<p>New Zealand captain Ali Riley has revealed her soccer career may be over due to the nerve injury that ruled her out of the Paris Olympics.</p><p>The 36-year-old defender was withdrawn from selection on the eve of the Football Ferns' opening match against Canada at the Games.</p><p>"Even now, when I don't know if I'll ever be able to play soccer again, that's the reality of the injury I have now," Riley told a Q&A session at an event promoting girls in sport in Los Angeles.</p><p>"The lessons I’ve learned, the community that supports me and where I have honed my skills to do other things that spark joy, I feel like I can still be the best version of myself even if I can’t go out there and play games any more."</p>.Brighton sign Rutter from Leeds in club record deal.<p>Riley has made over 160 appearances for New Zealand but has barely played at any level in recent months.</p><p>After her Olympic campaign was cancelled she wrote on social media that she was suffering a "frustrating, confusing and excruciatingly painful" nerve injury.</p><p>Defender Katie Bowen captained New Zealand in Riley's absence in Paris, where the Ferns lost all three of their group matches.</p>
<p>New Zealand captain Ali Riley has revealed her soccer career may be over due to the nerve injury that ruled her out of the Paris Olympics.</p><p>The 36-year-old defender was withdrawn from selection on the eve of the Football Ferns' opening match against Canada at the Games.</p><p>"Even now, when I don't know if I'll ever be able to play soccer again, that's the reality of the injury I have now," Riley told a Q&A session at an event promoting girls in sport in Los Angeles.</p><p>"The lessons I’ve learned, the community that supports me and where I have honed my skills to do other things that spark joy, I feel like I can still be the best version of myself even if I can’t go out there and play games any more."</p>.Brighton sign Rutter from Leeds in club record deal.<p>Riley has made over 160 appearances for New Zealand but has barely played at any level in recent months.</p><p>After her Olympic campaign was cancelled she wrote on social media that she was suffering a "frustrating, confusing and excruciatingly painful" nerve injury.</p><p>Defender Katie Bowen captained New Zealand in Riley's absence in Paris, where the Ferns lost all three of their group matches.</p>