In the spirit of the 2024 Olympics Games in Paris, we’re continuing to spotlight world-class immigrant athletes who are currently or have competed for the U.S. National Team. Today, we spotlight professional soccer player Catarina Macario.
Born on October 4, 1999, in São Luis, Maranhão, Brazil, Catarina Macario began playing soccer early, at only four years old. Her older brother introduced her to the sport. By age five, she was already playing competitively in boys’ leagues. While her skills and passion for the game continued to grow, the Macario family would soon face a crossroads.
Historically, Brazilians have not embraced women’s soccer with the same zeal as the men’s version. As such, at 12 years old, Catarina was now longer allowed to compete in the male division. Compounding her peril, Brazil had no equivalent option for girls to compete further. Her family debated staying in Brazil or moving to the U.S., where women’s soccer is much more prevalent. In December 2011, Catarina and her brother and father emigrated to the U.S. to further pursue young Catarina’s dreams. Her mother stayed in Brazil, working and providing for the family from abroad.
The family settled in San Diego, California, where she immediately attended a tryout for the city’s elite youth team, San Diego Surf Soccer. Catarina faced remarkable pressures to make her family’s international move worthwhile, and despite the stakes, her abilities blew the Surf’s coaching staff out of the water within just a few minutes.
After making the team, Macario’s career quickly sprouted. College scouts began recruiting her while she was still in middle school. She eventually committed to Stanford University, where she went on to score an exceptional 63 goals in 68 games and was twice awarded the top women’s collegiate player in the U.S.
In 2020, Macario gained her U.S. citizenship, solidifying her decision to represent Team USA in the postponed 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where her team won the bronze medal. She currently plays for both the U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) and the Women’s Super League Club Chelsea F.C. Women. While she was again selected to represent Team USA this summer, she will not compete due to her ongoing rehabilitation from a knee injury.
Read more about the other refugee and immigrant Olympians we have featured in honor of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France:
Abdi Abdirahman, Track and Field