Leicy Santos

Santos was born on 16 May 1996 in the town of San Sebastián, a municipality of Santa Cruz de Lorica, Córdoba, Colombia. She was encouraged to play soccer from a young age by her father, Elizaith Santos, who was also a soccer player and previously a member of the Córdoba Under-20 National Team.{{Cite web |last=Jaramillo |first=Jose |date=2017-05-23 |title=El fútbol es cosa de niñas |url=https://www.eltiempo.com/bocas/entrevista-con-leicy-santos-la-capitana-de-la-seleccion-femenina-de-futbol-de-colombia-90072 |access-date=2024-07-13 |website=El Tiempo |language=spanish}} Santos's mother initially did not like the idea of her playing soccer, and insisted that she help clean their home instead of playing.{{Cite web |last=Espectador |first=El |date=2020-04-14 |title=ELESPECTADOR.COM |url=https://www.elespectador.com/deportes/futbol-colombiano/santa-fe/leicy-santos-la-10-de-santa-fe-article-680580/ |access-date=2024-07-13 |website=ELESPECTADOR.COM |language=spanish}}

Santos played on boys' teams as a child and was the only girl playing at tournaments. One afternoon, César Correa, a friend of her father's, saw her play and recommended that she travel to Bogotá so she could try out for Club Besser, who was looking for female players. After a call from the Colombia women's national team and gathering the support of her family and friends to finance the trip, she moved to Bogotá with Correa. After six months of training with Club Besser, her parents joined her in Bogotá. Despite various difficulties, she and coach Pedro Rodríguez formed a women's team for Club Besser. Santos's stellar performances led to call-ups for the Bogotá National Team and the Colombia women's national under-17 football team.{{Cite web |last=Tiempo |first=Redacción El |date=2013-04-05 |title=Trayectoria de una 10, de los potreros a un mundial |url=https://www.eltiempo.com/archivo/documento/CMS-12728129 |access-date=2024-07-13 |website=El Tiempo |language=spanish}} She remained at Club Besser until 2016.

In 2015, Santos played in the United States for Iowa Central Community College. In only her second game, she scored a hat trick.{{Cite web |title=Iowa Lakes Community vs. Iowa Central Communi - Box Score - 10/3/2015 |url=https://www.iccac.org/sports/wsoc/2015-16/boxscores/20151003_c0t7.xml |access-date=2024-07-13 |website=Iowa Community College Athletic Conference |language=en}} The team finished the season as NJCAA national champions after she assisted on the lone goal of the championship match against Eastern Florida State College.{{Cite web |title=Iowa Central Beats Eastern Florida 1-0 For Women's Soccer Title - Space Coast Daily |url=https://spacecoastdaily.com/2015/11/iowa-central-beats-eastern-florida-1-0-for-womens-soccer-title/ |access-date=2024-07-13 |website=spacecoastdaily.com}} She played a total of 11 games, with 7 goals and 3 assists.{{Cite web |title=Iowa Community College Athletic Conference |url=https://www.iccac.org/sports/wsoc/2015-16/players/leicysantosi48v |access-date=2024-07-13 |website=Iowa Community College Athletic Conference |language=en}}

In 2016, the founding of the Colombian Women's Football League was announced, along with a new alliance between Santa Fe and the amateur women's club Future Soccer with the goal of forming a professional team for the new league. Santos began playing for Santa Fe in the National Women's Club Championship in the Amateur Division of Colombian Soccer, a precursor to the full professional league. Santa Fe went undefeated through 26 games and reached the semifinals of the championship; Santos was considered one of the best players on the team.{{Cite book |last=Samper Pizano |first=Daniel |title=Leones Rojos, 75 Años – 75 Ídolos |publisher=Cangrejo Editores |year=2016 |isbn=978-958-8296-70-8 |location=Bogotá, Colombia |pages=251–252 |language=es |trans-title=Red Lions, 75 Years – 75 Idols}} Thanks to her outstanding performance, she was called up to the Colombia women's national team for the 2016 Summer Olympics.{{Cite web |last=Espectador |first=El |date=2016-07-14 |title=ELESPECTADOR.COM |url=https://www.elespectador.com/deportes/futbol-mundial/dorlan-tesillo-y-teo-gutierrez-comandaran-a-colombia-en-rio-2016-article-643438/ |access-date=2024-07-14 |website=ELESPECTADOR.COM |language=spanish}}

Santos debuted in the Colombian Women's Football League on 19 February 2017, in a 3–0 victory against La Equidad.{{Cite web |last=Tiempo |first=Casa Editorial El |title=Santa Fe femenino fue una 'tromba': goleó 0-3 a Equidad |url=https://www.futbolred.com/futbol-colombiano/futbol-femenino/resultado-del-santa-fe-contra-equidad-en-la-liga-femenina-81030 |access-date=2024-07-14 |website=futbolred.com |language=spanish}} On 26 February, she scored her first goal and first hat trick in a professional league. Santa Fe ended up winning the first-ever women's professional championship in front of 33,327 spectators at Estadio El Campín, a record for women's soccer in Colombia; Santos emerged as one of the great figures of the team.{{Cite web |last=Espectador |first=El |date=2020-04-14 |title=ELESPECTADOR.COM |url=https://www.elespectador.com/deportes/futbol-colombiano/santa-fe/santa-fe-primero-para-la-eternidad-article-700051/ |access-date=2024-07-14 |website=ELESPECTADOR.COM |language=spanish}}{{Cite web |last=Casallas |first=Sergio |date=2017-06-24 |title=Leicy Santos, la máxima figura de Las Leonas campeonas |url=https://colombia.as.com/colombia/2017/06/25/futbol/1498353409_711643.html |access-date=2024-07-14 |website=Diario AS |language=es-co}}{{Cite web |last=Nieto |first=Camilo |date=2017-06-24 |title='Estamos agradecidos con nuestra hinchada': Leicy Santos |url=https://www.eltiempo.com/deportes/futbol-colombiano/declaraciones-de-leicy-santos-campeona-con-santa-fe-102516 |access-date=2024-07-14 |website=El Tiempo |language=spanish}}

As national champions, Santa Fe represented Colombia at the 2017 Copa Libertadores. In the group stage, they defeated the Bolivian Club Deportivo ITA 9–2, with Santos scoring two goals. They were ultimately eliminated from the tournament by Corinthians in their final group stage match.{{Cite web |last=Tiempo |first=Casa Editorial El |title=El balance de Santa Fe en su primera Copa Libertadores Femenina |url=https://www.futbolred.com/futbol-colombiano/futbol-femenino/el-balance-de-santa-fe-en-la-copa-libertadores-femenina-2017-53618 |access-date=2024-07-14 |website=futbolred.com |language=spanish}}

In 2018, Santa Fe began their season with a defeat, but roared back with a massive 10–0 victory in their second game, with Santos scoring 4 goals.{{Cite web |last=Flórez |first=Por Andrés Rocha |date=2018-02-18 |title=Las Leonas mostraron su superioridad y golearon a Bogotá |url=https://feminafutbol.com/ligas/las-leonas-mostraron-su-superioridad-y-golearon-a-bogota-15873/ |access-date=2024-07-14 |website=Fémina Fútbol |language=es}} The team finished the season ranked first in the league. In the quarterfinals, they defeated Cortuluá with goals from Santos in the first and second legs. Santa Fe fell to Atlético Nacional in the semifinals.{{Cite web |last=Flórez |first=Por Andrés Rocha |date=2018-05-20 |title=Nacional cazó a las Leonas y avanzó a la final de Liga Femenina |url=https://feminafutbol.com/ligas/nacional-cazo-a-las-leonas-y-avanzo-a-la-final-de-liga-femenina-17542/ |access-date=2024-07-14 |website=Fémina Fútbol |language=es}}

After the championship, a conflict arose between the Colombian Soccer Federation and the women's professional and national team players after complaints of sexual and labor abuse, along with homophobic and misogynistic behavior. The professional league was briefly canceled as a result. Santos was the spokesperson for the professional players in meetings with the Government of Colombia and the directors of the soccer clubs, who eventually agreed to continue the professional league.{{Cite web |last=Fútbol |first=Por Fémina |date=2019-03-07 |title=Jugadoras de la Selección Colombia presentaron pruebas de sus denuncias y piden no acabar con la Liga Femenina |url=https://feminafutbol.com/noticias/jugadoras-de-la-seleccion-colombia-presentaron-pruebas-de-sus-denuncias-y-piden-no-acabar-con-la-liga-femenina-23004/ |access-date=2024-07-14 |website=Fémina Fútbol |language=es}}{{Cite web |last=Fútbol |first=Por Fémina |date=2019-03-19 |title=Gobierno de Colombia y Directivos del Fútbol dan el "Sí" a la continuidad de la Liga Profesional Femenina |url=https://feminafutbol.com/noticias/gobierno-de-colombia-y-directivos-del-futbol-dan-el-si-a-la-continuidad-de-la-liga-profesional-femenina-23138/ |access-date=2024-07-14 |website=Fémina Fútbol |language=es}}

In 2019, Santos only played two games for Santa Fe after scheduling conflicts with her call-up for the 2019 Pan American Games and her transfer to Atlético Madrid. In her final game for the club, there was a celebration in her honor.{{Cite web |last=Viracachá |first=Por Diego |date=2019-07-18 |title=Liga Águila Femenina 2019: Clásico Capitalino terminó igualado |url=https://feminafutbol.com/ligas/liga-aguila-femenina-2019-clasico-capitalino-termino-igualado-24913/ |access-date=2024-07-14 |website=Fémina Fútbol |language=es}}

After playing in the 2016 Summer Olympics, she returned to Bogotá, where she temporarily joined Club Deportivo Generaciones Palmiranas to play in the 2016 Copa Libertadores Femenina. She debuted on 7 December 2016 against Bolivian club San Martín de Porres. On 10 December 2016, she scored a hat trick in a 7–0 victory over Uruguayan club Club Nacional.{{Cite web |last=Barreiro |first=Por Federico |date=2016-12-11 |title=Generaciones Palmiranas golea en la Libertadores |url=https://feminafutbol.com/torneos/generaciones-palmiranas-golea-en-la-libertadores-5481/ |access-date=2024-07-14 |website=Fémina Fútbol |language=es}} She also played in the draw against Brazilian club Foz Cataratas, which eliminated the Colombian team. After the tournament, she returned to Santa Fe to prepare for the first women's professional league in Colombia.

On 4 August 2019, Atlético Madrid announced that they had signed Santos for the 2019–2020 season.{{Cite web |date=2019-08-04 |title=Club Atlético de Madrid - Acuerdo con el Independiente Santa Fe para la cesión de Leicy Santos |url=https://www.atleticodemadrid.com/noticias/acuerdo-con-el-independiente-santa-fe-para-la-cesion-de-leicy-santos |access-date=2024-07-21 |website=Club Atlético de Madrid |language=es-ES}} She debuted on 7 September 2019 in a 1–0 win against Sporting de Huelva at Estadio Nueva Condomina, coming on for Toni Duggan in the second half.{{Cite web |date=2019-09-07 |title=Club Atlético de Madrid - Estreno triunfal |url=https://www.atleticodemadrid.com/noticias/estreno-triunfal |access-date=2024-07-21 |website=Club Atlético de Madrid |language=es-ES}} She scored her first goal for Atlético Madrid on 26 October 2019 in San Sebastián, contributing to a 4–1 victory against Real Sociedad. After starting the season as a substitute, injuries to players likes Virginia Torrecilla and Toni Duggan led to her becoming a regular starter. She played in 20 league games, scored 5 goals and provided one assist before the season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She played in the semifinal of the Supercopa, in which they were defeated by FC Barcelona. Santos was considered one of the club's most outstanding players that year, and the club decided to extend her contract.{{Cite web |last=Jiménez |first=Mayca |date=2020-04-17 |title=Leicy Santos, la gran revelación de la temporada en el Atleti |url=https://as.com/futbol/2020/04/16/femenino/1587056665_102741.html |access-date=2024-07-21 |website=Diario AS |language=es}}{{Cite web |title=Mundo Deportivo Shopping |url=https://shopping.mundodeportivo.com/epaper-pago-mensual-9-90.html |access-date=2024-07-21 |website=shopping.mundodeportivo.com}}

For the first games of the 2020–21 season, she was a substitute due to recovering from COVID-19, but quickly became a starter again. In December 2020, the EFE named her the Most Valuable Latin American player.{{Cite web |date=2020-12-11 |title=Club Atlético de Madrid - Leicy Santos recibió el premio EFE a mejor jugadora latinoamericana |url=https://www.atleticodemadrid.com/noticias/leicy-santos-recibio-el-premio-efe-a-mejor-jugadora-latinoamericana |access-date=2024-07-21 |website=Club Atlético de Madrid |language=es-ES}} On 15 December 2020, she became the first Colombian woman to score in the UEFA Women's Champions League; her goal came during the second leg of their round of 32 match against Servette, a game that ended in a 5–0 victory for Atlético Madrid.{{Cite web |date=2020-12-15 |title=Club Atlético de Madrid - Goleada al Servette y a octavos |url=https://www.atleticodemadrid.com/noticias/goleada-al-servette-y-a-octavos |access-date=2024-07-21 |website=Club Atlético de Madrid |language=es-ES}}{{Cite web |last=Hill |first=Courtney |date=24 July 2023 |title=Leicy Santos: Colombia's history-maker aiming for the FIFA World Cup 2023 podium |url=https://olympics.com/en/news/leicy-santos-colombia-history-maker-fifa-world-cup-2023 |access-date=21 July 2024 |website=Olympics.com}} In January 2021, they won the Supercopa despite their poor results in league play.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-21 |title=Supercopa de España Femenina 2021 - Página oficial del Atlético de Madrid |url=https://www.atleticodemadrid.com/atm/supercopa-de-espana-femenina-2021 |access-date=2024-07-21 |website=Club Atlético de Madrid |language=es-ES}}

During the 2021–22 season, Santos was initially a substitute, but gradually established herself as a starter. Atlético Madrid finished the season in fourth place, one point away from third place, which would have qualified them for the UEFA Women's Champions League. They were finalists in the Supercopa, which they lost to FC Barcelona. In the Copa de la Reina, they lost in the Round of 16 against Sporting de Huelva. The IFFHS chose Santos as part of their CONMEBOL Best XI for 2022.{{Cite web |date=2023-02-15 |title=Club Atlético de Madrid - Leicy Santos, incluida en el equipo del año de la CONMEBOL |url=https://www.atleticodemadrid.com/noticias/leicy-santos-incluida-en-el-equipo-del-ano-de-la-conmebol |access-date=2024-07-23 |website=Club Atlético de Madrid |language=es-ES}}

The team was inconsistent during the 2022–23 season and changed coaches, ultimately finishing fourth in the league. Santos suffered various injuries and hardly played in the second half of the season. In the Copa de la Reina, they won the final against Real Madrid in a penalty shootout after coming back from being down 2–0 in stoppage time; Santos did not play due to injury.{{Cite web |last=Griñán |first=Marta |date=2023-05-28 |title=Remontada de coraje y corazón para alzar la segunda Copa |url=https://as.com/futbol/femenino/remontada-de-coraje-y-corazon-para-alzar-la-copa-n/ |access-date=2024-07-28 |website=Diario AS |language=es}}

In the 2023–24 season, she continued to be a starter and performed well in the first half of the season. In January, the team was eliminated from the Supercopa, and they dropped points in several key matches in February, falling further down the standings. Santos continued to deal with muscle injuries. After being eliminated from the Supercopa, Manolo Cano was replaced as head coach by Arturo Ruiz, who had been coaching the reserve team. They earned several consecutive victories without Santos, and finally achieved their goal of qualifying for the Champions League after finishing third in the league.{{Cite web |last=Gil |first=Aimara G. |date=2024-06-15 |title=Ajibade mete al Atlético en Champions |url=https://as.com/futbol/femenino/ajibade-mete-al-atletico-en-champions-n/ |access-date=2024-07-28 |website=Diario AS |language=es}}

On 2 April 2024, Washington Spirit announced that they had signed Santos to a three-year contract and that she would join the team after the conclusion of the 2023–24 Liga F season.{{Cite web |last=Spirit |first=Washington |date=2024-04-02 |title=Washington Spirit Lands Colombian National Team Star, World Cup Standout Leicy Santos |url=https://washingtonspirit.com/blog/2024/04/02/washington-spirit-lands-colombian-national-team-star-world-cup-standout-leicy-santos/ |access-date=2024-07-13 |website=Washington Spirit |language=en-US}}

On 7 March 2025, Santos scored an equalizer directly from a free kick in the 2025 NWSL Challenge Cup, helping avenge Washington's championship loss as they defeated the Orlando Pride on penalties.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/03/07/nwsl-challenge-cup-washington-spirit-orlando-pride/|title=In title game rematch, Spirit rallies to top Pride for Challenge Cup crown|last=Floyd|first=Thomas|date=2025-03-07|website=The Washington Post|access-date=2025-03-08}}

{{Expand Spanish|topic=bio|Leicy Santos|date=August 2022|section=yes}}

On 14 July 2016, she was called up to the Colombia squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics.{{cite news |url=http://fcf.com.co/index.php/las-selecciones/selecciones-juveniles/2668-convocatoria-oficial-para-los-juegos-olimpicos-de-rio-2017 |title=Convocatoria oficial Selecciones Colombia para Rio 2016 |language=es |publisher=Colombian Football Federation |date=14 July 2016 |access-date=15 July 2016 |archive-date=2 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702093525/http://fcf.com.co/index.php/las-selecciones/selecciones-juveniles/2668-convocatoria-oficial-para-los-juegos-olimpicos-de-rio-2017 |url-status=dead }}

Santos was called up to the Colombia squad for the 2018 Copa América Femenina.{{cite news|title=Conoce a las 22 convocadas para representar a la Selección de Colombia|url=http://www.cafemchile2018.cl/noticia/19/conoce-a-las-22-convocadas-para-representar-a-la-seleccion-de-colombia|accessdate=28 March 2018|work=cafemchile.cl|language=es}}

On 3 July 2022, she was called up to the Colombia squad for the 2022 Copa América Femenina, which Colombia finished as runners-up.{{cite web|url=https://fcf.com.co/index.php/2022/07/03/convocatoria-seleccion-colombia-femenina-de-mayores-para-conmebol-copa-america/|title=Convocatoria Selección Colombia Femenina de Mayores para CONMEBOL Copa América|trans-title=Call for Colombia Women's National Team for CONMEBOL Copa América |language=es |publisher=Colombian Football Federation|date=3 July 2022}}

On 4 July 2023, she was called up to the Colombia squad for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.{{cite web |title=Convocatoria de la Selección Colombia Femenina |trans-title=Call for the Colombian Women's National Team |language=es |url=https://fcf.com.co/2023/07/04/convocatoria-de-la-seleccion-colombia-femenina-copa-mundial-de-la-fifa-australia-y-nueva-zelanda-2023/ |publisher=Colombian Football Federation|date=4 July 2023}} In the quarterfinal of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, Santos scored a lob goal against England goalkeeper Mary Earps, in a manner that commentators compared to the lob goal scored by Ronaldinho against England goalkeeper David Seaman in the quarterfinal of the 2002 FIFA Men's World Cup.{{cite news|title=England beat Colombia: Lionesses progress to World Cup semi-final – instant analysis|date=2023-08-12|last1=Harpur |first1=Charlotte |last2= Whitehead|first2= Jacob|work=The Athletic|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4770340/2023/08/12/england-colombia-world-cup-analysis/}}

On 5 July 2024, she was called up to the Colombia squad for the 2024 Summer Olympics.{{cite web|url=https://fcf.com.co/2024/07/05/convocatoria-seleccion-colombia-femenina-mayores-para-los-juegos-olimpicos-de-paris-2024/|title=Convocatoria Selección Colombia Femenina Mayores para los Juegos Olímpicos de París 2024|trans-title=Call-up for the Colombian Women's Senior Team for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games|language=Spanish|date=5 July 2024|website=ww.fcf.com.co|publisher=Federación Colombiana de Fútbol|access-date=6 July 2024}}

With fellow professional footballer Lina Arciniegas, Santos is the co-founder of Cacahuates, a company that creates and distributes nut creams.{{Cite web |title=Nosotros {{!}} Cacahuates {{!}} Colombia |url=https://www.cacahuates.com.co/sobre-nosotros |access-date=2024-07-13 |website=Cacahuates |language=es}}

In 2021, Santos joined Common Goal.{{Cite web |title=Atlético Madrid Star Joins Common Goal - Common Goal |url=https://www.common-goal.org/Stories/Atl-tico-Madrid-Midfielder-Joins-Common-Goal2021-06-23 |access-date=2024-07-13 |website=www.common-goal.org}}

On 1 July 2024, she announced her engagement to Geral Matallana.{{Cite Instagram |postid=C9IiPu9vC7h|user=leicysantos10|title=Y así fue! 😍 Uno de los días más nerviosos que he tenido.|date=2024-07-07}}

Washington Spirit

• NWSL Challenge Cup: 2025

{{Reflist}}

• {{sports links}}

{{Washington Spirit squad}}

{{Navboxes

|title=Colombia squads

| bg=#FCD116

| fg=#003893

| bordercolor=#CE1126

|list1=

{{Colombia squad 2014 Copa América Femenina}}

{{Colombia squad 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup}}

{{Colombia women's football squad 2016 Summer Olympics}}

{{Colombia squad 2018 Copa América Femenina}}

{{Colombia squad 2022 Copa América Femenina}}

{{Colombia squad 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup}}

{{Colombia women's football squad 2024 Summer Olympics}}

}}

{{Trofeo EFE}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Santos, Leicy}}

Category:1996 births

Category:Living people

Category:Footballers from Córdoba Department

Category:Colombian women's footballers

Category:21st-century Colombian sportswomen

Category:Colombia women's international footballers

Category:Colombian expatriate sportspeople in Spain

Category:Colombian expatriate sportspeople in the United States

Category:Colombian expatriate women's footballers

Category:Colombian LGBTQ footballers

Category:2015 FIFA Women's World Cup players

Category:2023 FIFA Women's World Cup players

Category:21st-century Colombian LGBTQ people

Category:Atlético Madrid Femenino players

Category:College women's soccer players in the United States

Category:Expatriate women's footballers in Spain

Category:Expatriate women's soccer players in the United States

Category:Footballers at the 2015 Pan American Games

Category:Footballers at the 2016 Summer Olympics

Category:Footballers at the 2019 Pan American Games

Category:Iowa Central Community College alumni

Category:Liga F players

Category:Medalists at the 2015 Pan American Games

Category:Medalists at the 2019 Pan American Games

Category:Olympic footballers for Colombia

Category:Pan American Games gold medalists for Colombia

Category:Pan American Games footballers for Colombia

Category:Pan American Games gold medalists in football

Category:Women's association football midfielders

Category:Washington Spirit players

Category:Independiente Santa Fe (women) players

Category:Footballers at the 2024 Summer Olympics

Category:National Women's Soccer League players