Michelle Heyman is one of Australia’s most accomplished and respected football players. A highly decorated athlete, she is renowned for her achievements as a Matilda, an Olympian and a trail-blazer championing the rise of women’s football.
Heyman made her debut for the Matilda’s in 2010 where she became known for her agility, strength and scoring prowess. During those nine years at an international level, she played 63 games, scoring a phenomenal 25 goals. She was an integral member of the Matilda’s at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada and the 2016 Olympic games in Rio.
Her career on home turf has been just as illustrious where Heyman is Australia’s leading goal scorer in the A-League Women’s with an almighty 111 goals to her name. She also holds the record for the most games played within the league, currently sitting at an impressive 181.
Heyman has won two premierships with Canberra United (2012 & 2014), two prestigious Julie Dolan medals (2009 & 2021/22), and is the only footballer ever in the A-League to win three Golden Boots (2009, 20011/12 & 2023/24).
Born and raised on the South Coast of NSW, her journey to becoming a professional athlete is characterised by dedication, talent and perseverance. She has played with teams in both Denmark and the USA, however her passion for Australian football continues to draw her back home.
In 2019 Heyman retired from international football to give her body and mind a well-needed break. She used that time to re-set her priorities. Commentating for the Women’s A-League allowed Heyman to see the game from another perspective, and in 2020, she realised she was not finished competing on an international level. She then set her sights on doing whatever it took to get back into the Australian squad.
Known as the ‘comeback queen’, in 2024 she re-joined the Matilda’s where she quickly proved that age is just a number and scored five goals over two Olympic Qualifiers against Uzbekistan, helping the Matilda’s secure a ticket to Paris in July 2024. With the position as a forward, the future is looking bright with a promise of many more Heyman goals for the Matilda’s.
Off the field, Heyman is respected for her leadership as a captain, her commitment to women’s football at a grassroots level and inclusivity within the sporting community. She has been a vocal advocate for gender equality and LGBTQIA+ rights in sport.
Heyman has a unique and rare perspective on the remarkable journey and rise of the Matilda’s, having witnessed it evolve over the past 14 years. She can speak first-hand, about the fundamental changes within the game for women, the phenomenal growth of the Matilda brand and the power of sell-out crowd for a women’s football match.
In some ways, it feels like Heyman is only just beginning. Her infectious smile, coupled with her grace and ease when on the pitch, shows a women with exactly the right amount of confidence who will do whatever it takes for her country to win.
Talking Points
The incredible journey and rise of the Matilda’s
The transformational changes that have occurred over the 14 years since she first stated playing with them.The incredible journey and rise of the Matilda’s
Insights into the world of preparing for a World Cup and Olympic games – 2015/2016 to 2023/2024.
The rise of the celebrity of a Matilda – something they only dreamed of 10 years ago and the team, and their athletes, has captured the hearts and minds of Australians
The growth and support for women’s professional sport – still a long way to go in the A-League as many players still need to juggle jobs and training.
Making a comeback.
Retiring from international football in 2019 to take a break and re-set, within 12 months she realised she was not finished on the international stage. Making a comeback.
Michelle then spent 4 years doing whatever it took to be called back to the Matilda’s.
Her age, 35 has been a major focus of the media on her return to the team. Michelle sees this as her superpower as she now has a better perspective on the game, on training and recovery, on life balance. She knows her body, agility and ability better than ever sees this as a key strength of hers.
Video
Michelle Heyman: "I have pure fire in my belly.”
Tony Gustavsson’s 23-player squad to take on Uzbekistan in the third and final round of the AFC Women’s Olympic Football Tournament Paris 2024™ Asian Qualifiers features players both new and old, expected and unexpected, continuing and returning. One of the most striking names selected is 35-year-old Michelle Heyman. The striker has scored 20 goals in 61 appearances for the CommBank Matildas, but the most recent of those national team caps was in November 2018 - over five years ago.
