Kika Nazareth

Portuguese footballer (born 2002) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Francisca Ramos Ribeiro Nazareth Sousa (born 17 November 2002), commonly known as Kika or Kika Nazareth,[4] is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a forward or an attacking midfielder for Liga F club Barcelona and the Portugal national team.

Full name Francisca Ramos Ribeiro Nazareth Sousa
Date of birth (2002-11-17) 17 November 2002 (age 23)[1]
Place of birth Lisbon, Portugal[2]
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)[3]
Quick facts Personal information, Full name ...
Kika Nazareth
Nazareth in 2021
Personal information
Full name Francisca Ramos Ribeiro Nazareth Sousa
Date of birth (2002-11-17) 17 November 2002 (age 23)[1]
Place of birth Lisbon, Portugal[2]
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)[3]
Position(s)
Team information
Current team
Barcelona
Number 18
Youth career
2016–2017 CF Benfica
2017–2018 Casa Pia A.C.
2018–2020 Benfica
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018–2024 Benfica 68 (57)
2024– Barcelona 38 (12)
International career
2018–2019 Portugal U17 13 (5)
2019–2020 Portugal U19 7 (6)
2020– Portugal 51 (12)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 27 March 2026
‡ National team caps and goals as of 14 April 2026
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Club career

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.[5]

On the 2023–24 season, Nazareth was part of the historical Benfica team that won all four domestic competitions:[6] 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.[7] She returned in March[8] 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.[citation needed]

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] She made her official debut in a 3–0 win against Deportivo de La Coruña in early September, and scored her first official goal in a 4–1 win over Levante in late October.

Nazareth secured her first piece of silverware with Barcelona on 26 January 2025, when the culers defeated their eternal rivals Real Madrid (5–0) to claim their 5th Spanish Supercup.

On the second leg of the Copa de la Reina semi-final against Real Madrid, Nazareth suffered a serious ankle injury, forcing her to be subbed off at half-time. This injury would mark the end of her club football season, and brought her participation in the European Championship into question. From the sidelines, however, Nazareth saw Barcelona win a record sixth consecutive Liga F (Primera División) (10th overall) and second consecutive Copa de la Reina (5th in six years, 11th overall), adding two more medals to her personal cabinet. Barcelona could not secure a Champions League victory, losing 1-0 against Arsenal FC in the final, held in her hometown of Lisbon. Still, Nazareth was able to help Barcelona win the 2024-25's Copa Catalunya Femenina, given the large interval between the semi-finals and final (over 6 months).

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.[2][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]

On 24 June 2025, Nazareth was called up to the Portugal squad for the UEFA Women's Euro 2025.[13] This was somewhat surprising, given the long-term injury she had sustained during the 2024-2025 season. At the tournament, Nazareth played two group-stage matches, but did not manage to contribute with any goals or assists. The Portuguese team had a swift tournament exit, after collecting only one point in three matches, suffering losses to both Spain and Belgium, and drawing against Italy.

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 21 March 2026[14]
More information Club, Season ...
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Continental[c] Other[d] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Benfica 2018–19 II Divisão Feminino 10000010
2019–20 Campeonato Nacional Feminino 23102053
2020–21 151210413 02413
2021–22 13102041103103014
2022–23 1715564381113626
2023–24 1817211095223125
Total 66571171553094312681
Barcelona 2024–25 Liga F 19330006330296
2025–26 19921005110135
Total 38125100114405817
Career total 1046916815541138318498
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International

As of match played 15 April 2026[15]
More information National team, Year ...
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Portugal 202010
2021100
2022 12 6
2023 12 1
2024 7 2
2025 6 1
2026 3 2
Total5112
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Scores and results list Portugal's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Nazareth goal.
More information No., Date ...
List of international goals scored by Kika Nazareth
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 23 June 2022 Estadio do Restelo, Lisbon, Portugal  Greece 2–0 4–0 Friendly
2 4–0
3 2 September 2022 Serbian FA Sports Center, Stara Pazova, Serbia  Serbia 2–1 2–1 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
4 6 September 2022 Estádio do FC Vizela, Vizela, Portugal  Turkey 2–0 4–0
5 11 October 2022 Estádio da Mata Real, Paços de Ferreira, Portugal  Iceland 4–1 4–1 (a.e.t.) 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification – UEFA play-offs
6 11 November 2022 Estádio Municipal José Martins Vieira, Almada, Portugal  Haiti 5–0 5–0 Friendly
7 27 July 2023 Waikato Stadium, Hamilton, New Zealand  Vietnam 2–0 2–0 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup
8 4 June 2024 Mourneview Park, Lurgan, Northern Ireland  Northern Ireland 1–1 2–1 UEFA Women's Euro 2025 qualifying
9 29 November 2024 Estádio do Dragão, Porto, Portugal  Czech Republic 1–1 1–1 UEFA Women's Euro 2025 qualifying play-offs
10 21 February 2025 Estádio Municipal de Portimão, Portimão, Portugal  England 2025 UEFA Women's Nations League
11 14 April 2026 Daugava Stadium, Riga, Latvia  Latvia 1–0 3–0 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
12 3–0
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Honours

Benfica

Barcelona

Individual

  • Cosme Damião Awards – Women's Revelation of the Year: 2022[18]
  • Cosme Damião Awards – Women's Footballer of the Year: 2023, 2024[19]
  • Campeonato Nacional Feminino Player of the Year: 2023–24
  • Campeonato Nacional Feminino Player of the Month: September/October 2023
  • Campeonato Nacional Feminino Golden Boot: 2023–24
  • Mundo Deportivo Revelation Player award: 2024[20]

References

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