By OkayGoal 
Catarino Macario’s journey to playing for some of the most premier clubs and teams in the world was filled with perseverance and a genuine love and passion for the game. From growing up in Brazil, to moving thousands of miles to the United States to pursue soccer, here are ten things you need to know about Catarina Macario.
1. Born in Brazil
Macario lived in Brazil, growing up there until 2011, when she moved to the United States at the age of 12. The inception of her soccer career began in her hometown of São Luís, where she found herself playing soccer at parks, courts, and even just waiting for school.
2. Plays for Chelsea
After playing for Lyon for two years, Macario transferred to Chelsea in 2023. She was a crucial player in Chelsea’s most recent win in the Women’s Super League Women’s Cup. Within her first game with the team, Macario scored in her first six minutes, proving how valuable she is for the team.
3. Stanford University Alumni
Macario committed to Stanford University in 2017. During her time there, she received many accolades, like the MAC Hermann Trophy (twice), Honda Sports Award, and was named the “ESPNW Player of the Year.” In her 69 appearances with the Cardinal, Macario scored an astonishing 63 goals.
4. Tore her ACL
While playing for Lyon, Macario tore her ACL and was out of the game for two years. It was an emotional recovery that made her question both her club and international career, but Macario returned to both strongly, making her return for the 2024 SheBelieves Cup with the USWNT.
5. Olympic Medalist
In 2021, Macario was a key player on the roster for the USWNT playing in the Tokyo Olympics. They received a bronze medal after beating Australia 4-3.
6. Grew up playing with boys
While playing youth soccer in Madrid, Macario grew up playing on an all-boys team since there were no girls’ soccer teams where she lived. This challenged her from a young age with playing at both a competitive level, but also mentally, because she dealt with sexism at such a young age.
7. Her favorite player is Mia Hamm
Macario’s female soccer idol has always been Mia Hamm, a former USWNT legend. It was a source of inspiration for her, and she often studied her highlights growing up.
8. She moved to America to pursue soccer
At the age of 12, Macario was no longer allowed to play in the boys’ team. This became the first step of 5,000 miles to San Diego, where she moved with her brother and dad to be a part of the United States’ strong girl youth soccer system. She joined Surf Soccer Club and continued her journey of following her dream.
9. She earned a degree
At Stanford University, Macario earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication with a minor in Psychology.
10. First USWNT call-up in 2020
Embed from Getty Images
After becoming an American Citizen, Macario also became a part of the USWNT and even became the first naturalized citizen on the team, all on the same day! She earned her first cap in 2021 in a friendly against Colombia.
Featured image via Getty Images
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