Megan Rapinoe controlled the ball at the halfway line at the Women’s World Cup and sped forward. When she finally encountered a defender, she effortlessly jinked past her and shot the ball into the net to seal a victory for the United States over Australia on Monday.

What is the right way to describe such a feat?

“I was doing my best Messi impression,” Rapinoe said Monday, referring to the Argentine star Lionel Messi.

As the World Cup in Canada gives women’s soccer its time in the spotlight, fans, coaches, the news media and the players themselves are closely watching the stars of the women’s game — and then likening them to men.