Carson Pickett isn’t exactly a household name. But in a year in which the USWNT won the Women’s World Cup, a picture of the Orlando Pride defender might be the most indelible soccer image of 2019.
Women’s World Cup stars from around the globe returned to play in front of record crowds in the National Women’s Soccer League this past weekend. But more than any Christen Press nutmeg or Rachel Daly backheel, a photo of Pickett with a young fan has captured the nation’s attention.
A birth defect resulted in Pickett being born without a left forearm and hand. When she spotted a young fan with a similar handicap, the two had an instant connection. At a recent Orlando Pride match, Pickett gave a first-bump to the young fan, Joseph Tidd. Over the past few days, a photo of the loving gesture went viral.
Starting with the above tweet by Florida Gators women’s soccer coach Becky Burleigh, the image has captured the hearts of Americans of all types, even non-soccer fans. Sports outlets such as ESPN picked up the tweet and rebroadcast it while non-sports outlets such as USA Today and Good Morning America picked up the story as well.
While ESPN credited Burleigh with the image (Burleigh coached against Pickett when the latter played college ball at Florida State), as far as I can tell the image actually came from Tidd’s family, which runs an Instagram page for the young boy.
Just check out the adorable imagery of Tidd and Pickett’s connection.
Pickett said the best part of the photo was how real and in the moment it was, with none of it planned or staged.
“Literally within five minutes of me meeting him, we had an instant bond,” Pickett said to USA Today on Tuesday. “It’s interesting, though, because for a kid that young, I didn’t expect him to connect the way he did. Even though we both have the same arm, it was amazing to me that it felt like he realized why we were bonded.
“I know I might be seen as his role model, but he’s also mine. It’s just a gift to feel so much emotion from a little boy who understands you in a way other people can’t.”
Pickett and Tidd first met in April as both are part of the Lucky Fin Project, which helps promote inclusion for children with similar handicaps. Pickett, a 25-year-old from South Carolina, is in her fourth season in the NWSL.
With all due respect to the Alex Morgans, Megan Rapinoes, Sam Kerrs, Lionel Messis and Cristiano Ronaldos of the world, I think we can all agree that Carson Pickett has won the award for best soccer photo of the year.