After almost two decades with the national team, long-time goalkeeper Inna Palacios is ending her chapter with the Filipinas... going home with a historic SEA Games gold.
BANGKOK — All good things must come to an end.
After 18 years in the national team program, Inna Palacios has announced that she is retiring from the Filipinas on the heels of their historic football gold medal at the SEA Games 2025 in Chonburi, where they slayed four-time defending champions Vietnam in a thrilling penalty shootout, 6-5.
With 51 caps and 18 clean sheets, Palacios has been one of the earliest pillars of the national team that has continued to defy the odds and rewrite the record books from their inaugural FIFA Women’s World Cup appearance, and the country’s first-ever gold medal in SEA Games football.
But as she reflected on her impact on the team, Palacios realized that she had already given all that she could to help the team.
As her career enters the twilight years, there is little room to keep going for her in the Filipinas.
“[It’s a] full circle moment for me, I think SEA Games was when I started to dream and it just took me 18 years to get the gold. But I think for me, it's sad that I have to leave the team. But I think I've done everything I can as a player,” an emotional Palacios told POC Media at the venue on Wednesday night.
“I’ve dreamed a lot for the team I've given so much for the team and I'd want to see them dream for that.”
Palacios, born and raised in the Philippines, had been with the national team program since its early days where they struggled to get anything going against neighboring teams.
She was also part of the squad that started to break through, suiting up for the national team in multiple occasions—including the FIFA Women’s World Cup, the 2022 AFF Women’s Championship, and now the 2025 SEA Games.
While Palacios has seen reduced playing time since Olivia McDaniel became the main goalkeeper a few years back, she believes that her story is something that can help inspire the next generation of football players.
“I think my main lesson is I want them to know that anything that they want to achieve they can achieve because I've seen it, I’ve experienced it and that's the true heart of a Filipino,” Palacios said.
“And I think it's special to be able to [do this]. Who does this, who ends their career with a gold? I just believe, so I just want them to know that whatever they put their heads in their minds and their hearts Into something it's something that they can achieve.”
‘She built this team’
Even as Palacios saw limited playing time in the latter part of her national team career, her impact to the program is one that her teammates can attest to.
McDaniel, who took over the reins as the main goalkeeper for the Filipinas at the turn of the decade, said that there wasn’t anything negative about Palacios and how she continued to push McDaniel and the rest of the team to the right direction on and off the pitch.
“I will never speak any ill of her because she has been my rock ever since I stepped into this team, ever since I stepped into my role. She has always been the team first, pushing me to be my best, pushing each other to be our best. The mindset was always the best 11 on the field.” McDaniel said after the match on Wednesday.
“And she has just been so special and just such an icon to this team. And she built this team. She is the one that got us to where we are.”
For McDaniel, Palacios’ exit marks a bittersweet end. Because it’s one thing to finish as a SEA Games champion, but she would’ve liked a little more time to learn from Palacios.
Nevertheless, there is a lot more in store both for the team and Palacios personally. They’ll just need to traverse their own paths this time.
“I am just immensely thankful. And I am so upset that I can't keep doing this with her every single time we come into camp. But I am just so excited for her journey after this.” McDaniel said.
“And I'm thrilled for her. She's had such an iconic career and I'm just so happy she's my ate.” she continued.
18-year legacy
Owing to her lengthy career with the Filipinas, there is hardly one specific thing to pinpoint in terms of how she impacted the team.
But for Palacios herself, it was clear what type of player she wanted to be remember by.
Palacios was clear — she wanted to be remembered for more than just her stats, but rather for how she kept the fire burning within herself and in turn, saw the fates turn in favor of the Filipinas from SEA Games heartbreaks to a gold medal, an AFF Championship, and a historic campaign at the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
“[I want] to be remembered as] just a person that loved deeply person that chooses love and passion even if it's hard and someone that believes. I always tell my teammates, tell myself, to stay true to who you are when you love something, love it with all your heart because when you do good things will happen back.” said Palacios.
“It may take time but [after] 18 years I can tell you it's worth it.” she added.
(With reports from Bea Escudero/Cignal)
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Luisa Morales is a sports writer with a special interest in promoting women’s sports.
Her coverage highlights include the UAAP, PVL, Southeast Asian Games, and the FIBA World Cup.
She also follows Alex Eala, the Philippine women’s national football team, and mixed martial arts.