Hayley Raso and her mum explain why the identical tattoos they share took on special meaning as the Matildas beat Canada to keep their World Cup dream alive

Matildas World Cup hero Hayley Raso and her mother sport the same tattoo – and it took on a special meaning thanks to the timing of Australia’s thumping win over Canada on Monday night.

Raso, 28, and her mum Renaye both have a full moon inked on their arms – and they took it as a good omen when the footballer spotted one up in the sky before kickoff.

‘I texted Mum and told her [it was a full moon],’ said the star midfielder, who scored two goals in the first half against the Olympic champions.

‘Mum said it was a sign [we were going to win].’ 

Renaye also revealed the permanent reminder on her arm is part of a special bond she shares with her daughter.

So does Raso’s mother Renaye, who was beaming after watching her daughter score two goals for Australia in the 4-0 World Cup win over Canada on Monday 

‘The full moon is our thing, every time there is one … we send it to each other,’ the mother of three said.

‘I kept looking up to the moon and saying please come through for her … and it did.’

Raso acknowledges her football journey to stardom wouldn’t have happened without her mum.

A single parent, Renaye often drove her daughter from their family home on the Gold Coast to Brisbane for training sessions when she was a youngster.

She was also on the first available plane when Raso broke three vertebrae while playing for Portland Thorns in the US National Women’s Soccer League back in 2018.

The Matildas needed to beat the Olympic champions to stay in the tournament – and did so in impressive fashion thanks in large part to Raso (pictured left, celebrating her first goal) 

Raso then found the net a second time near the end of the first half, prodding home a loose ball from six yards

‘I aspire to be like her, she devotes her entire life to her children and you can’t ask for much more in a mum,’ Raso said.

‘She means the world to me, she’s so caring, honest, and she helps me through all my tough times in life. ‘She’s very special to me and I think I’m very special to her too.’

Raso will again be a key figure when the Matildas are next in action in the round of 16 at the World Cup.

Their opponents for the knockout clash at Sydney’s Stadium Australia on August 7 will be determined when all four teams in group D play on Tuesday night.