Matildas star Mary Fowler has revealed she no longer considers football her passion, in a candid podcast interview that’s shocked many Aussie football fans.

The 22-year-old, currently sidelined with a torn ACL, said she doesn’t feel bad about being out of action.

Despite crying when doctors confirmed her injury, Fowler admitted her sadness quickly faded. Fowler said she enjoys aspects of football, but it no longer drives her.

‘Getting injured … I actually don’t feel bad about it. Obviously I enjoy playing football but I wouldn’t say it’s my passion,’ she told the Keegan and Company podcast.

She said that she plays the game as a job and not something that defines her identity, but once she’s off the field, she switches off from the sport entirely.

‘I go there and I have to put my best in, and our job is to win games. Once I leave the club I’m leaving work, I don’t have to think about it,’ she said.

Fowler’s honest reflection is a sharp contrast to many teammates who live and breathe the game.

‘I play it because there are a lot of things I enjoy about it. I really enjoy travelling, being with my teammates, the people that I’ve met through football,’ she said.

‘If I finished it tomorrow I probably wouldn’t have any regrets.’

Fowler debuted for the Matildas at just 15, before even playing an A-League Women game. She was thrust into the spotlight early and admits the pressure changed her relationship with the sport.

‘I had pictures from when I played under-20s national team and I have permanent marker on my arm [saying] ‘I will win’.’

In France, while playing for Montpellier, things began to unravel.

‘I wasn’t really enjoying being there… I started to allow myself to look at other things I might enjoy off the field.’

She said her previous routine of over-analysing every detail began to hurt her performance. Now, she feels calmer and more detached on the pitch.

‘It just got to the point where having all that structure actually made me play worse. I feel like I’m in my own little world because I don’t care,’ Fowler said.

Fowler says that attitude has helped her handle mistakes and pressure.

‘If I make a mistake, I’m either going to laugh or I’m going to just forget about it in a second.’

Her revelation comes at a tough time for the Matildas, who are preparing to play Argentina without her.

Fowler is now focused on rehab in England, having ruptured her ACL while playing for Manchester City.

The injury could keep her out of next year’s Asian Cup, which is a major blow to Australia’s campaign.

Despite the seriousness of the injury, Fowler admitted she found ‘a few too many positives’ in being sidelined. She said her current mental state around football is far healthier than it once was.

She used to be consumed by the game and obsessed with improving. But in recent years, especially since moving to Manchester City, she’s stepped back mentally.

‘I came into professional football at such a young age. I wasn’t preparing for how much that stuff affects how I feel about myself,’ she said.

Fowler said she used to feel pressure to act a certain way on social media too.

‘I was never genuine on it because I felt like I had to portray a certain side of me.’

Eventually, she asked herself a tough question: ‘Why do I have to be like that way?’ She now views herself as more than an athlete.

‘I actually barely post about football now,’ she said.

Fowler said she values being authentic, not changing herself to please sponsors or fans.

‘I want them to do that because of the person that I am.’

Her partner, NRL star Nathan Cleary, also plays a role in her support system.

The couple have been together since August 2023, managing a long-distance relationship.

Fowler said the distance helped them develop strong communication habits from the start.

‘We just really enjoy having deep conversations and it has just worked for us.’

As for her football future, Fowler remains undecided but grounded.

She said when the time comes, she’ll return to the field with a clearer head.