“I’m not done”: Filipina football star Sarina Bolden vows to come back stronger after ACL injury

Philippine women’s national football team star Sarina Bolden has established herself as the most popular female football player in the country after making history at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup by scoring the first-ever goal for the national team in the tournament.

Bolden’s goal came against New Zealand, securing a 1-0 victory and marking the Philippines’ first-ever win in the competition. The 29-year-old, however, recently suffered a major setback after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, which will rule her out of the country’s upcoming international competitions.

Bolden took to social media on Thursday, July 10, to announce that she suffered the injury on April 2 while playing for Italian Serie A club FC Como Women.

“On April 2nd, I fully ruptured my ACL. And to be honest, it broke me in more ways than one. There’s really no preparing for the kind of pain that comes with an injury like this—not just physically, but mentally and emotionally too. When the thing that’s been your world for as long as you can remember is suddenly taken from you, it’s hard to make sense of it,” Bolden wrote in her post.

The striker added that she has already undergone surgery on her ACL and thanked everyone who has sent her well-wishes and supported her recovery.

SPEEDY RECOVERY, SARINA

Isinapubliko ng Filipinas striker na si Sarina Bolden ang tinamo niyang ACL injury nitong Abril. Kasalukuyan na siyang nagpapagaling matapos maoperahan sa Australia nitong Mayo.

“Everything’s gonna be alright,” saad niya sa isang mahabang mensahe sa… pic.twitter.com/8D1Raq42dk

— News5 (@News5PH) July 10, 2025

“I felt it all—shock, sadness, denial, frustration. Some days are heavier than others. In May, I had surgery in Australia, and I’m now a couple of months into recovery. I’ve had time to process and start healing, both physically and mentally, but I know this will be a long road, and I’m giving myself grace to take it day by day.

“And to anyone wondering: I’m not done. Far from it. I will give everything I have to this game for as long as I can. I have always been fueled by setbacks, and I know this will be no different,” she concluded.

Bolden’s injury meant she was forced to miss the recent 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers, but her team did not miss a beat, as the Filipinas swept Group G 3-0 to secure qualification for the Asian Cup.

Bolden has established herself as arguably the best striker for the Philippines, boasting an impressive record of 31 goals in 52 international appearances.

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