Nogueira celebrates Seleção return: "Happiest moment of my life" | OneFootball

A Thursday marked Nogueira's life for the first time. In an interview with the CBF website on November 27, Maria Clara Nogueira de Sousa, or simply Nogueira, did not hide her emotion as she made her debut in a friendly match against Argentina. Without hesitation, she described it as “the best day of her life.”

Months later, on a Wednesday, she set out to rewrite that story. On the 11th, the midfielder made her official debut wearing the Brazil U-20 National Team jersey, and it couldn’t have been more memorable. As a starter, she scored two goals in the 6-0 victory over Peru and left the field with a new certainty: the happiest day was no longer that friendly match.

“With two goals, in an official match, how could I not be happier? We went to Granja, stayed for two weeks, which was incredible. I trained really well, I was very calm with myself. I got here and was able to adapt very quickly because of Granja, since I already knew Camila and the girls. I made my debut yesterday and now this is truly the happiest moment of my life.”

Nogueira during preparations for the South American U-20 Women's Championship with the Brazilian National Team at CARFEM in Ypané, ParaguayCredits: Staff Images / CBF

Resilience and Opportunity

Before this important day in her career, there was waiting and a dose of resilience. Nogueira was called up by coach Camilla Orlando among the 30 athletes who participated in the training period at Granja Comary, but ended up off the final list for the South American Championship.

The dream seemed postponed until a new chance appeared. After Júlia Martins was cut due to a sprain in her left knee, the midfielder was called up to fill the spot and made the most of the opportunity. The debut carried “good” anxiety, but also confidence.

“I was very calm, with a good kind of anxiety. The happiness of being there playing for the National Team made me feel very comfortable. I said a prayer before the game, asking God to bless me. I asked that I could score a goal, because it had been a long time since I’d scored. Since I was going to start, I asked and thank God the goal came.”

Nogueira in a moment of prayer during the match against Peru in the third round of the South American U-20 Championship (CREDITS: STAFF IMAGES / CBF)

Born in Garça, a small city in the interior of São Paulo state with just over 40,000 inhabitants, Nogueira began her journey in a social project and never imagined her destiny would be the Brazilian National Team. “I started in a project at 5 years old, my family always supported me... even my mother played soccer.”

Her first steps were in soccer schools with boys. At nine, she moved to the girls’ futsal team at Sejel Esportes, where she stayed until she was 13. Then, she faced the field and a decision that would change her destiny: to try out for Ferroviária. The invitation appeared on social media, seen by her mother. “I went with my mom and we didn’t know what would happen there. There were a lot of girls, it was a very cold day. I was confident I would make it, and I did. I passed at 13 and moved into the dorms at 14. Since then, it’s been four years at Ferroviária.”

Her first call-up to the National Team came in the U-17 category, during a training period in Bragança Paulista. “I was living a dream. It was all very new to me and the experience was very good.”

The Sister Born from a Promise

If on the field goals mark important chapters in her career, off the field the birth of her youngest sister is the most special. Nogueira says she insisted a lot for her mother to have another daughter. “I kept asking for a sister so much that there was a Paulista championship game where my mother said that if I scored two goals, she would ‘get me’ a little sister. I went to the game, scored two goals, and celebrated by asking for my sister, and it happened. I got to choose the name, Manuela.”

Superstition: to “call” the sister she wanted so much, Nogueira even did Bebeto’s iconic celebration from the ‘94 World CupCredits: Personal Archive

Nogueira found inspiration to celebrate her goals in one of the most iconic gestures in Brazilian football history. She rocked her arms as if cradling a baby, a celebration made famous by Bebeto at the 1994 World Cup, when he honored his newborn son after scoring against the Netherlands.

CONMEBOL U-20 Women’s Championship

With confidence after her standout performance, Nogueira now turns her attention to one of the biggest challenges of the competition. Brazil faces Argentina this Friday at 6 p.m. (Brasília time) at the Luís Alfonso Giagni Stadium. For the striker, the tournament has been marked by intensity. “I think all the teams, not just Brazil, have a lot of grit and determination. You notice a lot of clashes, that’s the main characteristic.”

About the classic, she shows respect but also competitiveness. “The expectation is very high. Argentina has had an excellent campaign. They are very physical, strong, and fast. There is a lot of rivalry.”

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