Football: Legacy in motion as Christen Press steps back and Alyssa Thompson strides forward

Alyssa Thompson’s first goal for Chelsea felt fated.

On the eve of her football idol Christen Press's retirement announcement, with Champions League lights at their brightest, she delivered a statement performance.

Press herself shared Thompson’s goal on social media, writing that it felt like a full-circle moment for the pair.

Her move to London has been a relatively slow starter, but a goal and assist on the European stage – as Chelsea defeated Paris FC 4-0 - came at exactly the right time.

For Blues boss Sonia Bompastor, it is a sign of things to come for the 20-year-old.

“A young player, a lot of talent, but I think we haven’t seen the best of her yet, but hopefully we will see that soon,” she said at full-time.

“She is coming from abroad, she speaks the language with helps, but it is a new environment, a new club.

“She needs to learn to connect with new players on the pitch, new teammates, so hopefully even sooner we will see an even better version [of her].”

Thompson undoubtedly has time on her side, and in a team that dominates the English game, she is on course to grow into one of the world’s best.

Having been mentored by Press during their time at Angel City together, it is more a matter of when than if.

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Alyssa Thompson: I have always looked up to Christen

On Wednesday (15 October), Press announced that she would retire from professional football at the end of the season.

Her long-awaited return to the field in August 2024 was one full of emotion, having worked hard to overcome countless setbacks. At this stage of her career, the role she played in the squad differed – an experience head on the pitch and a mentor off it.

Arguably no teammate benefited more from that than Thompson, who Press took under her wing during their time together in LA.

“I’ve always looked up to her,” Thompson told Just Women’s Sports.

“As an older sister, I feel like I crave some advice because I feel like I’ve always done everything first for my sisters.

“It’s just been really nice getting to know her as a person and I feel like I’ve learned so much from her.”

Their connection showed in the hours put in after games or training, with shooting drills and pep talks.

Madison Hammond, who played with the pair at Angel City, jokingly coined it the Christen Press School of Finishing.

Such belief shown in her by a veteran of the game, a two-time World Cup winner at that, skyrocketed the confidence Thompson has in herself – so much so, she backed herself to move across the globe and fight for a spot in one of the best teams in the world.

Christen Press passes on her artwork

For the soon-to-be retired Press, the desire to mentor Alyssa stemmed from wanting to be something she didn’t have growing up.

“When I was 20, I didn’t have a relationship with a senior player like they have with me – I’m enjoying the presence that I have with these young players,” she told LA Times.

“The thing that I’m good at is scoring goals, it’s an art and I love it. I’m now kind of showing Alyssa how I trained to become a goal scorer; how you can think about goal-scoring in a very nuanced and methodical way.

“I’m learning as I teach her, I’m seeing the ways that she approaches it different. It’s just kind of a spirit of collaboration that I see as a win-win for everybody.”

In their first season as teammates, Thompson put up career-best numbers with 12 goal contributions in the NWSL – proof that this partnership worked.

It makes the recent announcement bittersweet for the youngster, who admits she grew as both a person and player with Press alongside her.

“I just love her so much as a teammate and as a friend,” the forward said, following her Champions League outing.

“I feel like she helped me so much with my confidence. Being the player I am today, even just coming here and talking to her about it, she has been such a big part of my journey.

“I’m really happy for her. This is a decision she made herself, but also I’m very said to see her go.”

While Press prepares to bid farewell to football, Thompson is beginning to step into her own story – one shaped by belief and the lessons of a legend.

Her first goal in a blue shirt may have been orchestrated by Alyssa, but it was a moment that, in some ways, belongs to both of them.

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