A-League star earns title of world’s toughest footballer by returning to the field after breaking her neck in accident that almost left her a quadriplegic

Wellington Phoenix goalkeeper Rylee Foster could be the world’s toughest footballer after recently returning to the sport following a horrific car accident two years ago.

Foster, 25, was on the books of Liverpool in the Women’s Super League when her life was turned upside down.

A passenger on her way to a music gig in Finland, the shot-stopper from Canada feared she going to be a quadriplegic after she was thrown through the windscreen of a vehicle that had flipped over.

She suffered bleeding on the brain and had seven fractures in her neck – but remarkably Foster believes she is one of the lucky ones.

‘The fact that I’m alive is phenomenal,’ Foster told KeepUp. 

The 25-year-old suffered bleeding on the brain and had seven fractures in her neck following a horrific car accident in 2021

Before her accident, Foster was an emerging talent on the books of Liverpool in England

Her determined nature made Foster a popular teammate at the Reds – now she is seeking a new challenge in the A-League Women’s competition

‘The injury that I sustained is known to kill you instantly, if not become a tetraplegic.’

Foster has signed for Wellington ahead of the A-League Women’s season as she looks to relaunch her career – and will battle it out with Brianna Edwards to be the club’s starting no.1.

She labelled joining the Phoenix ‘very symbolic’ and in her eyes it is a ‘rise from something that was literally in ashes.’

‘I’ve been through a lot in the last two years, more than most people go through in their whole lives,’ Foster added.

‘There have been a lot of sacrifices and blood, sweat and tears to get to this point, and a lot of hurdles in regard to physical and mental health.

‘This new version of myself could potentially be the best yet and that’s what I’m excited about.

‘For the Phoenix to put their trust in me, to take that risk, but also be a part of my journey was really remarkable….. I’ll be forever grateful.’

Wellington tackle Melbourne City on home soil in their season opener on October 15.