Matildas' Sam Kerr To Miss Olympic Games Following ACL Injury Recovery Setback

Australia's captain Sam Kerr will miss the Olympic Games in Paris after failing to recover from an anterior cruciate ligament injury. The Chelsea forward sustained the injury during a mid-season training camp in January, casting doubt on her participation. Kerr has represented the Matildas at the 2016 and 2020 Olympics and played in four World Cups and four Asian Cups.

On Tuesday, Football Australia confirmed that Kerr will not participate in the Olympic tournament, which begins on July 25 and ends on August 10. The announcement coincided with the release of the squad for two matches against China this month. The matches are scheduled for May 31 at The Adelaide Oval and June 3 at Accor Stadium.

CommBank Matildas (@TheMatildas) May 21, 2024

A statement from the governing body noted that attacker Amy Sayer and forward Sam Kerr remain sidelined with long-term injuries. Both players will continue their rehabilitation programmes with their home clubs and will not be available for selection for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Kerr's Impact

Kerr, Australia's record scorer with 69 goals, was limited to just seven starts in the 2023-24 Women's Super League. Despite her limited appearances, she contributed four goals and three assists for Chelsea, who eventually became champions.