Kika Nazareth Explained

Kika Nazareth
Fullname:Francisca Ramos Ribeiro Nazareth Sousa
Birth Date:2002 11, df=yes
Birth Place:Lisbon, Portugal
Height:1.70 m[1]
Position:Forward, Midfielder
Currentclub:Barcelona
Youthyears1:2016–2017
Youthclubs1:CF Benfica
Youthyears2:2017–2018
Youthclubs2:Casa Pia A.C.
Youthyears3:2018–2020
Youthclubs3:Benfica
Years1:2018–2024
Clubs1:Benfica
Caps1:68
Goals1:57
Years2:2024–
Clubs2:Barcelona
Caps2:0
Goals2:0
Nationalyears1:2018–2019
Nationalteam1:Portugal U17
Nationalcaps1:13
Nationalgoals1:5
Nationalyears2:2019–2020
Nationalteam2:Portugal U19
Nationalcaps2:7
Nationalgoals2:6
Nationalyears3:2020–
Nationalteam3:Portugal
Nationalcaps3:39
Nationalgoals3:8
Pcupdate:20 May 2024
Ntupdate:6 June 2024

Francisca Ramos Ribeiro Nazareth Sousa (born 17 November 2002), simply known as Kika,[2] is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a forward or an attacking midfielder for Liga F club Barcelona and the Portugal national team.[3]

Club career

SL Benfica

Nazareth made her senior debut for Benfica at the age of 16 and signed her first professional contract with the club on 7 October 2020, at the age of 17.[4]

2023/2024

On the 2023/2024 season, Nazareth was part of the historical Benfica team that won all four domestic competitions:[5] the Supertaça de Portugal (Portuguese Supercup, third in the club's history), the Taça da Liga (Portuguese League Cup, fourth in the club's history), the Campeonato Nacional (Portuguese League, fourth in the club's history), and the Taça de Portugal (Portuguese National Cup, second in the club's history). This was the first time a women's team in Portugal managed this feat, and it is yet to be replicated.

Nazareth was forced to miss two months of play after sustaining an injury against Valadares Gaia in early January 2024.[6] She returned in March[7] and quickly took back her spot in the starting lineup. Across all competitions (including the Champions League), Nazareth played 37 matches, scoring 25 goals and assisting 8.[8]

FC Barcelona

On 4 July 2024,[9] Nazareth completed a move to Spanish giants FC Barcelona for €500 000, a record fee for the women's football scene in Portugal.[10]

International career

Nazareth made her debut for the Portugal national team on 4 March 2020, coming on as a substitute for Carolina Mendes against Italy in the 2020 Algarve Cup.[11] She scored her first goals for the Portugal national team on 22 june 2022 in a friendly match against Greece, scoring two goals in the first half in a 4-0 win for Portugal. On 30 May 2023, she was included in the 23-player squad for the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023.[12]

Career statistics

Club

[13]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Benfica2018–19II Divisão Feminino10000010
2019–20Campeonato Nacional Feminino23102053
2020–21Campeonato Nacional Feminino16121041302413
2021–22Campeonato Nacional Feminino13102041103103014
2022–23Campeonato Nacional Feminino1815564381113626
2023–24Campeonato Nacional Feminino1817211095223125
Total68571171553094312781
Barcelona2024–25Liga F000000000000
Career total68571171553094312781

International

[14]

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Portugal202010
2021100
2022126
2023121
202441
Total398

Scores and results list Portugal's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Nazareth goal.

List of international goals scored by Kika Nazareth
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
123 June 2022Estadio do Restelo, Lisbon, Portugal2–04–0Friendly
2 4–0
32 September 2022Serbian FA Sports Center, Stara Pazova, Serbia2–12–12023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
46 September 2022Estádio do FC Vizela, Vizela, Portugal2–04–0
511 October 2022Estádio da Mata Real, Paços de Ferreira, Portugal4–14–1 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification – UEFA play-offs
611 November 2022Estádio Municipal José Martins Vieira, Almada, Portugal5–05–0Friendly
727 July 2023Waikato Stadium, Hamilton, New Zealand2–02–02023 FIFA Women's World Cup
84 June 2024Mourneview Park, Lurgan, Northern Ireland1–12–1UEFA Women's Euro 2025 qualifying

Honours

Benfica

Individual

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Play-Off Tournament for the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 . . 1 . 12 February 2023 . 12 February 2023.
  2. Web site: Kika Nazareth. World Football . 13 July 2021.
  3. Web site: Francisca Nazareth. Playmaker Stats . 13 July 2021.
  4. Web site: Francisca Nazareth assina contrato profissional. . 7 October 2020. 13 July 2021. Fernandes Garcia. Filipa. Portuguese.
  5. Web site: "Full season: Benfica wins the Portuguese Cup!" (Portuguese article). zerozero.pt.
  6. Web site: "Kika Nazareth injured and expected to miss two months" (Portuguese article). www.record.pt.
  7. Web site: "Kika Nazareth back in Benfica's squad two months later" (Portuguese article). www.record.pt.
  8. Web site: Kika Nazareth - 2023/2024. zerozero.pt.
  9. Web site: Agreement to sign Kika Nazareth until 2028. . 4 July 2024. 5 July 2024. English.
  10. Web site: Oficial. Kika Nazareth já é jogadora do Barcelona, mas promete voltar um dia ao Benfica . . 4 July 2024. 5 July 2024. Portuguese .
  11. Web site: Portugal vs Italy. Global Sports Archive . 13 July 2021.
  12. Web site: updated . Mark White last . 2023-06-07 . Portugal Women's World Cup 2023 squad: 23-player team named . 2023-06-20 . fourfourtwo.com . en.
  13. Web site: Kika Nazareth . Ogol . 19 July 2024.
  14. Web site: Francisca Nazareth . Federação Portuguesa de Futebol . 17 July 2024.