Catarina Macario said she’s been highly impressed by 16-year-old Lily Yohannes, the newest member of the U.S. women’s national team.
The Ajax midfielder was named to the roster for the team’s two upcoming SheBelieves Cup matches, becoming the youngest USWNT call-up since a 16-year-old Sophia Smith in 2017.
Ahead of the USWNT’s match against Japan on Saturday, Macario told the media that her teenage teammate is showing an ability beyond her years.
“She’s a tremendous player,” Macario said on Wednesday. “Really sweet girl. I honestly cannot believe that she’s 16. She just reads the game so well, and you can really see that.”
Macario’s Chelsea side recently eliminated Ajax in the Women’s Champions League quarterfinals, and the forward credited the midfielder for helping the Dutch side reach the last eight.
“Ajax had a tremendous run in the Champions League, and I do feel like that was a lot thanks to her,” Macario said. “And obviously the rest of her team, but I do feel like she made a great impact.
“She was just telling me how last year she was still in the reserve team. I’m like, ‘Oh my god. How is that possible?’ Like, she’s so good, you know? So I’m really happy for her that she’s in this environment now.”
Though Macario didn’t play in the first leg and Yohannes sat out the second leg due to a suspension, the Chelsea forward said she had a brief interaction with Yohannes that foreshadowed events to come.
“I remember joking around with her after the first game. I was like, ‘Oh, you’re American, right? Do you want to join us?’ or something like that. And then I found out a few days later that she was called into camp. So that was really sweet.”
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