The timeline for Catarina Macario’s return to soccer remains up in the air.
The 24-year-old midfielder has not played in the almost 18 months since she tore her ACL in a league match for Lyon in June 2022. She signed with Chelsea in the offseason but has yet to make her debut with the Blues.
And Macario has been left off the 24-player squad for the UEFA Champions League group stage. The 16-team group stage kicks off on Nov. 14 and runs through Jan. 31.
Led by soon-to-be U.S. coach Emma Hayes, Chelsea will face Real Madrid in their first of six group-stage matches at 3 p.m. ET on Nov. 15. Chelsea and Real Madrid are in Group D with Häcken and Paris FC.
Should Chelsea reach the knockout stage, which begins in March, the Blues could add Macario to the roster. But it remains unclear when Macario will return to the field.
U.S. women’s national team interim head coach provided an update on Macario’s status in October, saying that the midfielder is still in recovery.
“Cat is integrating at Chelsea, she’s just not ready for international minutes yet,” Kilgore said. “We’re collaborating with them in terms of keeping in touch and making sure she has everything she needs, but she’s just not ready for international minutes yet.
“She’s just continuing on her timeline there and we trust the people that she’s working with and that she’s entrusted herself to. Things seem to be moving along well.”