44-year-old Matildas veteran Melissa Barbieri signs on for astonishing 28th season at the top

Former Matildas captain Melissa Barbieri will be back in action in the A-Leagues this season – signing on for another year with Melbourne City. The 44-year-old reveals the real reason she can’t hang up her gloves yet.

Age is no limit for former Matildas captain Melissa Barbieri who will be back between the sticks for Melbourne City for an eighth season.

The 44-year-old goalkeeper said while personal growth and her competitive streak played a role in her lengthy career it was her 11-year-old daughter Holly who was her real driver.

“If I mention the word retire she’s like no, you’re not retiring,” Barbieri said.

“She says ‘I want you to keep playing’. She loves the fact she can see me playing out in big stadiums.

“But she also gets a first hand view of it – the injuries, the tiredness, the eating properly, the drinking properly, making sure I’m stretching.

“Sending really positive body image messages to my daughter is the main thing I really focus on, the way I treat my body is hopefully how she learns to treat hers down the track.”

Melissa Barbieri is coming back for a remarkable 28th season of top-level football. Picture: Getty

Barbieri played just five matches for City last season – one of them being the grand final. 

She was called into the starting side after Brazilian keeper Barbara suffered an injury in the week leading up to the finals.

It was her first finals appearance in her 10 seasons in the A-League and after getting a taste for it hopes to help City land back there again.

“We’re a team full of players that want to do well for our club, that ambition drives really high standards and the pinnacle is the grand final again,” Barbieri said.

This season will be Barbieri’s 28th as a professional footballer – something she never takes for granted.

“At my age, every time I go into an exit meeting after the season you kind of think this might be the end, but I was lucky enough to be told that they would like me to go around again,” she said.

“I have known for a little while, but being back with the girls has really sunk in that I’ve got another season to go with, with these beautiful girls.”

Melbourne City goalkeeper Melissa Barbieri makes a save during a match earlier this year. Picture: Getty

Despite her lengthy career Barbieri said she still struggled to believe she was a professional women’s footballer – especially considering when she first started playing there was no women’s domestic league and she had to play in the men’s NPL competition.

“It’s a challenging environment. I come home after every training session, and there’s still things that I did wrong and there’s still things that I want to improve on, and I think setting my challenge every day to get better is what keeps me motivated,” she said.

“Playing the game that I love as a job is such a new concept for me that I don’t want it to end.

“I’ve got the best job in the world, and it continues for another season.”

The 86-time Matilda said she wasn’t certain on what role she would play at the club this season but that wouldn’t stop her fighting to be the first choice keeper.

Barbieri said City was the pinnacle of women’s football clubs in Australia and she wouldn’t consider playing anywhere else.

“We set the standard in terms of what they provide for us not only on the pitch but as a group,” she said.

“We get fed, we don’t have to look after anything – I barely have to do a load of laundry at home because most of my stuff is washed here – every box is ticked when it comes to equality at our club.

“It feels like a family.”

Barbieri has seen the league take huge strides during her time – from wages to maternity policies and a full home and away season – first introduced last year.

But she said there was plenty more change to come, especially in terms of equality across the competition, full-time contracts, improved broadcast arrangements and full-time contracts for staff.

Originally published as 44-year-old Matildas veteran Melissa Barbieri signs on for astonishing 28th season at the top