Catarina Macario will play in the most significant club match of her career Saturday when Lyon takes on Barcelona in the Champions League final.
In the UWSNT striker’s first full season with the French club, Macario led Lyon in Division 1 Féminine goals, notching 13 across 18 matches. The 22-year-old leads Lyon in Champions League scoring as well, with seven goals and two assists in 10 games so far.
Of her seven goals, two came in Lyon’s quarterfinal contest against Juventus. The young star notched another brace in the club’s first-leg semifinal matchup against French rival Paris Saint-Germain.
Catarina Macario is out of this world 🤯
— B/R Football (@brfootball) March 31, 2022
(via @DAZNFootball) pic.twitter.com/HBWvU6q8sm
Tucking in behind Lyon forward Ada Hegerberg, Macario’s midfield positioning makes her challenging to stop, with the American star able to make darting runs and take defenders one-on-one.
Her skill level in particular is what sets Macario apart, with her ability to execute world-class finishes for club and country.
Macario isn’t just lighting it up for Lyon. She has brought the same offensive firepower stateside, anchoring the attack for the U.S. women’s national team.
In February, Macario earned MVP honors at the She Believes Cup after burying two unforgettable goals and recording one assist in three matches for the USWNT.
CATARINA MACARIO 🚀
— Attacking Third (@AttackingThird) February 24, 2022
What. A. Strike. 🤩
(🎥 via @USWNT)pic.twitter.com/GYFp1ZM3B5
On Saturday, Macario has a chance to add a Champions League trophy to her banner season when Lyon faces off against Barcelona. The matchup will be a tough one for Macario and Lyon, as the Spanish side is coming off a perfect 30-win season in the Primera Division.
The Champions League final will kick off at 1 p.m. ET Saturday on DAZN’s YouTube channel.