Matildas World Cup star Steph Catley posts emotional message to her dad on the fifth anniversary of his death

Matildas match-winning star Steph Catley has shared an emotional tribute to her late father ahead of Australia’s second group match against Nigeria at the Women’s World Cup.

Catley, 29, lost her dad Stephen suddenly to cancer five years ago and marked the tragic anniversary with an Instagram post on Wednesday, featuring a collage of photos of the pair together.

‘Another year passes, another chance to remember and miss you,’ the Matildas defender wrote.

Catley said he’d have been very proud to watch her score 52nd minute spot kick against Ireland last week. 

‘I’ve had a lot of messages today from family and friends saying that he would be very proud and he would have absolutely loved to see what I’m doing now and what our team is doing,’ she said.

Matildas defender Steph Catley shared a touching tribute to her late father Stephen

Catley lost her dad to cancer five years ago and says he’d be very proud to see her now

‘He would be cheering very loudly and watching on, definitely.’

With Sam Kerr currently injured, Catley is the acting skipper of the Matildas and will lead Australia out in front of thousands of cheering fans on Thursday night.

‘The timing of it is quite unique,’ Catley told media earlier in the week.

‘Going through a (big tournament) like this is obviously massive for (the) family as well, so it does make you think about people that have passed (away).’

Catley has previously admitted how tough it was when her father passed away, revealing she lost her desire to play soccer.

‘I couldn’t find a reason anymore for why I was doing it and that was a really tough period for me,’ she told Arsenal.com.

‘Eventually, I found my way back to it and it became the escape that it always was for me. Football has always been that for me in tough times. You can step away from reality and go and kick a ball around with some of your best mates and express yourself and have fun.

‘So as hard as things got, there was always a way of finding a route back to the reason why I love football. It’s such a massive part of me and I can’t imagine my life without it.’

Catley says it was hard to find her desire to play soccer after her dad passed away

Catley will lead the Matildas out against Nigeria on Thursday night at Lang Park

Catley has scored four goals for Australia from her 111 caps – but admitted that her last one against Ireland was the most important. 

‘There’s so much pressure coming into a moment like this for our team. All of the girls have handled it incredibly well,’ Catley said.

‘So it’s probably the most pressure I’ve felt as an athlete in my career coming into this tournament. I think because we care so much that that builds pressure and obviously the public cares so much as well.

‘We could feel the energy and you just don’t feel tired in those moments like you normally would, you just have this extra step in you and that’s the massive advantage of playing on home soil. We’re so grateful for the support as much as it did add pressure, I think it’s just going to help us from here on in.’

The Matildas match against Nigeria at Lang Park kicks off at 8pm (AEST).