Bruna Santos Nhaia (born 16 June 2002), known as Bruninha or just Bruna, is a Brazilian professional soccer player who plays as a right back. She plays for NJ/NY Gotham FC in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) as well as the Brazil national team.
 Bruninha with Brazil in 2023 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Bruna Santos Nhaia[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 16 June 2002[2][3] | ||
| Place of birth | Castro, Paraná, Brazil[2] | ||
| Height | 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Right back[2] | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | NJ/NY Gotham FC | ||
| Number | 3 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2016–2019 | Chapecoense | ||
| 2019 | Internacional | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2018 | Chapecoense | ||
| 2020 | Internacional | 6 | (1) |
| 2021–2022 | Santos | 24 | (1) |
| 2022– | NJ/NY Gotham FC | 18 | (2) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2018 | Brazil U17 | 3 | (0) |
| 2019– | Brazil U20 | 15 | (1) |
| 2021– | Brazil | 19 | (1) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17 October 2023 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 17 October 2023 | |||
She previously played for Brazilian sides Chapecoense, Internacional, and Santos FC. She captained the Brazilian team at the 2022 U-20 World Cup and participated in the 2023 World Cup.
Known for her strong play on both sides of the ball, she won the NWSL Championship with NJ/NY Gotham FC in 2023 and is the youngest goal scorer in the history of the club.
Club career
editYouth career and Beginnings in Brazil
editBorn in Castro, Paraná, Bruninha joined Chapecoense's youth setup after a trial period in 2016. She made her first team debut for the club in 2018, but went back to playing at the under-18 level following a 2019 move to Internacional.[4]
Bruninha began featuring in Internacional's first team during the 2020 campaign, scoring a goal on her debut in a 3–0 away win against Vitória on 5 September.[5] In February 2021, she moved to Santos FC.[6] She appeared in 24 matches for the club and won the 2021 Bola de Prata (Silver Ball) for her play.[7]
NJ/NY Gotham FC, 2022–present
editOn 23 August 2022, Santos transferred Bruninha to NJ/NY Gotham FC of the National Women's Soccer League for an undisclosed fee.[3] She made one appearance in 2022 and 17 league appearances during the 2023 season, in which Gotham placed sixth. She scored her first NWSL goal on 21 May 2023, becoming the youngest goal scorer in club history at 20 years of age.[8] During the month of May she was named Player of the Week for Week 9 and appeared on the Team of the Month for her strong defensive and attacking play.
She played in every minute of Gotham's postseason run, scoring a crucial assist in the quarter final match against the North Carolina Courage and playing in a defense that allowed one goal in three games.[9] Gotham FC lifted the NWSL Championship trophy on 11 November 2023.[10] She is currently under contract through the 2025 season.[8]
International career
editBruninha has made appearances for Brazil at the under-17, under-20, and senior levels.[3] In 2022 she won the South American U-20 Championship and captained her team at the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, in which Brazil finished in third, playing in every match.
She made her first appearance for the full women's national team on 17 September 2021, in a 3–1 win against Argentina, notching one assist.[11] In 2023 she appeared in the SheBelieves Cup and made her first World Cup appearance in a 4–0 group stage win over Panama.
Style of play
editBruninha is a right-footed defender who typically plays on the right side of a back four as a right back, though she occasionally plays on the opposite side of the field.[12] Upon re-signing Bruninha in 2023, NJ/NY Gotham FC head coach Juan Carlos Amorós described her as having "great skill on the ball, and she is strong in 1v1 defending. She can read the game well, and has the ability to be a dangerous part of our attack."[8]
Career statistics
editInternational
edit- As of 17 October 2023
| Brazil | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 2021[13] | 5 | 0 |
| 2022 | 1 | 0 |
| 2023 | 3[14] | 0 |
| Total | 9 | 0 |
Honours
editNJ/NY Gotham FC
Brazil U20
Individual
- ESPN Bola de Prata: 2021[7]
- NWSL Player of the Week: Week 9, 2023 [16]
- NWSL Team of the Month: May 2023 [17]
References
edit- ^ "Squad List, FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Costa Rica 2022: Brazil (BRA)" (PDF). FIFA. 18 August 2022. p. 2. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
- ^ a b c d "Bruninha" (in Brazilian Portuguese). Santos FC. Archived from the original on 22 April 2022. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
- ^ a b c "Gotham FC Signs Brazilian Defender Bruninha" (Press release). NJ/NY Gotham FC. 23 August 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
- ^ ""Me cobro muito para entregar o máximo", diz lateral das Sereias sobre titularidade" ["I demand a lot from myself to deliver the maximum", says Sereias full-back about starting spot] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Meu Peixão. 19 May 2021. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
- ^ "Lateral do Inter celebra gol na estreia como profissional e bom momento com a equipe" [Inter's full-back celebrates goal on professional debut and good form with the team] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Mercado do Futebol. 8 September 2020. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
- ^ "Novas Sereias, Bruninha e Júlia comemoram chegada ao Santos" [Newest Sereias, Bruninha and Júlia celebrate arrival at Santos] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Diário do Peixe. 14 February 2021. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
- ^ a b "Bruninha segue tradição de Marta e cia. no Santos e leva Bola de Prata de revelação do Brasileirão". ESPN.com (in Portuguese). 10 December 2021. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
- ^ a b c Tonelli, Jenna (31 August 2023). "Brazilian defender Bruninha extends with Gotham FC through 2025 – Equalizer Soccer". Retrieved 3 December 2023.
- ^ "NJ/NY Gotham FC 2–0 North Carolina Courage (Oct 22, 2023) Commentary". ESPN. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
- ^ "Gotham, Ali Krieger reach end of long road to NWSL Championship glory". ESPN.com. 12 November 2023. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
- ^ "Brazil vs. Argentina Match Report – Friday September 17, 2021". FBref.com. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
- ^ "Bruninha 2023 Match Logs". FBref.com. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
- ^ "Seleção Brasileira Feminina (Brazilian National Women's Team) 2020–2021". RSSSF. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
- ^ https://www.flashscore.com/player/bruninha/xtXV9xBT/ [bare URL]
- ^ "NWSL Championship highlights: Gotham FC crowned champions as Rapinoe, Krieger end careers". USA Today. 11 November 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
- ^ "@NWSL". Twitter. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
- ^ "National Women's Soccer League Official Site | NWSL". www.nwslsoccer.com. 5 June 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
External links
edit- Bruninha National Women's Soccer League profile
- Bruninha #3 at NJ/NY Gotham FC
- Bruninha at Soccerway
- Bruninha at FBref.com