Australian Women’s World Cup hero Cortnee Vine yesterday said she is stepping away from soccer to focus on her mental health with her new-found fame taking its toll.

The 26-year-old vaulted to stardom when she scored the winning penalty in a marathon shootout against France that sent the Matildas into the FIFA World Cup semi-finals on home soil last year.

She earned a contract with North Carolina Courage in the US and was part of Australia’s team during their disappointing 2024 Paris Olympics campaign, but she had been notably absent from recent Matildas squads.

“I’m sure many people can appreciate that my life has dramatically changed over the past two years,” Vine said in a statement provided by her management. “Due to these very new and sometimes overwhelming experiences, I’ve discovered that identifying, managing and prioritizing my mental health has become something I have needed to work very hard on,” she said.

“For now I need to focus on taking care of myself, which is why I am taking some time off,” she added.

In a message of encouragement, her old club Sydney FC said: “We’ll always be here and in support of you Cortnee.”