Janine van Wyk: I would be a Ronaldo in this women's football era

The recently retired former defender, who served her national team for 18 illustrious years – nine of which was spent as captain, officially called time on her career earlier this month after becoming the most-capped footballer, male or female, on the African continent.

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However, the meteoric rise of women's football over arguably the last decade has seen the current generation enjoy huge opportunities in the sport – as opposed to when van Wyk started out in 2005.

Speaking to the South African Football Journalists' Association on Thursday, she believes she would be South Africa's Cristiano Ronaldo had she been on the opposite end of her career in 2023.

"I wish I was still 20 years old right now, and coming into this era of women's football because I would be a Ronaldo right now, earning a lot of money and being successful in that part," said van Wyk.

"But I wouldn't change anything because I think, growing up, it was all about the passion and love for the game – you played football for the pure joy of playing football and representing your country with honour and pride.

"And you see girls come in now, you see the Spanish national team, you see everyone coming to fight for women's football, which I support in a sense."

While the rise of women's football internationally has been stunning to watch, the 36-year-old has questioned the motives of the current generation, who may not be as passionate had the landscape not changed from when women played without the financial incentives.

"But if any national team or association has to say to the women out there that, with the national team, 'You won't be paid money, but you will play for pride and joy.' How many would actually represent their country if they didn't get paid?" she questioned.

"That is my question to many young girls – if you can say, 'Yes, I will play for my country without getting paid a cent,' how many would actually play this game?

"So there's so many players that are playing football for the wrong reasons – they have the talent, but they're doing it because of money.

"They don't have to do anything else but [play football], they don't have to study because there's money [in the game], and that's the wrong mindset to have in this current era."

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