Ana Dias (footballer)

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Ana Dias

| image = NC Courage vs Portland Thorns (Apr 2024) 042.jpg

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption = Dias with the Portland Thorns in 2024

| full_name = Ana Inês Costa Mendes Dias

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1997|10|02}}

| birth_place = Aveiro, Portugal

| height = 171 cm

| position = Forward

| currentclub = UANL

| clubnumber = 21

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 =

| collegeyears1 =

| college1 =

| collegecaps1 =

| collegegoals1 =

| years1 = 2021–2023

| clubs1 = Zenit Saint Petersburg

| caps1 = 70

| goals1 = 36

| years2 = 2024

| clubs2 = Portland Thorns

| caps2 = 10

| goals2 = 1

| years3 = 2024–

| clubs3 = UANL

| caps3 = 9

| goals3 = 3

| nationalyears1 = 2016

| nationalteam1 = Portugal U-19

| nationalcaps1 = 1

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalyears2 = 2022–

| nationalteam2 = Portugal

| nationalcaps2 = 7

| nationalgoals2 = 0

| medaltemplates =

| club-update = August 31, 2024

| nationalteam-update =

}}

Ana Inês Costa Mendes Dias (born 2 October 1997) is a Portuguese footballer who plays as a forward for Liga MX Femenil club Tigres UANL and the Portugal national team. She previously played for Russian club Zenit Saint Petersburg and NWSL side Portland Thorns.

Early life

Dias was born in 1997 in Aveiro, Portugal, and joined the youth academy of Portuguese side Vaguense as a youth player.{{Cite web|url=https://spbdnevnik.ru/news/2021-03-07/portugalskaya-futbolistka-ana-diash-budet-igrat-za-zhenskiy-zenit|title=Ana Dias - Dnevnik article}}

College career

Dias has received a degree in higher education.{{Cite web|url=https://www.maximonline.ru/sport/yakupova-simanovskaya-voskobovich-diash-medved-samye-krasivye-igroki-zhenskogo-futbolnogo-kluba-zenit-id842242/|title=Ana Dias - Maxim Online article}}

Club career

Dias started her senior career with Portuguese side Cadima, before singing for A-dos-Francos.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ojogo.pt/especiais/futebol-feminino/ana-dias-de-portugal-ate-a-russia-pode-ser-o-momento-perfeito-para-dar-o-grande-salto-13432377.html|title=Ana Dias, de Portugal até à Rússia|publisher=ojogo.pt}}

During the 2019/20 season, Dias made seventeen appaarances and scored forty goals.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sport-express.ru/football/rfpl/photoreports/zenit-zhenskaya-komanda-napadayuschaya-iz-portugalii-ana-diash-foto-v-ermitazhe-1984476/|title=Ana Dias - Sport Express article}}

= Zenit Saint Petersburg, 2021–2023 =

In 2021, she signed for Russian side Zenit.{{Cite web|url=https://www.championat.com/football/news-4735847-napadayuschaya-zenita-ana-diash-zhenskij-futbol-v-rossii-stanovitsya-bolee-raznoobraznym.html|title=Ана Диаш: женский футбол в России становится более разнообразным|publisher=championat.com}} She adapted quickly.{{Cite web|url=https://matchtv.ru/zhenskij_futbol/matchtvnews_NI1705891_Portugalskaja_futbolistka_Zenita_priznalas_chto_mozhet_nazvat_Rossiju_svoim_vtorym_domom|title=ПОРТУГАЛЬСКАЯ ФУТБОЛИСТКА "ЗЕНИТА" ПРИЗНАЛАСЬ, ЧТО МОЖЕТ НАЗВАТЬ РОССИЮ СВОИМ ВТОРЫМ ДОМОМ|publisher=matchtv.ru}}

She scored three goals during her first three appearances for the club.{{Cite web|url=https://w.fc-zenit.ru/news/2021-04-07-ana-diash-schastliva-chto-nachalo-karery-v-zenite-vyshlo-imenno-takim.htm|title=Ана Диаш: "Счастлива, что начало карьеры в "Зените" вышло именно таким"}}

During the 2022 season, she scored nine goals and recorded three assists during her first thirteen appearances that season.{{Cite web|url=https://wfl.rfs.ru/posts/1070600|title=Ана Диаш: "У "Зенита" есть всё, чтобы взять золото в этом году"}} By the end of the 2022 season, she was the top scorer of Zenit and the second-highest top scorer in the league with twelve goals.{{Cite web|url=https://matchtv.ru/zhenskij_futbol/matchtvnews_NI1705899_Podderzhka_Danni_zdorovo_pomogajet_Khochetsa_ostavit_takoj_zhe_sled_v_istorii_Zenita__portugalskaja_futbolistka_Ana_Diash|title="ПОДДЕРЖКА ДАННИ ЗДОРОВО ПОМОГАЕТ. ХОЧЕТСЯ ОСТАВИТЬ ТАКОЙ ЖЕ СЛЕД В ИСТОРИИ «ЗЕНИТА" — ПОРТУГАЛЬСКАЯ ФУТБОЛИСТКА АНА ДИАШ|publisher=matchtv.ru}} That season, she also helped the club win their first league title and reach the final of the 2022 Russian Women's Cup.{{Cite web|url=https://w.fc-zenit.ru/news/2021-10-18-ana-diash-my-dolzhny-gorditsya-tem-chego-dostigli-vsego-na-vtoroy-god-sushchestvovaniya-komandy.htm|title=Ана Диаш: "Мы должны гордиться тем, чего достигли всего на второй год существования команды"}}

= Portland Thorns, 2024 =

On March 20, 2024, Portland Thorns FC acquired Dias and signed her to a one-year contract with a mutual option for 2025.{{Cite web |title=Thorns FC acquire Portuguese striker Ana Dias - Portland Thorns |url=https://www.thorns.com/news/thorns-fc-acquire-portuguese-striker-ana-dias |access-date=2024-08-31 |website=www.thorns.com}}{{Cite web |last=Oregonian/OregonLive |first=Joel Odom {{!}} The |date=2024-03-21 |title=Portland Thorns sign Portuguese forward Ana Dias |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/portland-thorns/2024/03/portland-thorns-sign-portuguese-forward-ana-dias.html |access-date=2024-08-31 |website=oregonlive |language=en}} Dias scored her first goal for the Thorns on May 17, 2024, contributing to a 2–0 victory over the Houston Dash.{{Cite web |title=RECAP {{!}} Portland Thorns FC earns sixth consecutive victory - Portland Thorns |url=https://www.thorns.com/news/recap-portland-thorns-fc-earns-sixth-consecutive-victory |access-date=2024-08-31 |website=www.thorns.com}}

= Tigres UANL, 2024– =

Dias was transferred to Liga MX Femenil club Tigres UANL for an undisclosed transfer fee on August 26, 2024.{{Cite web |title=Portland Thorns FC Transfer Forward Ana Dias to Tigres UANL - Portland Thorns |url=https://www.thorns.com/news/portland-thorns-fc-transfer-forward-ana-dias-to-tigres-uanl |access-date=2024-08-31 |website=www.thorns.com}}

International career

In 2023, Dias was called up to the Portugal women's national football team.{{Cite web|url=https://tribuna.expresso.pt/selecao/2023-03-28-Chamada-de-Ana-Dias-e-a-novidade-na-convocatoria-da-selecao-feminina-para-particulares-contra-Japao-e-Pais-de-Gales-a15e458a|title=Chamada de Ana Dias é a novidade na convocatória|publisher=expresso.pt}} She made one previous appearance for the team.{{Cite web|url=https://www.noticiasaominuto.com/desporto/2289190/ana-dias-sobre-a-selecao-feminina-quero-desfrutar-do-momento|title=Ana Dias sobre a seleção feminina: "Quero desfrutar do momento"|publisher=noticiasaominuto.com}}

Style of play

Dias is known for her mobility, speed, technical ability, and aerial ability.{{Cite web|url=https://www.proscout.pt/ana-dias-quem-e-a-nova-czar-de-sao-petersburgo/|title=Ana Dias: Quem é a nova Czar de São Petersburgo?}}