Melissa Anne Barbieri (born 20 February 1980) is an Australian international soccer goalkeeper who plays for Melbourne City in the A-League Women. She earned over 86 caps with the Australia women's national soccer team and competed at four FIFA Women's World Cup tournaments. Barbieri retired from international football in 2015. Barbieri was named W-League Goalkeeper of the Year for the 2008–09 and 2013–14 seasons.

Early life and education

Barbieri was a scholarship holder with the Victorian Institute of Sport.

Playing career

In her early career Barbieri was a midfielder until she was 20 years old, when a hamstring tendinitis injury required her to stop playing in the outfield. In September 2002 she made her debut for Australia in a game against Canada. Before the 2007 World Cup Barbieri played 54 games for Australia. She played for Richmond SC, becoming the first female to play in the Australian semi-professional men's league. After gaining experience in the men's league, Barbieri made her debut in goals for the Matildas in September 2002 in a 1–0 win against Canada. In 2008, she was approached by the US football team, the Boston Renegades. However, the Boston management eventually pursued this no further for the remainder of the season, due to Barbieri's commitments to the Australian national team. She signed for Melbourne Victory for the inaugural season of the Westfield W-League. Barbieri won the Goalkeeper of the year award in that season. On 19 February 2010, Barbieri was named captain of the Matildas following the 2009 retirement of Cheryl Salisbury. In May 2015, national coach Alen Stajcic surprisingly axed Brianna Davey from Australia's 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup squad, a decision criticised in many quarters, recalling resurgent veteran Barbieri for her fourth World Cup. In July 2016, Barbieri signed a deal to play one game as a guest for Taroona in the Tasmanian Women's Super League. In November 2017, Barbieri came out of retirement to join Melbourne City on an injury replacement contract, after one of their goalkeepers Emily Shields broke her wrist.

Coaching career

Barbieri was appointed coach of Heidelberg United's women's team in October 2016. In July 2018, Barbieri was appointed as an assistant coach of the Melbourne City W-League team.

In popular culture

Barbieri was on the cover of the Australian FourFourTwo magazine along with fellow Matildas Thea Slatyer, Sam Kerr, Kyah Simon and Sarah Walsh in June 2011.

Personal life

Barbieri gave birth to her first child, a girl, in 2013.

Career highlights

Honours

Country

Individual