Hayley Raso

Hayley Raso, born on September 5, 1994, on the Gold Coast, Australia, began her senior football career in 2011 with Canberra United. In her debut season, she contributed to the team securing both the premiership and championship titles. Her early career also saw her win additional premierships with Canberra United in 2016-17 and Brisbane Roar in 2017-18. Raso’s attacking prowess and speed quickly became recognized, leading her to sign with Washington Spirit in the NWSL before moving to Portland Thorns FC in 2016. She achieved further success with Portland, winning the NWSL Shield in 2016 and the NWSL Championship in 2017.

In 2018, Raso faced a significant challenge when she suffered a severe back injury, fracturing three vertebrae during a game for Portland Thorns. This injury posed a threat to her career and required extensive rehabilitation. Despite this setback, Raso made a return to professional play, featuring for Australia in the Cup of Nations where she scored upon her comeback against New Zealand. Her resilience saw her make her FIFA Women’s World Cup debut in France in 2019 and represent her country at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Her club career continued in Europe with spells at Everton (2020-2021) and Manchester City (2021-2023), where she also lifted the Conti Cup.

Raso’s career advanced with her move to Real Madrid (2023-2024), where she became the first Australian and first player from the Asian Football Confederation to play for the club. She later joined Tottenham Hotspur in 2024, scoring in her debut match. In 2025, she signed with Eintracht Frankfurt. Raso has made 99 international appearances for Australia, scoring 22 goals, and participated in the 2015, 2019, and 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cups, as well as the 2020 and 2024 Olympic Games. Her performance at the 2023 World Cup, where Australia reached the semi-finals, earned her a nomination for the Ballon d’Or, placing 17th.