Catarina Macario, a forward for the U.S. women’s national team, has said that she won’t be able to play in the 2023 World Cup because she is still getting better from an ACL tear.
Macario got hurt in Lyon’s last game of the season in June 2022, and she hasn’t been back on the field since.
With only two months left until the World Cup, the 23-year-old wrote on social media that she is still not well enough to take part.
She said on Tuesday, “I’m excited and very hopeful about my future as a football player, but I’m sad to say that I won’t be physically ready for selection to our U.S. World Cup team.”
God’s plan. I will be back ✊🏾❤️ pic.twitter.com/JNMsl2RbMz
— Catarina Macario (@catarinamacario) May 23, 2023
“My training and daily activities have been motivated by the desire to come back and play for my club and nation. But for the moment, my health and my preparation for my upcoming club season come first.
“I will always be grateful to Aspetar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital for always being there for me and helping me with my rehab. I will also always be grateful to U.S. Soccer and [head coach] Vlatko Andonovski for putting my long-term health ahead of any short-term goals.
“At the World Cup, I’ll be rooting hard for my teammates, and I’m looking forward to dedicating myself to fight for a spot for what I hope will be a long future on the U.S. national team,” said the player.
On the same day in 2020, the young talent of Brazilian descent became a citizen of the United States and received her first call-up to the USWNT. Prior to moving abroad to play for the prestigious French team, she succeeded at Stanford, earning the Hermann Trophy twice and the NCAA championship twice.
Mallory Swanson, an experienced player for the USWNT, tore a tendon in her knee during a friendly against Ireland last month.
The team will be trying to win its third World Cup in a row.
