Goalkeeper Matt Turner honored a young fan who died of cancer after playing hero for the USMNT

On Sunday, Matt Turner showed he understands what it means to be a sports hero on and off the field.

With the United States Men’s National Team locked in a heated battle with continental rival Canada in the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinals, it was Turner who saved the day. The goalkeeper made two saves when the match went to penalties, lifting the USMNT to the next round.

But that wasn’t the most important thing Turner did Sunday evening.

At the game’s conclusion, Turner took off his jersey to reveal he was wearing a shirt with “RIP Malia” written on the front. It is a reference to Malia Jusczyk, a young fan who recently died of pancreatic cancer and someone who Turner had a close relationship with during his time as a member of the New England Revolution.

When asked to clarify the shirt’s meaning, Turner happily explained why he wanted to pay tribute to Jusczyk. And in the end, after discussing what it means to have a significant platform for good, he had quite a beautiful message for her family:

Here's USMNT Captain Matt Turner's message about Malia on our post game interview. Absolutely heartbreaking. You are an incredible human @headdturnerr . RIP MALIA. My heart goes out to her family. pic.twitter.com/fSkotdr1Tp

— Michele Giannone (@MicheleG3) July 10, 2023

That is just special. That is an athlete recognizing how they can positively impact a person’s life and humbling themselves enough to recognize there are things bigger than the game.