National Post (National Edition)
We couldn't have written a more dramatic script had we tried.
Scored bronze goal in 2012 Olympic soccer
— CANADIAN SOCCER STAR DIANA MATHESON ON THE 2012 OLYMPIC GAME. MATHESON RETIRES AFTER 18 YEARS,
Diana Matheson, who scored one of the most memorable goals in Canadian sports history, has officially called it a career.
The Canadian women's soccer icon announced her retirement Wednesday, capping an 18-year international career, which saw her play more games for the country than any other player not named Christine Sinclair.
Matheson, 37, finished with 206 international appearances for Canada, winning two Olympic bronze medals, a CONCACAF championship, a Pan American Games title, and was a member of the fourth-place team at the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup.
“As Canadians we can all think of many goals that sports heroes have scored for our country, and we always remember where we were,” said Peter Montopoli, general secretary of Canada Soccer.
“I think we'll always remember 2012 and where we were when Diana scored that marvellous goal for Canada to achieve something we hadn't done in 76 years.
“I could go with a long list of her accomplishments on the pitch, but I'm equally as proud of Diana for her accomplishments off the pitch and the work she did for the women's national team and the players and women in sports. She's a true leader and I think of one word that comes to my mind in working with Diana is, `leadership,' she's been a real leader in women's sport and will continue to be as she passes on to retirement, and will do some great work off the pitch.”
A Mississauga, Ont., product, Matheson joined the women's national team as a teenager before attending Princeton University in 2004. She played professional for three seasons in Norway and then returned to North America to play in the National Women's Soccer League with the Washington Spirit, Seattle Reign, and Utah Royals.
In 2012 at the London Olympics, Matheson scored in the dying moments of the bronze-medal game against France, putting away a rebound, to give Canada a 1-0 victory. It was the first time in 76 years a Canadian team in any sport medalled at the Summer Olympics.
The win came days after a devastating loss to the United States in the semifinal, where a controversial call led to the Americans tying the game late in regulation, which they would go on to win 4-3 with a goal seconds before the end of extra time.
“I'm so grateful that I have an Olympic moment and that's the moment that will always define my career,” Matheson said. “For that to be the case is unbelievable and cool, and I wouldn't trade that for anything in the world.
“It was very much a watershed moment for Canadian soccer. There was just a different level of attention paid on the women's team, a bigger platform after that. Canada Soccer worked with the National Women's Soccer League to get us to be a part of that. It was a bit of a turning point, we had a lot of potential before that, we were always close to doing something and the drama of that Olympics; it was terrible to lose to the U.S., the way that happened, but it was also the thing that galvanized Canadians behind us.”
The Olympic semifinal against the United States and the subsequent bronze-medal game were two of the most highly viewed sporting events by Canadians at a Summer Games. The country rallied around the team, who were robbed of a monumental upset of the United States by a referee who never again worked an international game, and three days later, found enough strength, physically and mentally, to get past a talented French team.
“We couldn't have written a more dramatic script had we tried,” Matheson said. “If I had been dreaming about my career when I was a kid, I don't think I would have written that moment for myself at the end of the France game. I think it's pretty cool that happened and I will always be grateful for it and for Canadians who got behind us in that tournament.”
The accomplishment in 2012 raised the profile of the national women's program and the bar when it came to expectations. Four years later, Canada was considered favourites at the 2016 Rio Olympics, and once again had to overcome a disappointing semifinal loss, this time to Germany, before picking themselves up and defeating the hosts Brazil in the bronze medal game in front of a hostile crowd of 40,000 in Sao Paulo.
Matheson was the engine in midfield for both Canada and her club teams.
Injuries slowed her down toward the tail end of her career and she was unavailable for Canada at the 2019 Women's World Cup, where instead, she worked as a television analyst to great acclaim. Matheson has plenty of options heading into retirement.
“There are a few things I'm excited to do; I would love to do more media for sure, around big events,” Matheson said.