- Hayley Raso broke three vertebrae in 2018 incident
- Midfielder, 31, had to learn how to walk again
- Will play 100th game for Australia this weekend
Matildas star Hayley Raso never thought she would represent Australia in 100 games, having once feared a back injury was the end of her career.
Raso also had to learn how to walk again after breaking three vertebrae in a freak accident while playing for Portland in the US in 2018.
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Now the 31-year-old is set to become just the 17th woman to play 100 games for Australia when the Matildas play Wales in Cardiff on Saturday (local time).
Remarkably, Raso returned just six months after the injury, progressing from a wheelchair to the then-W-League pitch for Brisbane Roar.
‘I remember during that injury and during my rehab questioning whether I would be able to play again, if I would come back again,’ Raso said.
‘I had a lot of fear around that.
Matildas star Hayley Raso never thought she would represent Australia in 100 games, having feared a back injury when playing in the US with Portland in 2018 was the end of her career
Raso, 31, had to learn how to walk again – and this weekend against Wales will chalk up 100 games for the Matildas in what has been a remarkable career
‘It definitely made me a lot stronger, and I’ve come out the other side of that, and I’ve continued to play at this top level for a long time.
‘I’ve ended up here, sitting here, talking about my 100th game, which I didn’t think, in that moment, I would ever reach.’
Raso made her return to the national squad in 2019 and played in the World Cup in France, before making her Olympic debut at the 2021 Tokyo Games.
She earned her first Matildas call-up in 2012 at the age of 17, and led Australia as captain on home soil for the first time this year in their international friendly with Panama in July.
‘It gives me goosebumps,’ Raso said.
‘I’ve been in this team for such a long time, so I feel like there’s been a bit of a roller-coaster of emotions, ups and downs, been in a lot of tournaments.
‘It’s like my home. It’s my family. It’s the place I spend all my time.
‘When I think about it like that, it’s just really special to have played for this team for so long.’
Raso’s career highlights – which include playing at the Olympics and in World Cups – also includes being Australia’s captain in the international friendly with Panama in July (pictured)
In clubland, Raso became the first Australian to play for Real Madrid, scoring four goals from 28 appearances in her sole season in the Liga F.
The attacking winger now plays for Bundesliga outfit Eintracht Frankfurt, after a one-season stint at Super League club Tottenham.
Part of the core group of seasoned Matildas veterans, Raso said she was relishing her role as a leader in the national squad.
Superstar striker Sam Kerr is set to make her long-awaited return from a ruptured ACL against Wales, with Cortnee Vine also back in the squad.
‘I don’t know at what point I became this experienced player, but I can definitely feel it after being here for so long,’ Raso said.
‘I remember my first days coming in and trying to find my feet, and it being difficult going into the national team set-up.
‘I do try and help out those younger players, just to make sure they can settle and find their feet coming in here.’
