When will USWNT star Catarina Macario return from injury? Chelsea forward's absence explained

Macario suffered an ACL injury in Lyon's final game of the 2021-22 season, a 4-0 win over Issy on June 1, 2022. The French club had won the league three days earlier, beating Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 to reclaim a trophy they surrendered to the Parisians for the first time a year earlier.

The Brazilian-born U.S. star was subbed off just 13 minutes into the match and confirmed the worst on social media four days later.

"Unfortunately, injuries are a natural part of football," she wrote. "Tearing an ACL is never easy, and although I am devastated to be away from the field and my teammates for a few months, I could not be more proud of my first year as a professional footballer and to have helped the team reconquer two big titles this season.

"As challenging as the recovery process may be, I believe that God is in control of everything, so I have no doubt that with the right support system, patience, and hard work, I will be back better and hungrier than ever before."

The first big event Macario missed due to injury was the CONCACAF Women's Championship, in which the USWNT reigned supreme to claim the trophy and automatic qualification for the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Plenty of other significant games for the national team have come and gone, too, including the entirety of what proved to be a disappointing 2023 Women's World Cup for the four-time champion and the CONCACAF W Gold Cup tournament which it used to bounce back from that failure.

From a club perspective, Macario also missed a lot. She was not part of the Lyon team that won the 2022 Trophee des Championnes in August, she missed the Women's Champions League group stages and also the French side's quarter-final tie with Chelsea, which was lost on penalties.

On May 23, Macario confirmed that she would not play at the 2023 Women's World Cup.

In a statement posted to social media, she wrote: "While I'm excited and superb optimistic about my future as a footballer, I'm sad to share that I won't be physically ready for selection to our U.S. World Cup team.

"The desire to return to play for my club and country has driven my training and fueled my everyday life. However, what's most important right now is my health and getting fit and ready for my next club season.

"I am eternally grateful to Aspetar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital for always supporting me and guiding me in my rehab, and to U.S. Soccer and Vlatko Andonovski for prioritizing my long-term health over any individual and collective ambitions.

"I'll be cheering hard for my team-mates at the World Cup and I look forward to dedicating myself to fight to earn a spot for what I hope will be a long future on the U.S. national team."

The year of 2023 was a disastrous one for the USWNT. Despite being blessed with a plethora of talented forwards that can help make up for an absentee like Macario, the attack didn't click at the Women's World Cup as the four-time champion suffered its earliest exit in tournament history, losing on penalties to Sweden in the last 16.

There were so many problems that culminated in that disappointment, and the departure of head coach Andonovski. If Macario had been available, it would have certainly helped, but it would not have single-handedly saved them from losing their crown as the world champion.

However, there have been positives since, with the USWNT winning the Gold Cup in March 2024. It's clear that the squad is blessed with a lot of talent and Macario's return will only add to it.

Macario made her long-awaited return to action on March 3, 2024, some 641 days after rupturing her ACL. It was her debut for Chelsea and she even marked it with a goal, producing a clever finish just six minutes after entering the pitch from the bench as the Blues beat Leicester 4-0.

All eyes are now on Macario's return to action with the USWNT. The 24-year-old has been called up for April's SheBelieves Cup and could make her first appearance for the national team for two years if she features.

That return to the roster means the forward still has a real shot at making the Olympics this summer, too, something she's already joking about with Chelsea manager Emma Hayes, who will take over the USWNT once the Blues' season is over.