still be able to eat.
The footballer raised a remarkable £20 million for this cause by the end of this month.
He was awarded the High Sheriff Special Recognition Award for his ‘outstanding contribution to the community of Greater Manchester during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis’ on May 27.
Rashford, who relied on free school meals himself, wrote an open letter to MPs about the ‘big difference’ it would have made to his family if he had been fed during the summer holidays.
The Government initially rejected this plea, arguing public funds would better support hungry children elsewhere, but Boris Johnson made a complete U-turn on June 16.
After having a phone call with Rashford the Prime Minister launched a scheme which helped to feed about 1.3 million children in England.
Following the end of the Government’s summer feeding scheme, Rashford petitioned the cabinet to continue providing meals throughout autumn and winter.
It took longer for Mr Johnson to make a U-turn this time and while Rashford waited, he inspired countless hospitality venues and local councils to offer the meals themselves.
During this time, Rashford was awarded a Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE).
He said: ‘As a young black man from Wythenshawe, never did I think I would be accepting an MBE, never mind an MBE at the age of 22.’
After Rashford’s campaign to keep feeding children throughout the winter months, the Government reversed its decision again and announced a £400 million grant for another scheme.
Almost 1.7 million kids benefitted from this grant while the country was struggling through the pandemic.
Rashford was given the Pride of Britain award on November 1, becoming someone who is nationally celebrated as one of Britain’s ‘truly remarkable people who make our world a better place’.
The young man joined the likes of Captain Sir Thomas Moore, who raised more than £30 million for the NHS during the pandemic.
Always modest, Rashford said at the time: ‘I am extremely humbled but I’d like to think that I am receiving this award on behalf of all of the incredible people who have selflessly stepped up to support their communities during this pandemic.
‘I have met many of them and I am no more deserving than them.’
The hope is to nurture reading for pleasure in kids who do not usually have books at home.
Just a few days before playing in the final, Rashford was still making time to be kind.
Charlie Cox, a kid in Sutton whose brain tumour has recurred five times, asked for a birthday message from Rashford.
But his football hero promised to ‘do one better’ and sent him a signed England shirt and a PlayStation 5.
Rashford then gushed over the ‘gobsmacked’ boy and tweeted a photo of him with his gifts, captioning it ‘superstar’.
While this snapshot of a timeline shows what a busy (and kind) man Rashford has been over the past few years, it does not include any of the many strides he has made in his football career at the same time.
He achieved the goal of the season in 2019/2020, bagged several prestigious wins against other clubs, was included on the 2020 Football Black List and so much more.
Gareth Southgate said last year: ‘For someone his age to make the difference he has is a phenomenal achievement.
‘We have watched him grow up — I say that but he’s still only 22! You can only marvel at what he has achieved.’
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.