I directed online rant at footballer? (13)

I believe the answer is:

international

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'footballer?' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot see how they can define each other.

'i directed online rant at' is the wordplay.
'directed' is an anagram indicator.
'online'+'rant'+'at'='onlinerantat'
'onlinerantat' with letters rearranged gives 'nternational'.
'i'+'nternational'='INTERNATIONAL'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for international that I've seen before include "Crossing country borders" , "Worldwide" , "Universal" , "Contest between teams from different countries" , "political group" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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