Catarina Macario says she won’t be ready in time to play for the United States at this year’s Women’s World Cup while she recovers from an ACL injury.
“The desire to return to play for my club and my country has driven my training and fueled my day to day. However, the most important thing right now is my health and being fit and ready for my next season at the club”, Macario wrote on tuesday On twitter.
The loss of the 23-year-old striker to the World Cup was not unexpected, but it remains a blow for the United States, which had already lost Mallory Swanson to a torn patellar tendon suffered during an exhibition match against Ireland in April.
Macario, who plays professionally for Lyon in France, tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee last June during his club’s last game of the 2021-22 season. He underwent rehabilitation at an orthopedics and sports medicine center in Qatar.
Macario was born in Brazil and her family moved to the United States when she was 12 years old. She obtained US citizenship in 2020.
Macario won the MAC Hermann Trophy for best US college soccer player twice while at Stanford. He decided to forego his final season to turn professional. Macario has 19 goals in 27 appearances for Lyon since 2021.
She has eight goals in 17 games for the United States. The Americans open the World Cup on July 22 against Vietnam in New Zealand, which is co-hosting the tournament with Australia.
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“I will be rooting for my teammates a lot at the World Cup, and I look forward to dedicating myself to fighting to earn a place in what I hope will be a long future on the United States national team,” Macario said.