Back from injury, Giovana Canali relishes Brazil return v USA | OneFootball

Giovana Canali is back with the Brazil U-20 National Team, and this moment carries special meaning. It marks the restart of an important cycle in her career, after tearing her knee ligament in February last year.

“I got injured, I tore my knee last year, in February. And this is my first call-up since surgery.”

Canali made her return to the U-20 National Team last Saturday (11), in the first friendly against the United States. The forward, who came on in the second half, is already turning her attention to the next match: Brazil will face the Americans again this Wednesday (15), at 4 p.m. Brasília time, at Riverside Stadium, within the Kansas City Current sports complex.

Giovanna Canali makes her return to the U-20 National Team in a friendly against the USA at CPKC Stadium Credits: Fabio Souza / CBF

Strong character from the start

Originally from Fortaleza, Giovana showed strong character from a very young age. Still in school, she started out playing with boys and had to deal with resistance.

“I started playing well, dribbling past the boys, and that caused some discomfort. Some parents didn’t like it and took me off the team.”

Her response was action. Determined, she went from classroom to classroom at school inviting girls to form a girls’ team. The initiative worked and led to her first title.

“We created the team, and I won my first trophy as top scorer.”

Giovana Canali in training at the Kansas City Current training center for the second friendly against the USA Credits: Fabio Souza / CBF

Move to the United States

Her family’s move to the United States when she was 10 opened up a new world for Giovana. While in Brazil she faced difficulties playing, in her new country she found structure and opportunities.

“When I arrived, I went to a public field and saw lots of girls playing. That changed my perspective.”

Gio Canali began competing with other girls and quickly improved. From there, she started her journey through youth teams. The forward stood out and opened the door to the Brazil National Team. Her first call-up came in 2023, when she was 17. Soon after, Giovana enjoyed a dream debut by scoring in a 3-1 win over Belgium in a friendly played in Spain. She is also very proud to have been part of the squad that won the 10th South American title with the U-20 National Team in 2024.

Today, Canali studies Economics and stands out while playing for the University of Virginia women’s team, the Virginia Cavaliers women’s soccer team, which competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), one of the strongest leagues in U.S. college soccer.

Giovana Canali during U-20 National Team training for the friendly against the USA at the Kansas City Current training centerCredits: Fabio Souza / CBF

With a football education shaped in both Brazil and the United States, the forward believes she brings an important edge on the field. Her experience in college soccer has contributed directly to her development.

“Soccer in the United States is very physical and intense, but in Brazil it has more personality, more grit. Today I feel like I have that blend.”

Even while balancing academic and athletic life, her goal is clear: “My focus is professional soccer, for sure.”

To reach the senior national team, she is betting on her own identity.

“I need to keep my personality, trust myself, and keep contributing to the team.”

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.