Francisca Ramos Ribeiro Nazareth Sousa (born 17 November 2002), simply known as Kika,[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.[5]

Kika Nazareth
Nazareth in 2021
Personal information
Full name Francisca Ramos Ribeiro Nazareth Sousa
Date of birth (2002-11-17) 17 November 2002 (age 22)[1]
Place of birth Lisbon, Portugal[2]
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)[3]
Position(s) Forward, Midfielder
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 10 (1)
International career
2018–2019 Portugal U17 13 (5)
2019–2020 Portugal U19 7 (6)
2020– Portugal 40 (8)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23 November 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23 November 2024

Club career

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SL Benfica

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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.[6]

2023/2024

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On the 2023/2024 season, Nazareth was part of the historical Benfica team that won all four domestic competitions:[7] 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.[8] She returned in March[9] 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.[10]

FC Barcelona

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On 4 July 2024,[11] Nazareth completed a move to Spanish giants FC Barcelona for €500 000, a record fee for the women's football scene in Portugal.[12]

International career

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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][13] 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.[14]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 23 November 2024[15]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Continental[c] Other[d] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Benfica 2018–19 II Divisão Feminino 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
2019–20 Campeonato Nacional Feminino 2 3 1 0 2 0 5 3
2020–21 Campeonato Nacional Feminino 16 12 1 0 4 1 3 0 24 13
2021–22 Campeonato Nacional Feminino 13 10 2 0 4 1 10 3 1 0 30 14
2022–23 Campeonato Nacional Feminino 18 15 5 6 4 3 8 1 1 1 36 26
2023–24 Campeonato Nacional Feminino 18 17 2 1 1 0 9 5 2 2 31 25
Total 68 57 11 7 15 5 30 9 4 3 127 81
Barcelona 2024–25 Liga F 10 1 0 0 4 3 0 0 14 4
Career total 78 58 11 7 15 5 34 12 4 3 141 85

International

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As of match played 23 November 2024[16]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Portugal 2020 1 0
2021 10 0
2022 12 6
2023 12 1
2024 5 1
Total 35 8
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. 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

Honours

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Benfica

Individual

  • Campeonato Nacional Feminino Player of the Year: 2023–24
  • Campeonato Nacional Feminino Golden Boot: 2023–24

References

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