PARIS — Megan Rapinoe got the last word — if that mattered to her. Which she swears it doesn't.

Being the center of an international firestorm is no one's idea of fun, and most people would still be curled up in a ball if they'd been on the receiving end of a raging Tweet storm by President Donald Trump, as Rapinoe was earlier this week. Over months-old comments she made about visiting the White House and her even older stance on protesting during the national anthem, no less.

But Rapinoe isn't wired that way. The Tweets, the criticism, the "total (expletive)show circus" that she hoped the U.S.-France quarterfinal would be? She doesn't shrink from any of it. She thrives on it.

The bigger the game, the greater the spectacle, the more magnificent she's going to be.

"She’s just a big personality, both on and off the pitch," coach Jill Ellis said after Rapinoe scored a brace to lead the U.S. women to a 2-1 win over France on Friday night and into the World Cup semifinals. The U.S. women will play England on Tuesday in Lyon, France, for a spot in the July 7 final.

"She loves and lives for those moments," Ellis added. "She’s a big-time player. The bigger the stage, the more she’s going to respond."

This quarterfinal with France has been widely anticipated since the draw was done in December, the buildup has only grown. It was the world's No. 1 team against the World Cup host, and a U.S. loss in January added more intrigue.

The 3-1 loss — only a goal in the final seconds by Mallory Pugh kept it from being a shutout — was the Americans' only defeat in the previous 42 games. And of their last three meetings, France had won two.

It wasn't only that, however. This World Cup has been transformational for women's soccer, with record TV ratings and interest unlike anything the game has seen before. That is particularly true of France, where sports pages were now devoted to Les Bleues rather than the men's team and the entire country seemed to be on the bandwagon.

Tickets for Friday’s game were going for nearly $1,900 on the secondary market, and there was speculation that the majority of the country would be watching the game.

And that was before Rapinoe caught Trump’s attention.

Trump fired off several Tweets on Wednesday after learning about her months-old comment about not going to the White House and her even older peaceful protests during the national anthem. She was hailed by some Americans and condemned by others, some of whom suggested she leave the country.

But Rapinoe didn’t back down. She’s never been afraid to say what she thinks because she has thought about what she’s going to say. And, honestly? She finds it counterproductive to worry about the haters.

Especially, she joked, when so many people find her fabulous.

"I'm motivated by people like me and people who are fighting for the same things," she said. "I take more energy from that than trying to prove everyone wrong. That’s sort of draining to me.

"Yeah, to be gay and fabulous during Pride Month at the World Cup is nice."

That it was Rapinoe carrying the team was so fitting, though. So familiar, too.

She's been involved in so many of this team's big moments. Remember Abby Wambach's thunderous header in 2011 to keep the Americans alive in the quarterfinals? It came on a cross from Rapinoe. She's scored all four of the U.S. goals in the knockout rounds here.

Friday's game was only five minutes old when she made her mark.

In just the fourth minute of the game, Griedge Mbock Bathy was given a yellow card for holding Alex Morgan’s arm and trying to yank her backward. Rapinoe took the free kick and, with France’s wall only two-players wide, she drove the ball into traffic. It skipped through France captain Amandine Henry’s legs and, with so many players in front of her, goalkeeper Sarah Bouuhaddi had no chance to stop it.

As the ball rustled the net, the American fans erupted and Rapinoe stood in the corner, her arms spread wide, a huge smile on her face.

Her second goal was even more important.

France was trying to shed its label as underachievers here. It has never advanced beyond the semifinals at a major international tournament, and has gone out in the quarterfinals of the: 2015 World Cup; 2016 Olympics; and 2017 European championships.

They had struggled in their previous three games and did so again in the first half, unable to connect more than two or three passes. What shots they did take were wildly off-target.

But they looked far more focused early in the second half, threatening several times. In the 64th minute, U.S. goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher had to make a leaping block on a shot by Valerie Gauvin.

But Morgan played a nice ball up the right side to Tobin Heath, who slid a pass across the field. It went behind Sam Mewis, and looked as if it might have been a lost opportunity. Rapinoe was right there, however, slamming the ball past Bouhaddi.

France would get a goal back on Wendie Renard’s header off a set piece in the 81st, but it couldn’t get the equalizer.

"Obviously two goals from me, but what a huge performance from the team," Rapinoe said. "Just a massive defensive performance from us, and the grit and heart and focus and tenacity it takes to do that is tremendous."

So, too, the ability to block out all the noise surrounding you.

After each goal, Rapinoe stood at the corner of the field, her arms spread wide, her mouth open in a roar while the small, but vocal American contingent serenaded her with chants of "U-S-A! U-S-A!"

And yes, if truth be told, Rapinoe probably dropped a few more of those expletives that make her mother cringe as she celebrated. She'll apologize for that, but nothing else.

This is who she is. This is what she does.

"She’s one of the best players in the world. And also just a great representation of what our country is all about with togetherness and fight and having that mentality of winning," Ali Krieger said. "You could see that tonight."

Not all statements have to be made with words.

Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on Twitter @nrarmour.