Clare Polkinghorne

Clare Polkinghorne is Australia’s most-ever capped football player and the heart and soul of the Matildas.

She made her record-breaking 152nd appearance for Australia during the 2023 Cup of Nations, surpassing fellow central defender Cheryl Salisbury's record, marking her monumental game with a goal against the Czech Republic.

Since debuting with the national team in 2006, she has been a near-constant presence at the heart of the defence and in the changeroom – someone who is a leader, not just on the pitch, but off it as well.

The Queenslander represented Australia in the 2007 World Cup as an 18-year-old and played a prominent role in the Matildas’ 4-1 opening victory against Ghana. Their run lasted to the quarter-finals, where they were beaten 3-2 by eventual runners-up, Brazil.

Four years later she was selected once again for the World Cup campaign in Germany. Clare often featured off the bench, helping the third-youngest team at the tournament reach the quarter-finals, where they were eventually eliminated by Sweden (3-1).

At the 2015 World Cup Clare was appointed co-captain alongside Lisa De Vanna. The Australians finished second in group D to qualify for the knockout stages and book a round of 16 clash with Brazil.

An 80th-minute goal by teammate Kyah Simon against the Brazilians propelled the Matildas into the quarter-finals, where they were eliminated by eventual runners-up Japan.

Clare retained her position as co-captain for the Rio 2016 Olympics. Brazil got their revenge on Australia, knocking the Matlidas out in the quarter-finals via a penalty shootout.

Clare participated in her fourth successive World Cup campaign in 2019, this time in France, where the Matildas' run ended in the round of 16 at the hands of Norway in a penalty shootout (4-1).

Clare played for her hometown team, the Brisbane Roar, between 2008 and 2021, winning two premierships, and has also had stints in the United States and Europe. In 2021, she signed with Swedish club Vittsjo GlK, before making the switch to another Swedish team, Kristianstads DFF, late in 2023.

At Tokyo 2020 Clare and the Matildas made all of Australia proud in putting together a historic achievement.

Their fourth-place finish, which was nearly a podium finish after a 4-3 loss to the USA in the bronze medal game, is the highest ever finish by the Matildas at an Olympic Games.

Although contributing mostly from the bench as the Matildas captured Australia’s imagination with their thrilling run to the semi-finals of the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, Clare played a vital leadership role.

She was there again as the Matildas qualified for the Paris Olympics with home and away victories over Uzbekistan in February 2024.

At the Paris 2024 Olympics Clare and the Matildas faced Germany, Zambia and the USA in a tough Group B.

A tournament-opening 3-0 loss to Germany was followed by a dramatic 11-goal thriller against Zambia, where the Matildas came back from 5-2 down to win 6-5. Facing a must-win scenario against the USA to stay alive, the Matildas' tournament ended on another 3-0 loss.

With 18 years, five World Cups and three Olympics under her belt, Clare announced she would be making her retirement from international duties in December 2024.

“I hope that one I’ll be remembered as a player who gave everything that they had for the jersey, someone who not only inspired others but inspired their teammates to be better as well,” she said. “A good person, someone who teammates can count on.”