English National team forward Marcus Rashford thanked fans for their support after he was subjected to racist attacks when his team lost in the European championship final.
“The messages I have received today have been positively overwhelming and seeing the response in Withington had me on the verge of tears,” Rashford wrote on Twitter on Monday.
“The communities that always wrapped their arms around me continue to hold me up. I’m Marcus Rashford, 23 years old, black man from Withington and Wythenshawe, South Manchester.”
“If I have nothing else, I have that. For all the kind messages, thank you. I’ll be back stronger. We’ll be back stronger.”
The 23-year-old Manchester United striker also shared written letters that fans sent to him.
Britain’s Sky News reported that a mural of Rashford in his native city of Withington was vandalized with racist messages.
Various residents visited the mural, leaving kind messages toward Rashford and his teammates, with of the notes calling the English star “a hero,” Sky News reported.
The founder of community street art project Withington Walls, Ed Wellard, told the British news outlet that the outpouring of support for Rashford is “really heartening.”
Rashford, along with fellow Black teammates Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka, were subjected to waves of racial slurs and comments online from fans after all three players missed pivotal penalty kick opportunities during the shootout portion of Sunday’s UFEA Euro Final against Italy.
Italy eventually won the contest 3-2 in a penalty shootout, winning their first major championship since 2006.