Agustina Barroso

She grew up in Tandil, Argentina, in a home where the ball was always around because both of her parents were physical education teachers.

Her parents sent her to football school at age six after she kept breaking things in the family patio while kicking a ball around.

As a child, she cut her hair short so boys would accept her more easily when she played football with them.

She also played basketball as a teenager. If she could go back in time, she has said she would choose the basketball path because it is a personal passion.

She kept some of the hardest parts of her football childhood from her parents, including the day a schoolmate punched her in the stomach during recess because she played football with boys.

Her football path was decided by a phone call: while she was discussing with her parents whether to choose basketball or football, Argentina called after spotting her at the Juegos Bonaerenses.

Her childhood defensive heroes were Roberto “Ratón” Ayala and Walter Samuel.