Bruninha

{{short description|Brazilian professional footballer (born 2002)}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Bruninha

| image = 2023-04-11 Fussball, Frauen, Länderspiel, Deutschland - Brasilien 1DX 0057 by Stepro.jpg

| caption = Bruninha with Brazil in 2023

| fullname = Bruna Santos Nhaia{{cite web |url=https://fdp.fifa.org/assetspublic/ce42/pdf/SquadLists-English.pdf |title=Squad List, FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Costa Rica 2022: Brazil (BRA) |work=FIFA |page=2 |date=18 August 2022 |access-date=27 August 2022}}

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|2002|6|16}}{{cite web |url=https://www.santosfc.com.br/elenco/bruninha/ |title=Bruninha |publisher=Santos FC |language=pt-BR |access-date=21 May 2021 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220422141740/https://www.santosfc.com.br/elenco/bruninha/ |archive-date=22 April 2022}}

| birth_place = Castro, Paraná, Brazil

| height = 1.60 m

| position = Right back

| currentclub = NJ/NY Gotham FC

| clubnumber = 3

| youthyears1 = 2016–2019

| youthclubs1 = Chapecoense

| youthyears2 = 2019

| youthclubs2 = Internacional

| years1 = 2018

| clubs1 = Chapecoense

| caps1 =

| goals1 =

| years2 = 2020

| clubs2 = Internacional

| caps2 = 6

| goals2 = 1

| years3 = 2021–2022

| clubs3 = Santos

| caps3 = 24

| goals3 = 1

| years4 = 2022–

| clubs4 = NJ/NY Gotham FC

| caps4 = 18

| goals4 = 2

| nationalyears1 = 2018

| nationalteam1 = Brazil U17

| nationalcaps1 = 3

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalyears2 = 2019–

| nationalteam2 = Brazil U20

| nationalcaps2 = 15

| nationalgoals2 = 1

| nationalyears3 = 2021–

| nationalteam3 = Brazil

| nationalcaps3 = 19

| nationalgoals3 = 1

| club-update = 17 October 2023

| ntupdate = 17 October 2023

}}

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.

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

= Youth career and Beginnings in Brazil =

Born 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.{{cite web |url=https://meupeixao.com.br/2021/05/me-cobro-muito-para-entregar-o-maximo-diz-lateral-das-sereias-sobre-titularidade/ |title="Me cobro muito para entregar o máximo", diz lateral das Sereias sobre titularidade |trans-title="I demand a lot from myself to deliver the maximum", says Sereias full-back about starting spot |publisher=Meu Peixão |language=pt-BR |date=19 May 2021 |access-date=21 May 2021}}

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.{{cite web |url=https://mercadodofutebol.com/internacional/lateral-do-inter-celebra-gol-na-estreia-como-profissional-e-bom-momento-com-a-equipe/ |title=Lateral do Inter celebra gol na estreia como profissional e bom momento com a equipe |trans-title=Inter's full-back celebrates goal on professional debut and good form with the team |publisher=Mercado do Futebol |language=pt-BR |date=8 September 2020 |access-date=21 May 2021}} In February 2021, she moved to Santos FC.{{cite web |url=https://www.diariodopeixe.com.br/noticias/novas-sereias-bruninha-e-julia-comemoram-chegada-ao-santos/ |title=Novas Sereias, Bruninha e Júlia comemoram chegada ao Santos |trans-title=Newest Sereias, Bruninha and Júlia celebrate arrival at Santos |publisher=Diário do Peixe |language=pt-BR |date=14 February 2021 |access-date=21 May 2021}} She appeared in 24 matches for the club and won the 2021 Bola de Prata (Silver Ball) for her play.{{Cite web |date=10 December 2021 |title=Bruninha segue tradição de Marta e cia. no Santos e leva Bola de Prata de revelação do Brasileirão |url=https://www.espn.com.br/futebol/bola-de-prata/artigo/_/id/9645082/espn-bola-de-prata-sportingbet-bruninha-segue-tradicao-marta-santos-eleita-revelacao-brasileirao |access-date=3 December 2023 |website=ESPN.com |language=pt}}

= NJ/NY Gotham FC, 2022–present =

On 23 August 2022, Santos transferred Bruninha to NJ/NY Gotham FC of the National Women's Soccer League for an undisclosed fee.{{cite press release |url=https://www.gothamfc.com/news_article/show/1236678 |title=Gotham FC Signs Brazilian Defender Bruninha |date=23 August 2022 |access-date=23 August 2022 |publisher=NJ/NY Gotham FC}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Tonelli |first=Jenna |date=31 August 2023 |title=Brazilian defender Bruninha extends with Gotham FC through 2025 – Equalizer Soccer |url=https://equalizersoccer.com/2023/08/31/brazilian-defender-bruninha-extends-with-gotham-fc-through-2025/ |access-date=3 December 2023 |language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite web |title=NJ/NY Gotham FC 2–0 North Carolina Courage (Oct 22, 2023) Commentary |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/commentary/_/gameId/689362 |access-date=3 December 2023 |website=ESPN |language=en}} Gotham FC lifted the NWSL Championship trophy on 11 November 2023.{{Cite web |date=12 November 2023 |title=Gotham, Ali Krieger reach end of long road to NWSL Championship glory |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/38876763/nj-ny-gotham-ali-krieger-complete-long-journey-nwsl-glory-megan-rapinoe-heartbreak |access-date=3 December 2023 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} She is currently under contract through the 2025 season.

International career

Bruninha has made appearances for Brazil at the under-17, under-20, and senior levels. 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.{{Cite web |title=Brazil vs. Argentina Match Report – Friday September 17, 2021 |url=https://fbref.com/en/matches/4c044998/Brazil-Argentina-September-17-2021-Friendlies-W |access-date=3 December 2023 |website=FBref.com |language=en}} 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

Bruninha 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.{{Cite web |title=Bruninha 2023 Match Logs |url=https://fbref.com/en/players/f790716d/matchlogs/2023/Bruninha-Match-Logs |access-date=28 December 2023 |website=FBref.com |language=en}} 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."

Career statistics

=International=

colspan=3\|Brazil
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
Year	Apps	Goals
2021{{cite web \|url=https://rsssfbrasil.com/sel/brazil202021w.htm \|title=Seleção Brasileira Feminina (Brazilian National Women's Team) 2020–2021 \|publisher=RSSSF \|access-date=17 April 2021}}	5	0
2022	1	0
2023	3{{Cite web\|url=https://www.flashscore.com/player/bruninha/xtXV9xBT/\|title=Bruninha (Gotham) Stats - Flashscore.com\|website=www.flashscore.com}}	0
Total	9	0

= Club =

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" ! rowspan="2" \|Club ! rowspan="2" \|Season ! colspan="3" \|League ! colspan="2" \|Domestic Cup ! colspan="2" \|Continental ! colspan="2" \|Total
Division !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals
SC Internacional \|2020 \| rowspan="3" \|Brasileiro Feminino \|6 \|1 \| colspan="2" \|— \| colspan="2" \|— \|6 \|1
rowspan="2" \|Santos \|2021 \|16 \|1 \|1 \|0 \| colspan="2" \|— \|17 \|1
2022 \|8 \|0 \| colspan="2" \|— \| colspan="2" \|— \|8 \|0
rowspan="4" \|Gotham FC \|2022 \| rowspan="4" \|NWSL \|1 \|0 \|0 \|0 \| colspan="2" \|— \|1 \|0
2023 \|20 \|2 \|2 \|0 \| colspan="2" \|— \|22 \|2
2024 \|22 \|0 \|1 \|0 \|9 \|0 \|32 \|0
2025 \|0 \|0 \|0 \|0 \|0 \|0 \|0 \|0
colspan="3" \|Career total !73 !4 !4 !0 !9 !0 !86 !4

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

! rowspan="2" |Club

! rowspan="2" |Season

! colspan="3" |League

! colspan="2" |Domestic Cup

! colspan="2" |Continental

! colspan="2" |Total

Division

!Apps

!Goals

!Apps

!Goals

!Apps

!Goals

!Apps

!Goals

SC Internacional

|2020

| rowspan="3" |Brasileiro Feminino

| colspan="2" |—

rowspan="2" |Santos

|2021

|16

| colspan="2" |—

|17

2022

| colspan="2" |—

rowspan="4" |Gotham FC

|2022

| rowspan="4" |NWSL

| colspan="2" |—

2023

|20

| colspan="2" |—

|22

2024

|22

|32

2025

colspan="3" |Career total

!73

!86

;

Honours

NJ/NY Gotham FC

NWSL Championship: 2023{{Cite web |date=11 November 2023 |title=NWSL Championship highlights: Gotham FC crowned champions as Rapinoe, Krieger end careers |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/nwsl/2023/11/11/nwsl-championship-megan-rapinoe-live-updates-ol-reign-gotham-fc/71539239007/ |access-date=12 November 2022 |website=USA Today |language=en-US}}

Brazil U20

South American Under-20 Women's Football Championship: 2022

Individual

ESPN Bola de Prata: 2021
NWSL Player of the Week: Week 9, 2023 {{Cite web |title=@NWSL |url=https://twitter.com/NWSL/status/1664019984069316609 |access-date=21 July 2023 |website=Twitter |language=en}}
NWSL Team of the Month: May 2023 {{Cite web |title=National Women's Soccer League Official Site {{!}} NWSL |url=https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/national-womens-soccer-league-announces-may-best-xi-of-the-month-presented-by-mastercard |access-date=2023-07-21 |website=www.nwslsoccer.com|date=5 June 2023 }}