In the first game against South Korea, she was introduced as “one of the most fascinating talents in the world”.
She proved it with a great goal that made her the man of the match.
This Sunday, in the second game against Germany, the adjectives have run out: he scored one of the better goals.
He took the ball to the left of the box, diverted it to his own feet, cleared two opponents, and then passed the ball to the right post in a move that has become his signature.
great goal. She was again voted the best player of the match.
With his first goal, the 18-year-old Caicedo became one of the youngest goal scorers at the World Cup, second only to Brazilian legend Marta, who was 17 for the United States in 2003. He scored goals at the age of 10 and is now the top scorer in World Cup history.
Game 2 against one of my favorite teams, 28 years undefeated, Linda Caicedo began to forge her own legend.
“It’s from another planet, totally unique”, Angelo Massiglia, assistant to Colombia coach Nelson Abadia, said after Game 1.
But for Caicedo, who was born in the village of Vilagogona in the Valais department, it was just the beginning of her career, which has progressed at breakneck speed since she was 6 years old. he begged his parents They “let her play football”.
From Villagogona to the World Cup via Madrid
In February of this year, arguably the most important signing of a Colombian football player for 2023 took place.
Linda Caicedo As a new Real Madrid player proposed to be one of the leaders This is a project aimed at overthrowing the hegemony of Barcelona, Barcelona’s arch-rivals in the Spanish league.
“My heartfelt thanks to Real Madrid for making this girl’s dream come true,” the white team’s new No. 19 jersey wrote on her Instagram account.
“It is an honor and pride to be able to represent the colors of my country, my town Vilagogona and its beautiful people,” the message concluded.
After a fantastic year for Caicedo, Real Madrid’s interest is entirely justified.
she is the one Score the decisive goal for Colombia over Argentina in the Copa America semi-final Women, and was voted the best player of the tournament.
A few months later, he scored twice to help Colombia reach the quarter-finals of the U20 World Cup.
At the end of 2022, he became the star player of Colombia’s U17 World Cup runner-up, scored four goals And get the silver ball.
For these performances, she was voted the second best player in the world at the ceremony Globe Soccer AwardsVoted the best football player under 20 by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics, and the youngest player on the list 100 best soccer players in the world published by a british newspaper guardian.
‘A very difficult time in my life’
Linda Caicedo was diagnosed with ovarian cancer when she was 15, and her life is now on hold.
“that moment I didn’t think I’d be able to play professionally again. Because of all the treatments and surgeries I had to go through,” Caicedo said in an interview published by FIFA in June.
“It was a very difficult time in my life mentally. I am forever grateful that it happened when I was very young. I was able to recover and I had the support of my family. Now I feel good about what happened Made me grow. I’m grateful and happy to be here,” she said at the time.
“I always try to do my best for my team and my country’, he said after the game against South Korea.
He came back and was at his best against Germany.
All eyes will be on her next game against Morocco (Colombia needs a draw to advance to the round of 16).
Linda Caicedo: A Star Is Born.
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