Ludmila (footballer) explained

Ludmila
Fullname:Ludmila da Silva
Birth Date:1 December 1994
Birth Place:Guarulhos, Brazil
Height:160cm
Position:Forward
Currentclub:Chicago Red Stars
Youthclubs1:CA Juventus
Clubs1:CA Juventus
Years1:2011
Clubs2:São Caetano
Years2:2012
Clubs3:Portuguesa
Years3:2013
Clubs4:Rio Preto
Years4:2013
Caps4:6
Goals4:3
Clubs5:São José
Years5:2015–2017
Caps5:15
Goals5:6
Clubs6:Atlético Madrid
Years6:2017–2024
Caps6:137
Goals6:59
Nationalteam1:Brazil
Nationalyears1:2017–
Nationalcaps1:50
Nationalgoals1:5
Club-Update:20:40, 22 November 2020 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:23:10, 29 July 2024 (UTC)
Years7:2024–
Clubs7:Chicago Red Stars
Caps7:0
Goals7:0

Ludmila da Silva (born 1 December 1994), commonly known as Ludmila, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Chicago Red Stars of the United States' National Women's Soccer League and the Brazil women's national team.

Club career

A high school athletics champion, Ludmila took up organized football at the relatively late age of 15. She was noticed by a scout from CA Juventus and then moved on to play for São Caetano, Portuguesa, Rio Preto and São José as a fast and strong winger.[1]

In August 2017, Ludmila agreed to a transfer to Spanish Primera División club Atlético Madrid.[2] Her exceptional pace led her to be dubbed: "Road Runner".[3] Good performances and six goals in the first half season prompted Atlético to extend her initial two-year contract by another year in December 2017.[4]

In September 2018, Ludmila assisted the first goal and scored the second to eliminate Manchester City from the 2018–19 UEFA Women's Champions League Round of 32, securing Atlético's place in the Round of 16.[5]

On 29 July 2024, the Chicago Red Stars announced that they had signed Ludmila to a three-year contract through the 2026 season.[6]

International career

Ludmila was part of the Brazilian under-20 selection at the 2014 South American U-20 Women's Championship in Uruguay, scoring three goals at the tournament. In the 2–0 final win over Paraguay, she won a penalty which Andressa converted, and then scored the second goal herself.[7]

In June 2017, Ludmila was called up to the senior Brazil squad for the first time for a friendly match against Germany in Sandhausen. She reportedly did not have a passport and had to urgently obtain one to accept the call-up. She stated that national coach Emily Lima, previously her boss at Juventus and São José, was a mother figure to her.[8] In Germany, Brazil fielded a weakened team as the match was outside FIFA-specified international dates and some regular players were unable to attend. Ludmila capitalised on an error by German goalkeeper Almuth Schult to mark her debut with a goal, but Brazil lost 3–1.[9]

In previous training sessions with the national team, Ludmila had been stung by criticism from a team official who suggested she was good at running but did not know when to release the ball.[10] Ludmila scored the only goal in a behind closed doors training match against Canada in Ottawa on 4 September 2018.[11]

International goals

No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 4 July 2017 1–1 1–3 Friendly
2. 29 August 2019 1–0 5–0 2019 Torneio Internacional de Futebol Feminino
3. 10 March 2020 2–0 2–2 2020 Tournoi de France
4. 24 July 2021 3–2 3–3 2020 Summer Olympics
5. 22 February 2023 1–2 1–2 2023 SheBelieves Cup

Personal life

Ludmila is Afro-Brazilian and was brought up in a favela[12] by her aunt, as her mother left the family and her father died during her childhood. In 2016, her older sister also died.[13]

Honours

Brazil

Notes and References

  1. News: Menayo . David . Ludmila da Silva, la pantera indomable que ruge en el Atlético de Madrid . 11 October 2018 . Marca . 2 October 2018 . Spanish.
  2. News: Fuente . Iván . Ludmila Da Silva, un fichaje para el ataque del Atlético Femenino . 11 October 2018 . Marca . 13 August 2017 . Spanish.
  3. News: Anguas . Arturo . ¡Beep beep! Ludmila, el correcaminos de la Liga Iberdrola . 11 October 2018 . Ellas Futbol . 9 February 2018 . Spanish.
  4. News: Ludmila renueva hasta 2020 con el Atlético Femenino . 11 October 2018 . Mundo Deportivo . 18 December 2017 . Spanish.
  5. News: Menayo . David . Ludmila guía al Atlético de Madrid a los octavos de final de la Champions League . 11 October 2018 . Marca . 26 September 2018 . Spanish.
  6. Web site: Salazar . Emmanuel . 2024-07-29 . Chicago Red Stars Sign Brazilian International, Ludmila . 2024-07-29 . Chicago Red Stars . en-US.
  7. News: 2014 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup - group B capsules . 11 October 2018 . US Soccer . 25 July 2014.
  8. News: Dantas . Gabriel . Após "correria" por passaporte, Ludmila vibra por chance na Seleção . 11 October 2018 . Globo Esporte . 22 June 2017 . Portuguese.
  9. News: Barlem . Cintia . Seleção feminina perde por 3 a 1 para a Alemanha em amistoso . 11 October 2018 . Globo Esporte . 4 July 2017 . Portuguese.
  10. News: Leite . Victoria . Emily Lima revela que jogadora já se sentiu ofendida na Seleção . 11 October 2018 . Gazeta Esportiva . 27 September 2017 . Portuguese.
  11. News: Davidson . Neil . Canada gets favourable draw for CONCACAF women's championship . 11 October 2018 . CBC . 5 September 2018.
  12. News: Cazón . Patricia . Ludmila da Silva taking giant steps with Atlético . 11 October 2018 . AS . 11 September 2018.
  13. News: Pereira . Silas . Artilheira do São José, Ludmila supera perdas na família por conquista inédita . 11 October 2018 . Globo Esporte . 11 April 2016 . Portuguese.
  14. Web site: Jurejko . Jonathan . 10 August 2024 . Brazil 0-1 United States: Emma Hayes leads USA to Olympic gold . 12 August 2024 . BBC Sport . en-GB.