Nicole admits nerves ahead of Women's Club World Cup with Corinthians

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Central do Timão

·21 gennaio 2026

Nicole admits nerves ahead of Women's Club World Cup with Corinthians

By Fabio Luigi / Central do Timão Editorial Team

On the morning of this Tuesday (19th), Corinthians departed for London, England, to compete in the first edition of the FIFA Women's Club World Cup, where they will face Gotham FC from the United States next Wednesday (28th) at 9:30 am at the Gtech Community Stadium in the tournament's semifinals. In an interview with the FIFA website, goalkeeper Nicole shared her thoughts on the competition and the feeling of representing the Alvinegro in an international competition.

“I thought the Libertadores would be the pinnacle of my career, and I was already very happy about it, but now comes this opportunity. I can't believe I'm going to play the first global tournament. It will be a milestone in our lives. I hope we come back with the trophy and make our mark in Corinthians' history,” she began.

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Photo: Staff Images Woman/Conmebol

Corinthians secured their spot in the Copa das Campeãs by winning the sixth Conmebol Libertadores Feminina title in 2025 by defeating Deportivo Cali from Colombia 6-5 in a penalty shootout after a goalless draw in regular time. Thus, the goalkeeper highlighted the high level of daily work of the Brabas squad, which is reflected in the results and achievements on the field.

“We will represent the current squad, but also many girls from the past who built a great legacy, who fought for this. I am one of the privileged ones, but we will represent many who have been here and wanted to compete for an intercontinental and unprecedented title for Corinthians. I used to wonder the same thing. How do they keep winning so much? Getting there is hard, but staying there is even harder. When I got here, I started to understand. It starts with tough training in the gym, the demands, every little detail like timing, clothing, everything. One can push the other, argue if necessary, always wanting to keep the victory fire alive,” she continued.

She also added: “Corinthians is very consistent in their work with the women's team, in the structure... They never took a step back, never suffered budget cuts. They remained consistent, and I think it reflected in all the achievements they had. This serves as a legacy and a mirror for all clubs. Investment and organization are necessary to have a winning era.”

Finally, she recalled her finger injury during the Women's Libertadores final in October. Nicole had to undergo surgery and missed the final stretch of the season, which only had the Paulista Championship left to be played. Even injured that day, the goalkeeper chose to stay on the field and help the Brabas in their quest for the international title.

“A goalkeeper knows that a millisecond, that fingertip, makes a difference. Of course, it's a lot of pressure, but I'm already working with my therapist to arrive there more calmly. It's mental training. I confess I was anxious throughout the entire vacation. I was eager to return. Since the Libertadores, I've been mentally preparing for this moment, which could be the most important of my life”, she concluded.

Since 2024 at Corinthians, Nicole currently faces competition from Lelê, Rillary, and Ana Morganti for the starting position in the Corinthians goal. In her first year at the club, she alternated between starting and being a substitute. Last year, however, she established herself as the absolute starter, mainly due to a series of injuries to goalkeeper Lelê. In 2025, she was decisive in winning the Brasileirão and Libertadores titles.

In total, she has played 48 matches for the Brabas (all as a starter), with 31 wins, 12 draws, and five losses – a 72.9% success rate. Besides the two titles mentioned, she also won the same ones in her first year at the club.

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