Paris 2024 Olympics: Sam Kerr, Catarina Macario and more miss out due to injury | OneFootball

The 2024 Olympics in Paris is about to begin, but a handful of high-profile names will be missing from the pitch in the women's football tournament after being struck down by injury.

The group stage begins on 25 July, a day before the opening ceremoney, where we will see 12 countries fight it out in pursuit of gold medal dreams.

However, some instrumental players have been ruled out due injuries sustained prior to the competition, with a handful occurring just weeks before the competition.

Sam Kerr (Australia)

Sam Kerr has been watching from the sidelines since January / PATRICK HAMILTON/GettyImages

Arguably, one of the biggest players missing from the tournament is Australia captain Sam Kerr.

The striker sustained an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury during Chelsea's warm-weather training camp in Morocco back in January. Despite being sidelined for the long-term, there were glimmers of hope that she might make a return just in time to represent her country.

However, when it came down to it, she was missing from Tony Gustavsson’s 18-player squad in May. Her absence as a leader and goalscorer will no doubt be huge, as Australia look to fight their way onto the podium, after missing out at the previous Olympics in Tokyo and the World Cup last year.

Kerr has 64 goals for the Matildas and has been nominated for the Ballon d'Or. The pressure to hit the back of the net now falls to remaining forwards Caitlin Foord, Mary Fowler, Michelle Heyman and Cortnee Vine, who have an opportunity to become a hero for their country in the next fortnight.

Catarina Macario (United States)

Catarina Macario had to pull out last-minute / Robin Alam/ISI Photos/GettyImages

Forward Catarina Macario was pulled from the United States squad with less than two weeks to go, after experiencing last-minute "knee irritation" before flying out to France.

New head coach Emma Hayes, who signed Macario for Chelsea in 2023, has said it's important for the player to return to London and recover, after only getting over an ACL injury in recent months.

Lynn Williams was named as Macario's replacement, while Emily Sams comes as one of four alternates. The departure of the 24-year-old is certainly a huge blow for USWNT, given how she ended the club season with Chelsea - five assists and one goal in her first eight WSL games.

Ali Riley (New Zealand)

Ali Riley has withdrawn on medical grounds / Kai Schwoerer/GettyImages

New Zealand captain Ali Riley, who will turn 37 in October, was withdrawn from the squad, just a day before her country's opening match. Head coach Michael Mayne made the decision to replace Riley with Michaela Foster, citing medical grounds.

This would've been the versatile defender's fifth Olympics. But she may not get another chance

Amy Sayer (Australia)

The 22-year-old ruptured her ACL in May / Gualter Fatia/GettyImages

Amy Sayer ruptured her ACL in May, resulting in her having to pull out of the Olympics.

The Australian midfielder experienced the blow while playing for Sweden side Kristianstads DFF against Hammarby, and is now set to go through the lengthy rehabilitation process, with no timeframe yet given on her return to the game.

The 22-year-old has 11 caps and is a regular feature for the Matildas. When announcing her removal from the squad, Gustavsson said: "Our priority will be supporting Amy and ensuring she is provided with care and assistance as she needs to navigate this challenging time."

Sydney Collins (Canada)

Sydney Collins misses out due to a leg fracture / Vaughn Ridley/GettyImages

Sydney Collins was ruled out of her debut Olympics after sustaining a fracture to her left leg during a behind closed-doors training match against Nigeria earlier this month.

Gabrielle Carle has replaced the defender, while veteran Desiree Scott replaced Carle as an alternate.

The news came as an even harder blow for Collins, who sustained the injury in her first match back after recovering from a fracture to her right leg in 2024.

Midge Purce (USWNT)

Midge Purce tore her ACL playing for Gotham FC / Ronald Martinez/GettyImages

Midge Purce announced that she'd been forced to pull out of the upcoming Olympics after tearing her ACL in March.

The forward sustained the injury during Gotham FC's NWSL season opener against the Portland Thorns. It's not the first time the 28-year-old has been plagued with injury, after she narrowly missed out on a spot in the United States' 2023 World Cup squad due to a quad tear.

READ THE LATEST WOMEN'S FOOTBALL NEWS, FEATURES & ANALYSIS